Garlic butter Air Fryer Salmon
The juiciest salmon done in 10 minutes with no fuss. This Air Fryer salmon recipe with garlic butter is a weeknight dinner hero!
Salmon is at the top of my list for quick and easy dinners. It helps that it’s healthy and full of good fats and protein too. Pair this good-for-you fish with an air fryer and you have a match made in Heaven. I use my air fryer more than I’d like to admit. But who can blame me? This air fryer salmon recipes comes out incredibly juicy every time and is ready in less than 10 minutes. No need preheat the oven or stand over a hot stove. What’s not to love?
Ingredients Needed
- Salmon fillets. I prefer using skin on salmon. Other oily fish like tuna, mackerel or trout can be used instead.
- Melted butter. Olive oil can be substituted.
- Fresh Garlic cloves.
- Oregano. I used dried oregano but fresh herbs like Parsley and chives are good substitutes.
- Chilli flakes/ Red pepper flakes. Other spices like garlic powder, smoked paprika, cajun seasoning, etc. can all be used too.
- Lemon juice.
- Fresh parsley.
- Salt and pepper.
How to cook salmon in an air fryer
- Make the garlic butter: Combine melted butter, crushed garlic, oregano, chilli flakes, fresh parsley and lemon juice in a small bowl and mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Season the salmon: Pat the salmon dry on both sides with paper towels. Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Cook the salmon: Place the salmon, skin-side up on a piece of parchment paper, then brush over half of the garlic butter. Place in the air fryer basket and air fry at 390ºF/200ºC for 5 minutes or until the skin is crisp. Gently turn over the salmon, remove the parchment paper and brush with the remaining garlic butter. Place back in the air fryer and cook for another 3-5 minutes or until the salmon is cooked to your preference. Remove and serve with lemon.
How long to cook in salmon in air fryer
Depending on the thickness of the salmon, it shouldn’t take more than 8-10 minutes to cook at 200ºC/390ºF in the air fryer.
How do I know when salmon is cooked?
I prefer cooking salmon until it is still slightly underdone in the center. This will ensure it doesn’t dry out so it will be perfectly moist and juicy. Salmon is cooked when the flesh flakes easily or when the internal temperature reaches 62ºC/145ºF on a meat thermometer.
Can I make this ahead?
The salmon can be cooked and kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions
Salmon is delicious served with a variety of side dishes. Garlic butter rice, creamy mashed potatoes or crispy hasselback potatoes are great options. Vegetables like broccoli, 10-minute sautéed broccolini or air fryer asparagus will also be delicious. A quick and Easy green salad with lemon Parmesan dressing is great if you’re serving the salmon for lunch.
Air fryer recipes
Ingredients
- 500 g (1lb) salmon fillets
- ½ cup melted butter
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tsp oregano
- pinch of chilli flakes
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp parsley
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Combine melted butter, crushed garlic, oregano, chilli flakes, fresh parsley and lemon juice in a bowl and mix. Season with salt and pepper.
- Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Place the salmon, flesh-side down on a piece of parchment paper, then brush over half of the garlic butter.
- Place in the air fryer and allow to cook at 200ºC/390ºF for 5 minutes or until the skin is crisp.
- Gently turn over the salmon, remove the parchment paper and brush with the remaining garlic butter.
- Place back in the air fryer and cook for another 3-5 minutes or until the salmon is cooked to your preference.
- Remove and serve with lemon.
Nutrition
I always use my Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer when developing air fryer recipes. It is by far the most efficient air fryer I’ve used and the basket size is excellent for a family of 4. This post isn’t sponsored but I am partnered with Instant Pot South Africa.
Amazing! My husband & I loved it! So easy and versatile. We paired it with sautéd green beans & the garlic butter rice recipe using Calirose rice. Turned out perfect. It’s a keeper!
Hi Alida,
I am planning to make this soon, but I have a silly question. You say on the directions to remove the parchment paper before you season the salmon and place it back in the air fryer. Does this mean that the first time you put it in with the skin side down you are including the parchment paper?
Thanks
Yes, for the first cook you need the parchment paper to ensure the salmon flesh doesn’t stick to the air fryer basket. Once you flip the salmon over onto the crisped skin, you can remove the parchment paper as this will also help the skin stay crispy during the last few minutes of cooking.
This was so yummy! My youngest tends to be very skeptical of seafood, but the texture of this air fryer salmon was perfect for him. Now, if I could only get the smell of garlic and salmon out of the fryer itself! In any case, this will be a staple in our home this summer. Thanks for the great recipe.
I wait for the air fryer to cool down then give it a good spritz with water mixed with a bit of dish soap and lemon then wipe down with a damp sponge and dry with paper towels. Seems to work for me?