Making frozen salmon in the air fryer is a breeze! You can have a healthy and delicious fish dinner on the table in just minutes, using simple ingredients, even if you forgot to thaw out the fish.
Let’s Get started
We love making frozen salmon in the air fryer! Typically, we cook fresh salmon filets in the air fryer, or frozen filets that we’ve let thaw out overnight.
But sometimes, you might forget to thaw the salmon, or you may decide at the last minute that you want to air fry salmon for dinner.
That’s totally OK because this recipe will teach you how to make salmon in the air fryer straight from the freezer!
And I promise this air fryer fish recipe turns out just as juicy, tender, and flavorful as possible, and will be tastier than any salmon that you’ve baked or grilled before. A savory garlic butter sauce makes it extra tasty.
If you enjoy salmon, be sure to try our Air Fryer Salmon Patties, which you can make with either fresh or canned fish.
List of ingredients you’ll need
- Frozen Salmon Filets – You don’t need to thaw them first! I’m using sockeye salmon here, but any type of salmon will work just fine with this method. Look for filets that are about 6 ounces each and have the skin on.
- Olive Oil – A small amount of oil brushed over the salmon will help to lock in flavor and moisture.
- Salt and Pepper – Simple seasonings will let the flavor of the salmon shine through.
- Butter – This adds amazing flavor and richness to the fish.
- Garlic – grated or very finely minced garlic is added to the fish during the second half of cooking, along with the butter.
- Lemon Juice – Use the juice from a fresh lemon, rather than bottled lemon juice. I like to cut up a second lemon to serve with the fish too.
- Fresh Parsley – A bit of green is the perfect garnish.
How to cook this salmon
- Get Ready: Assemble your ingredients while you preheat the air fryer at 350°F/175°C for 5 minutes. Once preheated, spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray to keep the fish from sticking.
- Air Fry: Add the salmon fillets to the air fryer basket, skin side down. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set the air fryer to 380°F/190°C and cook for 6 minutes.
- Add the Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, lemon juice, and grated garlic. Brush the garlic butter all over the salmon fillets, and cook again in the air fryer for an additional 6-8 minutes or until your desired doneness.
- Serve: Garnish the salmon with chopped parsley and lemon wedges, and serve with your favorite side dishes.
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
Ideas for Serving salmon
For a delicious and healthy dinner, try serving your air fryer salmon with a side of rice and your favorite veggies.
You can try making your veggies in the air fryer too! Air Fryer Carrot Fries and Air Fried Green Beans are two of my favorites.
If you’re looking for a sauce to serve with salmon, try making homemade Bloves Sauce. It’s incredibly flavorful and works with all types of seafood. It’s amazing with Air Fryer Shrimp too.
Season the salmon with Asian-inspired flavors and create your own Spicy Salmon Roll Bowl!
Recipe Tips and tricks
- Pre-heating is Key: I don’t often recommend preheating the air fryer, but when you’re cooking frozen meat like salmon or steaks, this step is super important! You want the air fryer to be hot when you add the frozen fish.
- Don’t overfill the basket: My air fryer holds two salmon fillets perfectly without them touching or overlapping. Yours may be able to fit more or may fit less. For larger pieces of salmon, you’ll want to cook just one at a time.
- Adjust as Needed: If your frozen salmon fillets weigh more or less than six ounces, you will likely need to adjust the cooking time.
- Don’t Flip! Unlike many air fryer recipes, this one does not require you to flip the food over. The salmon will cook perfectly with the skin side down the entire time.
- Choose your Seasonings: I love this simple recipe with butter, garlic, and lemon, but salmon can stand up to more flavor if you prefer. Try a bit of cajun seasoning for a spicy kick!
FAQs
When cooked, the meat of the salmon turns from a translucent orange to an opaque light pink color. Salmon is usually served “medium” in restaurants so that the center is not all the way cooked. This keeps it moist and tender. The best way to check for doneness is to flake the filet with a fork. If it pulls apart easily, it’s ready to serve.
I find that it’s much easier to cook salmon with the skin on in the air fryer. The skin will keep the fish moist and help you avoid overcooking it. Cooking the fillets skin down will also ensure that it’s easy to remove them from the air fryer basket when they’re done. If your salmon does not have skin, I suggest lining the bottom of your air fryer basket with parchment paper to protect the fish.
Yes! This recipe/method will work with any similar firm-fleshed fish such as pollack, halibut, cod, and hake.
This can sometimes look odd, but I promise it’s totally normal and safe to eat! The white stuff is called “albumin” and is a natural protein in the fish. When cooked it solidifies and often seeps out.
Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 frozen salmon filets about 6 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic grated
- Fresh minced parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer using the pre-heat function or by heating it at 350ºF/175ºC for 5 minutes. Once preheated, spray your air fryer basket with olive oil spray.
- Add the salmon skin side down to the air fryer basket and brush the filets with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook at 380ºF/190ºC for 6 minutes.
- In a small bowl, stir together the butter, lemon juice, and grated garlic. Brush the garlic butter over the salmon filets and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes, or until your desired doneness. Garnish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
- Enjoy this salmon on a salad, over rice, or with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Pre-heating is Key: I don’t often recommend preheating the air fryer, but when you’re cooking frozen meat like salmon or steaks, this step is super important! You want the air fryer to be hot when you add the frozen fish.
- Don’t overfill the basket: My air fryer holds two salmon fillets perfectly without them touching or overlapping. Yours may be able to fit more, or may fit less. For larger pieces of salmon, you’ll want to cook just one at a time.
- Adjust as Needed: If your frozen salmon fillets weigh more or less than six ounces, you will likely need to adjust the cooking time.
- Don’t Flip! Unlike many air fryer recipes, this one does not require you to flip the food over. The salmon will cook perfectly with the skin side down the entire time.
- Choose your Seasonings: I love this simple recipe with butter, garlic, and lemon, but salmon can stand up to more flavor if you prefer. Try a bit of cajun seasoning for a spicy kick!
