This air fryer salmon is roasted on a bed of lemons and seasoned with fresh dill, and it’s delectable and delightful. It’s super easy with only 5 ingredients and ready in 10 minutes without the fuss. It’s perfectly crisp on the outside, yet tender and flakey on the inside. It’s also naturally keto, paleo, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Whether you’re cooking to entertain a few friends or cooking a romantic dinner for two, this salmon recipe comes out perfectly every time, so everyone will be happy and satisfied. Who knows, they might even leave you a tip. 😉
If you want a fancier weeknight meal that is sure to please, surprise them all with this terrifically easy air fryer salmon. These Salmon Bites are also super quick and easy!
Ingredients
- Lemons, sliced
- Center-cut salmon fillets
- Olive oil
- Dill, chopped
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
How to make Air Fryer Salmon:
- Put sliced lemons in the air fryer basket to make a bed for the salmon (or place them on top, like in this Air Fryer Cod recipe).
- Put the salmon skin-side down on top of the slices and drizzle with some olive oil.
- Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle dill over the top.
- Cook until it is bright pink and flakey.
- Enjoy!
You can also squeeze some of the charred lemon juice over the salmon right before serving for extra lemon flavor.
Tips:
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. You want the salmon to cook evenly and get a little crispy, so each piece should have a little space in between.
- There is no need to flip the salmon. It will cook perfectly just as it is.
- You can store the cooked salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days (and maybe use the leftovers in these Quick Salmon Patties?)
- It’s best to cook fish right away, but if you bought fresh salmon ahead, remove the paper it was wrapped in, and store it in an airtight container, no more than 2 days before cooking.
- The salmon is perfectly done when it easily flakes with a fork. Once it’s done remove it from the air fryer right away, otherwise, you might have overcooked and dry salmon for dinner.
- Always watch out for bones that may be in the fresh fillets and remove them before cooking.
How to choose the best salmon filets?
To buy the best salmon fillets, there are some things to look for before buying them.
You want the fillets to be of equal size and thickness to cook evenly and ready at the same time.
If you bought fresh salmon, to ensure it’s as fresh as it can be, press on the fillet, if it springs back, it’s good. If it remains indented, it means it’s an older fish.
You definitely don’t want your fish to have a funky odor.
The color of the salmon should have a nice pink tone, not too pale. Go for the brightest hues. Once it’s cooked it will completely transform into a nice color of, you guessed it, pink salmon.
Do I have to cook the salmon with the skin?
No, it’s not mandatory, but I definitely recommend it. Cooking salmon with the skin seals in the juices and helps the fillets hold together better.
If you want the moistest, tastiest salmon, I would leave the skin on. Once it’s done, it flakes away from the skin nicely, so no problem.
Why use the air fryer?
The air fryer is just so easy to use; it’s energy-efficient, you don’t have to stand over a hot grill or heat up your house, and you get perfectly crisp and tender food without using a lot of oil. Plus, clean-up is a snap!
Believe me, I’m not trying to sell you on the idea, but if you’ve been thinking of purchasing one, summer is the perfect time to buy one (same with a Blackstone griddle – then you can make Blackstone Salmon!).
If you just don’t want to use one, then check out this Sockeye Salmon Recipe! This Olive Garden Salmon Recipe is also fantastic.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Sure, if you have any. This salmon is so good, I bet you won’t need to.
But if you want to prep ahead for a quick lunch down the road, you can store the cooked fillets in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To thaw it, just leave it in the fridge overnight, and heat it thoroughly in the air fryer when you’re ready to eat.
Can I use frozen fillets?
Certainly! Just follow the same instructions as with the fresh salmon, but you’ll want to add a few minutes of extra cooking time to ensure it is thoroughly cooked.
What to serve with salmon:
- Since you already have dill, this cucumber salad is an easy side that is light and refreshing.
- These lemon butter green beans with shaved almonds are zesty and made in minutes. I think these Easy Broiled Asparagus would also be fantastic!
- This simple cranberry sunflower seed salad is quick and fresh with a pop of pomegranate seeds.
- For a more robust salad, this sweet potato goat cheese salad is hearty and fresh.
- You can’t go wrong with blanched broccoli. It’s always a fabulous side dish with a little melted butter and a dash of salt and pepper.
Other air fryer recipes:
For another delicious keto salmon recipe, check out this Keto Salmon With A Sweet & Spicy Glaze! This Salmon Salad is another delicious option should you find yourself in the mood for even more salmon. 🙂
If you try this air fryer salmon or any recipe you find here, I would love to see pics and hear about your experience. Just tag 📸 and follow #fooddoodlesrecipes so that I can find them easily. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Don’t forget to save this no-bake cheesecake mousse recipe to your favorite Pinterest board so you can easily find it. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 lemons sliced into ⅛” thick slices
- 4 center-cut salmon fillets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons dill chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put sliced lemons in the air fryer basket to make a bed for the salmon.
- Put the salmon skin-side down on top of the slices and drizzle with olive oil.
- Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle dill over the top.
- Cook the salmon at 375 °F (190 °C) for 8-10 minutes or until the salmon is bright pink and flakey.
- Serve!
- Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
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