Easy Air Fryer Salmon Bites with the Ninja Foodi
Air fryer salmon bites are my new favorite way to make salmon! They are quick, easy, and make a healthy dinner. Salmon is one of my top choices when it comes to fish because of its rich flavor but the thickest part of the fillet is also the most difficult to season. But when you cut the salmon up, it not only cooks in less time but each piece becomes more uniform in taste. This simple Ninja Foodi salmon recipe has only a little bit of prep time and a short cooking time but makes a delicious meal. Now let me show you how to make these easy air fryer teriyaki salmon bites. Full printable recipe card below.
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What are Salmon Bites?
Salmon bites are an easy way of cooking salmon fillets that adds more flavor to each bite while still enjoying a quick meal. They can be served with side dishes or stand alone over rice, noodles, or as a taco.
Cooking Method
I make these almost every week and I always use my Ninja Foodi air fryer because it is quick and easy. In theory you could bake them in the oven, but I have not personally tried that. In my experience, the oven usually takes a bit longer to cook items especially if you are cooking in a gas oven.
What is an Air Fryer?
Unless you do not have the internet, you have likely heard of the culinary phenomenon of the air fryer. But every time I share a video of me air frying dinner on Instagram, I get a lot of questions about what it tastes like. So let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
In my opinion, the best way to describe an air fryer is they are really powerful convection ovens that are portable. The hot air makes food very crispy without drenching your food in vegetable oil making it a healthier option. Unlike a deep frying, air frying can be done with a small amount of oil and sometimes none at all. I personally don’t enjoy super greasy and heavily oiled fried food so the air fryer is a great way to have crispy food without the deep fried taste.
One of the most common questions I get is does it taste like deep fried food? No. They taste very different in my opinion. With the air fryer you get the crispiness of something that has been fried but without all the the oily taste.
My Air Fryer
I received the Ninja Foodi air fryer for Christmas and I LOVE IT! I use it several times each week. I may even use it more than my oven now. The Ninja is a different type of air fryer in that the air fryer basket is a pull out drawer and is much larger than my Instant Pot air fryer lid version. This makes using it much more convenient. It has two zones which can be used simultaneously or as one large mega zone as it’s called. The only draw back is the size. It does take up more space, but in my opinion it is totally worth it! I definitely recommend this air fryer.
Ingredients
This simple air fryer salmon recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and steps to make. You may even have these items on hand. Let me walk you through what I use and why and what ingredients will give you the best results.
Salmon Filets – I have used both fresh salmon filets and frozen salmon for this recipe and both work just fine. If you choose to use frozen, just thaw them in cold water first. When I use fresh, I remove the salmon skin but you can leave it if you like eating the skin. If you keep the skin on, make sure you place them skin side down in the air fryer.
The best salmon is Alaskan King salmon but since we do not live near water, I am usually stuck with farm-raised salmon. However, after a trip to Seattle I have considered ordering from the fish market and having it shipped!
I do think salmon works best for this recipe though. I have tried making it with tuna and tilapia and neither of them were very good. Salmon is a richer tasting fish with more fatty acids that give these bites better flavor.
Teriyaki Sauce – Before adding some bread crumbs to the salmon I coat them in teriyaki sauce. You can buy teriyaki sauce at your local grocery store in the international foods aisle. I usually make my quick homemade teriyaki sauce without ginger since it is very easy to make with just a little bit of soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and cornstarch.
Panko Bread Crumbs – Coating the side, bottom, and top of the filets with bread crumbs give the salmon an extra crunch and texture. You can add your favorite seasonings like garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper to the bread crumbs, but my sauce already has quite a bit of sodium and garlic so I usually just use plain panko bread crumbs.
Sesame Seeds – These are optional but add a extra element of texture and a little bit to the presentation.
Sriracha Mayo – If you have never had Sriracha mayo it’s essentially spicy mayonnaise. It has the same tangy taste as regular mayo with a little spicy kick. If you do not have the store bought version, you can easily make a homemade spicy mayo which I have done many times. All you need is mayonnaise and sriracha. Sometimes I add a little fresh lemon juice or lime juice if I have it and salt and pepper, but that’s really all there is to it.
