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Crispy Salmon Bites in the Air Fryer have a crunchy, perfectly seasoned golden crust and a tender, flaky inside. Made easily in the air fryer and drizzled with my irresistible homemade bang bang sauce, you are going to love this addition to your weekly meal plan!
Want to oven-bake these bites? You’ll find those instructions included, as well as how to make a non breaded version as well.
This air fryer salmon bites recipe is great for all occasions! The simple recipe makes for an easy weeknight dinner and is tasty enough to impress dinner guests. Not to mention, it is an excellent way to begin introducing little ones to salmon!
For more recipes with the whole package– quick, easy, and delicious– try my Mexican Beef And Rice Skillet fit to feed a crowd and this better-than-take-out Chinese Orange Chicken Recipe.
Ingredient Notes
Bang Bang Sauce
- Mayo: Use mayonnaise to hold all of the yummy flavors of this creamy sauce.
- Chili sauce: Add some sweet heat with sweet chili sauce.
- Honey: Balance the spice with rich honey.
- Sriracha: Bring more tasty spice with sriracha sauce, and add even more if you want the Bang Bang sauce to be extra hot!
- Soy sauce: Compliment the creamy notes with savory soy sauce.
Variations and substitutions
- Blackened Salmon Bites: Season the salmon with sweet paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Omit the breadcrumbs for a true blackened style, or add the seasoning blend to the panko crumbs for a spicy crust.
- Lemon Pepper Crust Air Fryer Salmon Nuggets: Lemon is a typical flavor for fish dishes, and this recipe is no exception! Add fresh lemon juice or lemon pepper to the seasoning mix for a bright citrus twist.
- Gluten-Free Salmon Bites: Swap the soy sauce for coconut aminos for the gluten-free version of this delicious air fryer salmon recipe.
- Low Carb: Switch out the Panko crumbs for pork panko or omit the crumbs for a low-carb or keto-friendly option.
How to make easy air fryer salmon bites with bang bang sauce
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Preheat and prep
First, preheat the air fryer to 400 ℉ and mix together the panko crumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika in a shallow dish.
Step 2 | Coat the salmon
Next, coat each piece of salmon with the panko and seasoning mixture and press it gently to stick well.
Prepare the air fryer by lightly spraying the basket with oil spray (I like to use avocado oil spray), or you can use a liner.
Step 3 | Cook the salmon pieces
Now, arrange the coated salmon cubes in the basket in a single layer, making sure they’re not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook the fish in batches and potentially adjust the cooking time.
Then, lightly spray the top of the salmon bites with more avocado oil to make them extra crisp!
Cook the salmon bites for 8-10 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, and the coating is crisp and a beautiful golden brown.
If you’re making them in batches, repeat the cooking process with the remaining salmon bites.
Step 4 | Make the easy Bang Bang sauce
While the salmon is cooking, make the bang bang sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, honey, sriracha, and soy sauce. Once the sauce mixture is smooth, taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.
Step 5 | Plate, garnish, and serve!
Finally, transfer the crispy salmon chunks to a serving plate, drizzle on the bang bang sauce, garnish with sliced green onion, and dig in!
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How to make oven-baked salmon bites
Add the fish bites to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and spray with oil. Next, bake the salmon bites in an oven preheated to 400°F for about 10 minutes. For a golden crust, remove the pan and set the oven to broil. Then, add the pan back and let it toast until golden for just a couple of minutes.
To make an air fryer salmon bites recipe without breadcrumbs
If you prefer no crust, make seasoned salmon bites. Omit the breadcrumbs from the spice mixture, mix the spices with 2 teaspoons of avocado or olive oil, and toss the salmon in the spice mixture. Then, continue with the recipe as instructed.
Tips
- Toss with Oil– Instead of spraying the fish with oil, you can toss the salmon in 2 teaspoons of neutral oil before coating it with the breadcrumbs if preferred.
- Internal Temperature– Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the salmon. It is fully cooked when the thickest part of the fish reads 145°F.
- Frozen Salmon– Let the salmon thaw completely before adding it to the air fryer.
Recipe FAQs
This delicious salmon recipe cooks quickly in the air fryer, so you don’t need to flip the pieces in between.
Don’t forget to prep the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking. You can also use a specialized air fryer liner if preferred. These liners have holes to allow the hot air to circulate, giving you the best results.
It’s not recommended to use aluminum foil in the air fryer because it blocks hot air flow. An air fryer circulates hot air all around the food, producing even and thorough results. If you line the basket with aluminum foil, the bottom of the food won’t be cooked properly.
Storage
Refrigerate: Save leftover salmon for later by refrigerating it in an airtight container for up to two days.
Any extra sauce can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Reheat: Reheat the dish by preheating the air fryer to 350°F and cook for just three minutes or so.
What to serve with air-fried salmon bites
This versatile recipe is delicious with all kinds of sides, but my favorite combination might be potatoes and greens. Try serving the air-fried salmon with crunchy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes or fluffy Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes. Then, round out the meal with Instant Pot Garlic Butter Green Beans or Oven-Roasted Broccoli Recipe With Parmesan.
More seafood dishes
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
- Shrimp And Grits With Andouille Cream Sauce
- Gouda Grits With Creamy Asparagus & Crab Sauce
- Andouille And Crawfish Pimento Cheese Fries
- Cajun Seafood Gumbo
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Crispy Salmon Bites in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon filets, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- salt and pepper , to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- cooking pray
- sliced green onions, for garnish
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sriracha , (or more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉.
- In a shallow dish, mix together the panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika.
- Coat each salmon piece in the panko mixture, pressing gently to ensure the breadcrumbs stick well.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil spray or use a liner.
- Arrange the coated salmon bites in the basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching. You might need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Lightly spray the top of the salmon bites with more avocado oil to help ensure crisping. (Likewise, you can toss the salmon in 2 teaspoons of neutral oil before coating if desired)
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the salmon bites are thoroughly cooked and the coating is crisp and golden. Repeat with the remaining salmon bites if making in batches.
Bang Bang Sauce
- While the salmon is cooking, make the bang bang sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, honey, sriracha, and soy sauce. Whisk until smooth, taste, and adjust the seasoning to your reference. Set aside.
- Transfer the crispy salmon bites to a serving plate and drizzle on the bang bang sauce, garnish with sliced green onion, and enjoy!
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Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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