How to Cook Perfect Teriyaki Salmon in an Air Fryer

It’s easy and quick to make teriyaki salmon in an air fryer for dinner. It tastes great. You can make teriyaki salmon at home that tastes like it came from a restaurant with just a few easy steps and ingredients.

I’ll show you everything you need to know to use your air fryer to make flaky, tender salmon glazed in a sweet and salty teriyaki sauce, whether you make it yourself or buy it.

Benefits of Cooking Salmon in an Air Fryer

Air frying salmon has many advantages over traditional oven baking

• Quick cooking time – Salmon fillets are done in just 7-9 minutes in an air fryer vs. 15-20 minutes in the oven. This makes air fried salmon a perfect quick weeknight dinner.

• Crispy skin – The circulating hot air crisps up the salmon skin beautifully. Oven baking often leads to soft and soggy skin.

• Moist and tender salmon – The air fryer seals in moisture and prevents the fish from drying out.

• No flipping required – Just place the fillets skin-side down and forget about them until done. No need to flip halfway through.

• Versatile – You can make many flavors of salmon in the air fryer like teriyaki, lemon-herb, Cajun, and more.

• Easy cleanup – An air fryer liner makes cleanup a breeze. No need to scrub baked-on oil or sauce from pans.

Tips for Choosing Salmon for Air Frying

• Thickness – Opt for thick, center-cut salmon fillets that are about 1.5 inches thick. Thinner tails end pieces will cook too quickly.

• Portion size – Get fillets that are 5-7 ounces each. Larger fillets may not cook evenly.

• Skin on or off – Skin-on salmon works best to protect the flesh and gets super crispy. But skinless still works too.

• Wild caught or farmed – Both types of salmon work well. I recommend sustainable wild caught salmon when possible.

• Frozen vs. Fresh – You can use thawed frozen salmon. But fresh salmon will absorb more flavor when marinating.

How to Make Teriyaki Sauce for Salmon

The key to amazing teriyaki salmon is starting with a flavorful homemade or store-bought teriyaki sauce. Here are two options:

Easy Stovetop Teriyaki Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce or tamari
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients and whisk together.
2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
3. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Remove from heat and let cool before using as a marinade or glaze.

Quick No-Cook Teriyaki Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce or tamari
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp sesame oil

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients until well combined.
2. Use immediately as a marinade or glaze.

How to Marinate Salmon for the Air Fryer

Proper marinating is key to infusing the salmon with maximum teriyaki flavor.

• Marinade thickness – Use the teriyaki sauce as is for marinating, no need to thicken it first.

• Marinating time – Let the salmon soak for 15-20 minutes, turning halfway. Longer is okay too.

• Marinating method – Put fillets in a baking dish or ziplock bag. Pour sauce over and flip halfway.

• Skin up or down? – Marinate skin-side up so the flesh soaks up the flavor.

• Discard marinade – Don’t reuse raw marinade. Discard after marinating due to contamination.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Air Frying Salmon

Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked teriyaki salmon every time:

1. Prepare the Air Fryer

• Preheating isn’t necessary but you can if you want.
• Use a liner or parchment paper to make cleanup easy.

2. Pat Salmon Dry

• Drain off excess marinade from fillets.
• Pat dry with paper towels to remove moisture for crispy skin.

3. Arrange Salmon in the Basket

• Place fillets skin-side down in a single layer without overlapping.
• Work in batches to avoid overcrowding.

4. Air Fry for 7-9 Minutes

• Set temperature to 400°F.
• Cook for 7 minutes for medium-rare or 9 minutes for medium doneness.

5. Check Salmon and Sauce

• Poke salmon with a fork to check. It should flake easily when done.
• Thicken teriyaki sauce on stovetop while salmon cooks.

6. Glaze and Serve

• When cooked, brush fillets with thickened teriyaki sauce.
• Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.

And that’s it! Perfectly cooked, tender and juicy salmon in under 10 minutes.

Air Fryer Troubleshooting

Here are some tips if your air fried salmon doesn’t turn out right:

• Undercooked – Increase cook time by 1-2 minutes. Use thicker fillets next time.

• Overcooked or dry – Don’t cook salmon over 9 minutes. Use a meat thermometer and stop at 145°F.

• Not crisp skin – Pat salmon very dry before cooking. Make sure skin is facing down.

• Uneven cooking – Avoid overcrowding the basket. Flip or rotate halfway through.

• Sticking to basket – Use a liner and don’t move salmon around during cooking.

Serving Suggestions and Pairings

Teriyaki salmon is so versatile. Here are some tasty ways to serve it:

• Grain bowls – Pair with rice or quinoa and steamed veggies.

• Salad – Serve over a bed of greens, cabbage, or kale slaw.

• Tacos – Warm tortillas, cabbage, avocado, and cilantro.

• Sushi bowls – With short grain rice, edamame, carrots, cucumber, avocado.

• Sandwiches or wraps – In toasted buns or whole wheat tortillas.

• Poke bowls – Combine with sushi rice, sesame seeds, seaweed salad, avocado.

• Breakfast – Add to egg scrambles or avocado toast.

With a protein, vegetable, and grain, you’ve got yourself a complete and nutritious meal.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Store cooked teriyaki salmon in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

• To reheat, put in a 425°F oven or toaster oven for 3-5 minutes until warmed through.

• You can also reheat in the microwave but the texture won’t be as nice.

• Add teriyaki sauce and broil for 1-2 minutes to recreate the glazed crust.

More Air Fryer Salmon Recipes to Try

Once you get the basic technique down, try out these flavor variations:

• Lemon-Herb Salmon – Top with minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, parsley.

• Everything Bagel Salmon – Coat with Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel seasoning before air frying.

• Hoisin Salmon – Brush with hoisin sauce glaze. Garnish with sliced green onions.

• Pesto Parmesan Salmon – Spread with basil pesto, then coat with panko breadcrumbs and parmesan before air frying.

• Cajun Salmon – Season with Cajun spice mix before and after cooking.

So simple, so delicious! Air fried teriyaki salmon will be your new easy weeknight dinner go-to. Enjoy!