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    Home » Recipes » Air Fryer Recipes

    Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

    Published: Feb 8, 2025 by Dorothy Bigelow · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    An air fryer basket with two salmon fillets and a round of fresh lemon.
    Two cooked salmon fillets in an air fryer basket.

    Busy people can eat well too! This Air Fryer Frozen Salmon is the best way to enjoy flaky salmon straight from the freezer – no thawing needed.

    Whether you're looking for an easy and healthy dinner or a way to meal prep salmon for the week, this is the way to make it happen.

    An air fryer basket with two cooked salmon fillets inside.

    One of my dinnertime hacks is this easy breezy recipe for air fryer frozen salmon. That's right – frozen!

    On our busiest days it's hard to even remember that dinner needs to be made, let alone that something needs to be thawed beforehand. This recipe has been a real lifesaver for our busy household – and I know it will be for yours too!

    Whether you want to serve it up with some quick steamed veggies, a green salad, or some Instant Pot rice, this is an easy way to have a healthy meal any night of the week.

    Why You'll Love It

    • Perfectly cooked. You will love how flaky and delicious salmon is in the air fryer. You'll get the best results every single time!
    • No need to thaw. Forget to take something out for dinner? Don't worry! You can still enjoy a delicious meal with minimal prep time.
    • ​Easy to customize. We've included our tried-and-true blend of seasonings, but you can easily swap it out for your favorite combos or blends.

    Ingredients

    Two fillets of frozen salmon that are vacuum packed, plus olive oil, lemon, and seasonings.
    • Frozen salmon fillets: These range in size from about 4-7 ounces, and the recipe works best when prepared 2 at a time. If you want to prep a larger amount, cook in small batches. We pick ours up at Costco – it's great quality at a good price.
    • Olive oil: We like the flavor that olive oil adds, but avocado oil works great too!
    • Lemon juice: This can either be bottled or fresh lemon juice. Whatever you have on hand is fine, or you could leave it out altogether.
    • Seasonings: Garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

    Tools and Equipment

    • Air fryer
    • Meat thermometer

    How to Cook Frozen Salmon in an Air Fryer

    Cooking salmon is made even easier with this simple air fryer salmon recipe! Since it cooks from frozen you can have this even on busy weeknights.

    Brushing a seasoned oil on top of frozen salmon fillets, then placing them in an air fryer basket.
    1. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings to a small bowl.
      • 2 teaspoons olive oil (or avocado oil)
      • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
      • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
      • ½ teaspoon paprika
      • ¼ teaspoon salt
      • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    2. Stir the seasonings and oil together until a thin paste forms.
    3. Place the frozen salmon fillets on a flat surface (like a plate, parchment paper, or a tray).
    4. Brush all sides of the salmon with the seasoned oil.
      • If desired, let it rest for 5-10 minutes before cooking.
    5. Preheat the air fryer to 390-400ºF (200-204ºC) for at least 3 minutes, or according to the manufacturer's instructions.
      • Place the salmon in the air fryer basket skin side down (or where the skin would be if it has been removed).
    6. Cook at 390-400ºF for 14-17 minutes, or until the thickest part of the fillet has reached a minimum internal temperature of 145ºF (63ºC).
      • Large pieces of salmon may need to be cooked for longer (or at a higher temperature) than smaller pieces.

    If Using Thawed Salmon

    If you thawed your frozen salmon fillets ahead of time, you can prepare this recipe using the same method, but reduce the cooking time. A cook time of 7-10 minutes at 390-400ºF (200-204ºC) works for most air fryers, but it's important to verify the internal temperature for accuracy.

    A close up of a fillet of salmon on a bed of quinoa and surrounded by broccoli.

    What to Serve with Salmon

    Salmon pairs well with so many different side dishes, especially when seasoned simply and cooked to perfection. Here are just a few suggestions:

    • Rice, quinoa, couscous, etc.
    • Cauliflower rice
    • Steamed veggies (broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, etc)
    • Roasted vegetables
    • Mashed potatoes
    • Roasted or baked potatoes
    • Noodles
    • Cooked greens
    • Salads

    Storing Leftovers

    Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

    Reheat portions as needed in the microwave OR in an air fryer set to 300ºF (149ºC) until well heated throughout.