Green Onions – Green onions pair really well with Asian style cuisine, add a lot of flavor, and are best served raw. All that makes them the perfect topping for salmon bites.
Coating the Salmon Bites
I usually set up a breading station to coat the salmon chunks. One bowl with teriyaki sauce and one with bread crumbs. First I dip each piece into the teriyaki sauce and then use my other hand to dip and coat it in the bread crumbs. Then I add each piece to a small greased pan that fits in my air fryer. Once all the salmon chunks are coated, add them to the air fryer and start cooking.
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Print
Easy Air Fryer Salmon Bites with the Ninja Foodi
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 36 bites 1x
Description
Air fryer salmon bites are my new favorite way to make salmon! They are quick, easy, and make a healthy dinner. Salmon is one of my top choices when it comes to fish because of its rich flavor but the thickest part of the fillet is also the most difficult to season. But when you cut the salmon up, it not only cooks in less time but each piece becomes more uniform in taste. This simple Ninja Foodi salmon recipe has only a little bit of prep time and a short cooking time but makes a delicious meal. These are a great recipe for weeknight dinners or lunches. No matter when you make them, air fryer salmon bites will quickly become a family favorite!
Ingredients
- 2 Salmon Fillets cubed
- 2 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- 2/3 cup Teriyaki Sauce (store bought or homemade) divided
- Sesame Seeds for topping
- Sriracha Mayo for topping
- Green Onion for garnish
Instructions
- Set the temperature of your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Pre-heating is not required, but I think it helps for the fryer to heat up for a couple of minutes prior to adding the salmon.
- Spray the inside of the air fryer with cooking oil spray or use a small pan that fits in the air fryer to prevent the salmon from sticking to the bottom.
- If you are using fresh salmon, remove the skin before cubing.
- With a sharp knife, cut the salmon fillets into cubes about 1 1/2 inches depending on the thickness of your fillets.
- Using two small bowls set up a breading station with half of the teriyaki sauce in one bowl and bread crumbs in the other. You will use the other half of the sauce after they are done cooking.
- Coat each cube in the teriyaki sauce first and then the bread crumbs. This works best if you use one hand for the sauce and one for the breading.
- Once the salmon is coated place on a greased pan, piece of parchment paper, or aluminum foil that will go inside the air fryer. NOTE: be careful with parchment paper. If it is too big it can burn in the fan.
- Place the salmon inside the pre-heated air fryer and cook for 6-8 minutes flipping halfway through. I use my mega zone for this and can make both fillets if I use parchment paper or place directly on the grates.
- When the bites are done, remove immediately and do not allow them to cool in the fryer. I find that this makes things less crispy. As soon as the time ends, open the fryer and turn it off. Cool for a few minutes with the drawer or lid off.
- Transfer to a plate and drizzle with half of the remaining teriyaki sauce and reserve the other half for dipping.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds, green onions, and a drizzle of sriracha mayo.
Notes
Air fryer ovens may differ in size and temperature so your cook time and quantity may vary. Two salmon fillets makes about 36 bites.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Entree
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American, Asian
Storage
Leftover salmon bites can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. But if I am being honest, these are best when made fresh.
When to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
These high protein bites are so easy and delicious you can make them anytime. They are in my regular dinner rotation and I make them almost every week! They are perfect for a busy weeknight or a healthy lunch. Pair them with a bowl of rice, roasted veggies, make them a taco, or serve on top of noodles. Ninja Foodi salmon bites are an easy meal the whole family will love!
Looking for more easy air fryer recipes? Try my air fryer sweet potato fries, breakfast bagel egg in the hole, or frozen air fryer tater tots. Looking for more seafood recipes? Try my air fryer salmon fish tacos, spicy tuna sushi poke bowl, peanut butter Pad Thai with shrimp, or my frozen Costco tilapia fish tacos
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