Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Updated Feb 26, 2026
Air Fryer Salmon Bites made with cubed salmon, paprika, cumin, and garlic powder. Crispy outside, tender inside, ready in under 10 minutes.
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These Air Fryer Salmon Nuggets are soo good!
My kids love salmon, so I’m always finding creative ways to cook it! These Air Fryer Salmon Bites are my new creation (and favorite). They’re so easy and flavorful thanks to a homemade spice mixture! and crispy all the way around.
These air-fried salmon nuggets start by tossing the cubed salmon in olive oil and cumin, paprika, dried thyme, and garlic powder. There’s no marinating time since the fish absorbs the flavor of the spice mixture quickly! Plus, the last thing I want on a weeknight is for dinner to take longer than it has to! Lately, I’ve been serving these air fryer salmon bites with rice, air fryer broccoli, and spicy mayo on top. It’s a no-fail combination everyone in my house is happy with!
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Air Fryer Salmon Bites Ingredients
- Salmon Filets: I like to use skinless salmon filets, but you can use frozen salmon too! Just make sure it’s fully thawed before you cube it.
- Olive oil: I prefer the taste of olive oil with these salmon bites, but any cooking oil with a high-smoke point is fine.
- Seasoning: I use paprika, cumin, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper to flavor this salmon, but get creative with your spice blends! Lemon Pepper Seasoning, Ranch Seasoning, and even 7 Spice are all great on salmon.
- Lemon Wedges: A little fresh lemon juice is great for finishing these air fryer salmon bites off, but feel free to skip if it you like.
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Air Fryer Salmon Bites Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds skinless salmon fillets cut in 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Lemon wedges for serving
- spicy mayo
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Place the salmon cubes, olive oil and seasoning in a large bowl and toss gently to combine the salmon with the seasoning.
- Transfer the salmon to the air fryer in a single layer not touching. Air fry the salmon until cooked through and browned all over, shaking the basket halfway through, 7-8 minutes total.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Tips
- Cut your salmon into evenly sized pieces. This will help make sure that each piece of fish cooks at the same speed!
- Make sure to shake your air fryer basket mid-way through cooking. Because air fryers have heating elements in their ceilings, it’s important to shake the basket mid-way through so the tops of your salmon bites don’t cook faster than the bottoms!
- Mind your air fryer’s cooking time. Some air fryers run hotter than others (and some cooler!), so use my recipe as a starting point and adjust the cooking time as needed.
Serving Ideas
- Serve with sauce. These salmon bites are so fun to dip in a side sauce. Spicy mayo‘s been my go-to lately, but cilantro yogurt sauce or tahini sauce would also be delicious.
- Eat with grains. Add to a grain bowl of any kind, but I also love to eat it on a bed of cilantro lime rice, or lemon rice.
- Add a veggie side. When I serve these salmon bites with rice, I always like to add a veggie dish on the side, like my air fried broccoli, my roasted zucchini, or even roasted sweet potatoes.
FAQs
Because the salmon is cut into small pieces and cooked at such a high temperature, you don’t really have to worry about whether or not it’s cooked through. When the salmon’s well-browned, it’ll be done!
Comments
If you donโt have an air fryer what alternative method of cooking can be used? Or would you only recommend air frying?
Hi there! I haven’t tried pan frying these salmon bites but I think it would work. I have many other salmon recipes that use a variety of cooking methods, if you’re interested in trying something else: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/salmon-recipes/
We just made this and wow! So so good! We ate it with a savory dish of cauliflower rice and added some shredded cabbage. We are most definitely making this again. Thank you so much!
Yum, that all sounds so good!! So happy you liked the recipe, Michele! Thanks!!
Sorry if this is a silly question – Iโve never cooked with salmon. Should the skin be removed before cubing and cooking? If so, any tips on how to easily do this? Hoping to make this tomorrow!
Hi Amira! It’s not a silly question at all. I make this recipe with skinless filets. You can buy them that way or ask the fishmonger at the grocery storeโthey may be willing to do it for you! If you’ve already purchased salmon with skin, all you need to do is place the filet skin side down on a cutting board and cut a small incision on the corner where the skin meets the filet. Next, hold down the corner and position the knife to carefully cut along the filet between the skin membrane and the flesh. Once you have a firm grip, you should be able to use the knife to cut and peel away the skin more quickly. Hope this helps! Enjoy!!
Wow – huge hit! My toughest critic says it was one of my top 5 dishes. Thank you for this recipe and your guidance! Thought I didnโt like salmon, but I love this recipe!
Amazing!! Aww, so happy you and your family loved it!! Thanks so much, Amira!
Uhhhโฆ whereโs the cooking time? It doesnโt even have a temperature to cook the bites at. The recipe looks delicious, but itโs missing the most important part!
Hi Ollie! You can find the full instructions (including the temperature and cook time) in the recipe card at the bottom of the post (above the comments section). You can also click ‘jump to recipe’ at the top of the page to get there quickly. Hope that helps!!
So good! My toddler loves it too!!
Yay, that makes me so happy! Thank you!
What a scrumptious and fun recipe. I highly recommend it especially if you have kids and want them to load up on protein or just want to serve and enjoy salmon in a different form. Yum!
Aww, thank you!! So glad you and your kids like it, Katia!