    Top Tip: We think the leftover salmon is the best part! We love to flake it and add it to rice with tamari, sriracha, and a little mayo. Absolutely delish!

    A fork that has flaked a piece of cooked salmon to expose the juicy insides.

    Expert Tips

    • Don't flip. I know, I know – this is totally contrary to most of the advice you read about air frying. However, it's a different story when it comes to salmon. Fish is very delicate and flakes apart quite easily; to keep the fillet intact, avoid flipping it at any point during cooking.
    • 5-10 minutes. If you want to make your salmon even more flavorful, try allowing it to rest for 5-10 minutes once brushed with the seasonings and olive oil.
    • Experiment with flavor. If you want to try new flavors, try using different seasonings and sauces. Teriyaki, hot honey, dijon mustard, and lemon dill are all tasty options!

    Substitutions

    • Olive oil: If you prefer, you can swap olive oil for avocado oil. Both work great!
    • Lemon juice: This can be left out, or substituted for different acidic ingredients to change the flavor. Lime juice, rice vinegar, and apple cider vinegar are all options.
    • Salmon: The same blend of seasonings can be used on other types of fish or even chicken. Be sure to cook all types of food to the minimum internal temperature recommended by the USDA.
    • Seasonings: Swap for your favorite seasonings or seasoning blends. A generous sprinkling of lemon pepper seasoning makes for the most delicious lemon pepper salmon! Cajun seasoning is another great option.
    A cooked salmon fillet on a bed of cooked quinoa and with a side of steamed broccoli.

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    If you loved this recipe for air fried frozen salmon, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.

    Two cooked salmon fillets in a black air fryer basket.

    Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

    This air fryer frozen salmon is the best way to enjoy flaky salmon straight from the freezer – no thawing required!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Lunch, Main Course, Main Dishes
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 16 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 23 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 282kcal
    Author: Dorothy Bigelow

    Ingredients

    • 2 frozen salmon fillets approximately ¾ pound - 6 ounces each
    • 2 teaspoons olive oil or avocado oil
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat your air fryer to 390ºF (200ºC) for at least 3 minutes, or according to your manufacturer’s instructions.
    • Remove the frozen salmon from its packaging and place it on a clean plate or cutting board.
    • Combine the olive oil, lemon juice (if using), garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl and whisk until combined. It should form a thin paste.
    • Brush both sides of each of the salmon fillets with the seasoned olive oil. Note: If desired, you can allow the salmon to dry brine for 5-10 minutes before cooking.
    • Place the fillets, skin side down (or where the skin would have been), in the basket of the air fryer.
    • Cook for 14-17 minutes, or until the thickest part of each piece of salmon reaches a minimum internal temperature of 145ºF (64ºC). Do not flip the pieces during cooking.
    • Remove from the air fryer and serve immediately.
    Did you try this recipe?Tag me at @dashfordinner and share your photos!

    Notes

    Serving suggestions: Rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, steamed veggies, mashed potatoes, salads, cooked greens, noodles, etc.
    Internal temperature: Salmon is cooked through when it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 145ºF (63ºC).
    Thicker fillets: If your salmon fillets are very thick, try cooking them at 400ºF instead of 390ºF and be sure to only cook them 2 at a time. Verify the internal temperature to ensure they are cooked through; add more time if they need it. 
    Thawed salmon: If you thawed your salmon beforehand, you can reduce the cooking time to 7-10 minutes.
    Crispy salmon: If you like crispy edges you can increase the heat to 400ºF (204ºC).
    Lemon pepper salmon: Swap the listed seasonings and lemon juice for your favorite lemon pepper seasoning. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1fillet | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 859mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 316IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg

    Please note that some of my blog posts here at Dash for Dinner may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer for more information.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Dorothy Bigelow

      February 08, 2025 at 9:51 am

      5 stars
      We have loved using this recipe to make easy meals AND for meal prep. It's flaky and perfectly seasoned with minimal ingredients. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Dorothy!

    Dash for Dinner was started when I had my first child, as an effort to help other families who were struggling with cooking delicious meals while balancing it all. 

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