Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

Two cooked salmon fillets in a black air fryer basket.

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This air fryer frozen salmon is the best way to enjoy flaky salmon straight from the freezer – no thawing required!

Course Lunch, Main Course, Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Prep Time 7

Cook Time 16

Total Time 23

Servings servings

Calories 282

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.

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