Crispy on the outside, buttery within: air fryer salmon is the weeknight dinner that will change the way you cook fish

If you have been cooking salmon in the oven or on the stovetop, the air fryer is about to become your new best friend. What takes 20 minutes in the oven takes less than 10 in the air fryer – and the result is genuinely superior: crisp, golden edges and a centre so tender and flaky it practically melts. No splattered stovetop. No fish smell lingering for days. Just perfectly cooked salmon, every time, with almost no effort. Here are three ways to make it, from simple and classic to something a little more special.

The basics: what makes air fryer salmon work

The secret is moisture removal and heat. Pat your fillets dry with paper towel before seasoning – moisture is the enemy of a crispy exterior. Preheat your air fryer for five minutes before adding the fish. Cook skin-side down. And do not flip – the circulating heat takes care of all sides evenly. The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork, or when an instant-read thermometer reads 63°C. For a slightly silkier, restaurant-style result, pull it out at 57°C and let it rest for two minutes.

Do not crowd the basket. Cook in batches if needed. And do not wrap in foil – it prevents the crispiness that makes this method worth using.

Classic garlic and paprika salmon
Ready in 15 minutes | Serves 2

Ingredients

2 salmon fillets (about 170g each), skin on
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Lemon wedges and fresh dill or parsley to serve

Method

Preheat air fryer to 200°C for 5 minutes.
Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towel.
Brush with olive oil, then sprinkle over garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper, pressing gently so the seasoning adheres.
Place fillets skin-side down in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching.
Cook for 8–10 minutes depending on thickness. The fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
Serve immediately with a generous squeeze of lemon and fresh herbs.
Serve with: steamed broccolini, roasted asparagus or a simple green salad.

Recipe 2: Honey Dijon glazed salmon
Ready in 15 minutes | Serves 2

This one is sweet, tangy and slightly caramelised – the kind of thing that looks like it took considerably more effort than it did.

Ingredients

2 salmon fillets (about 170g each), skin on
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon wedges to serve

Method

Preheat air fryer to 200°C for 5 minutes.
Pat salmon dry with paper towel.
In a small bowl, mix together the Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil and garlic powder.
Brush the glaze generously over the top and sides of each fillet.
Place skin-side down in the air fryer basket.
Cook for 8–10 minutes until the glaze is caramelised and the fish flakes easily.
Serve with lemon wedges and your choice of side.
Serve with: mashed sweet potato, steamed green beans or brown rice.

Lemon herb salmon bites
Ready in 15 minutes | Serves 2–3

Cutting salmon into cubes before air frying gives you more crispy surface area per mouthful – and makes for a brilliant, fuss-free share plate or salad topper.

Ingredients

400g salmon fillet, skin removed, cut into 3cm cubes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon dried oregano or dill
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Method

Preheat air fryer to 200°C for 5 minutes.
Pat salmon cubes dry with paper towel.
In a bowl, toss salmon with olive oil, lemon zest, herbs, garlic powder, salt and pepper until evenly coated.
Spread in a single layer in the air fryer basket — do not pile them on top of each other.
Cook for 8 minutes, shaking the basket gently halfway through.
Serve immediately. These are excellent over a green salad, with tzatziki for dipping, or tossed through pasta with a little olive oil and capers.

A note on nutrition

Salmon is one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat – rich in omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, vitamin D and B vitamins. For anyone managing joint pain, supporting heart health or simply wanting to eat well in their 60s and beyond, two to three serves of salmon per week is a genuinely worthwhile habit. The air fryer makes that habit considerably easier to maintain.