Crispy Salmon Bites Recipe in the Air Fryer

Name: Crispy Salmon Bites in the Air Fryer
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound salmon filets (skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes); 1 cup panko breadcrumbs; salt and pepper (to taste); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; cooking pray; sliced green onions (for garnish); ½ cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 tablespoon sriracha ((or more to taste)); 1 teaspoon soy sauce

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Crispy Salmon Bites in the Air Fryer have a crunchy, perfectly seasoned golden crust and a tender, flaky inside. Made easily in the air fryer and drizzled with my irresistible homemade bang bang sauce, you are going to love this addition to your weekly meal plan!

Want to oven-bake these bites? You’ll find those instructions included, as well as how to make a non breaded version as well.

Crispy Salmon Bites on a white plate topped drizzle with bang bang sauce and garnished with sliced green onions.

This air fryer salmon bites recipe is great for all occasions! The simple recipe makes for an easy weeknight dinner and is tasty enough to impress dinner guests. Not to mention, it is an excellent way to begin introducing little ones to salmon!

For more recipes with the whole package– quick, easy, and delicious– try my Mexican Beef And Rice Skillet fit to feed a crowd and this better-than-take-out Chinese Orange Chicken Recipe.

Ingredient Notes

Labeled ingredients needed to make salmon bites in the air fryer.

Salmon: To make bite-sized salmon pieces, you’ll need a couple of skinless salmon filets cut into 1-inch cubes with a sharp knife.
Bread crumbs: Get a satisfying crunch by coating the fish bites with panko breadcrumbs.
Seasoning: Add salt and black pepper to taste, then mix garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika for flavorful salmon seasoning.
Oil: Have a cooking spray on hand to prepare the air fryer basket and coat the salmon for a beautifully golden crust. I use avocado oil, but you can use your favorite, like sesame oil.
Onions: Sprinkle on some sliced green onions for a garnish when the crispy air fryer salmon bites are ready to serve!

Bang Bang Sauce

Mayo: Use mayonnaise to hold all of the yummy flavors of this creamy sauce.
Chili sauce: Add some sweet heat with sweet chili sauce.
Honey: Balance the spice with rich honey.
Sriracha: Bring more tasty spice with sriracha sauce, and add even more if you want the Bang Bang sauce to be extra hot!
Soy sauce: Compliment the creamy notes with savory soy sauce.

Variations and substitutions

Blackened Salmon Bites: Season the salmon with sweet paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Omit the breadcrumbs for a true blackened style, or add the seasoning blend to the panko crumbs for a spicy crust.
Lemon Pepper Crust Air Fryer Salmon Nuggets: Lemon is a typical flavor for fish dishes, and this recipe is no exception! Add fresh lemon juice or lemon pepper to the seasoning mix for a bright citrus twist.
Gluten-Free Salmon Bites: Swap the soy sauce for coconut aminos for the gluten-free version of this delicious air fryer salmon recipe.
Low Carb: Switch out the Panko crumbs for pork panko or omit the crumbs for a low-carb or keto-friendly option.

How to make easy air fryer salmon bites with bang bang sauce

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!

Step 1 | Preheat and prep

First, preheat the air fryer to 400 ℉ and mix together the panko crumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika in a shallow dish.

Spices added to panko crumbs in a bowl and mixed together.

Step 2 | Coat the salmon

Next, coat each piece of salmon with the panko and seasoning mixture and press it gently to stick well.

Adding salmon cubes to spiced panko mixture and coating completely.

Prepare the air fryer by lightly spraying the basket with oil spray (I like to use avocado oil spray), or you can use a liner.

Spraying air fryer and adding salmon bites.

Step 3 | Cook the salmon pieces

Now, arrange the coated salmon cubes in the basket in a single layer, making sure they’re not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook the fish in batches and potentially adjust the cooking time.

Then, lightly spray the top of the salmon bites with more avocado oil to make them extra crisp!

Cook the salmon bites for 8-10 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, and the coating is crisp and a beautiful golden brown.

If you’re making them in batches, repeat the cooking process with the remaining salmon bites.

Step 4 | Make the easy Bang Bang sauce

While the salmon is cooking, make the bang bang sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, honey, sriracha, and soy sauce. Once the sauce mixture is smooth, taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce and spices added to a bowl and mixed together to make a bang bang sauce.

Step 5 | Plate, garnish, and serve!

Finally, transfer the crispy salmon chunks to a serving plate, drizzle on the bang bang sauce, garnish with sliced green onion, and dig in!

How to make oven-baked salmon bites

Add the fish bites to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and spray with oil. Next, bake the salmon bites in an oven preheated to 400°F for about 10 minutes. For a golden crust, remove the pan and set the oven to broil. Then, add the pan back and let it toast until golden for just a couple of minutes.

To make an air fryer salmon bites recipe without breadcrumbs

If you prefer no crust, make seasoned salmon bites. Omit the breadcrumbs from the spice mixture, mix the spices with 2 teaspoons of avocado or olive oil, and toss the salmon in the spice mixture. Then, continue with the recipe as instructed.

Tips

Toss with Oil– Instead of spraying the fish with oil, you can toss the salmon in 2 teaspoons of neutral oil before coating it with the breadcrumbs if preferred.
Internal Temperature– Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the salmon. It is fully cooked when the thickest part of the fish reads 145°F.
Frozen Salmon– Let the salmon thaw completely before adding it to the air fryer.

Recipe FAQs

Does salmon need to be flipped in the air fryer?

This delicious salmon recipe cooks quickly in the air fryer, so you don’t need to flip the pieces in between.

How do you keep salmon from sticking to the air fryer?

Don’t forget to prep the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking. You can also use a specialized air fryer liner if preferred. These liners have holes to allow the hot air to circulate, giving you the best results.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

It’s not recommended to use aluminum foil in the air fryer because it blocks hot air flow. An air fryer circulates hot air all around the food, producing even and thorough results. If you line the basket with aluminum foil, the bottom of the food won’t be cooked properly.

Salmon bites on a white plate being picked up with a fork.

Storage

Refrigerate: Save leftover salmon for later by refrigerating it in an airtight container for up to two days.

Any extra sauce can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Reheat: Reheat the dish by preheating the air fryer to 350°F and cook for just three minutes or so.

What to serve with air-fried salmon bites

This versatile recipe is delicious with all kinds of sides, but my favorite combination might be potatoes and greens. Try serving the air-fried salmon with crunchy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes or fluffy Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes. Then, round out the meal with Instant Pot Garlic Butter Green Beans or Oven-Roasted Broccoli Recipe With Parmesan.

More seafood dishes

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Crispy Salmon Bites Recipe in the Air Fryer

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