These slightly spicy blackened Cajun salmon bites are SO quick and easy to make with only three things. They make the tastiest healthy high-protein snack, appetizer, or dinner addition! Try them with the simple, creamy dip that goes great with their flavor.
We LOVE salmon, so I cook it in a lot of different ways. I’ve pan-fried it, blackened it, made homemade lox, you name it. Another great way to serve salmon is in salmon bites. Cutting the salmon up into bite-sized flavorful pieces makes them so much more snackable.
Add a creamy dip (recipe is below!) and serve these as a snack. For dinner, put them in tacos, over rice with vegetables, or on an appetizer tray with honey (or spicy honey) drizzled on top.
Salmon nuggets are a great way to enjoy the delicious taste of salmon in a fun, bite-sized form. Not only are they tasty, but salmon is packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, and various vitamins and minerals.
It’s simple to make salmon nuggets at home. They’re a quick and healthy way to eat during the week. It doesn’t take long to make golden, crispy salmon nuggets with just a few simple steps and ingredients.
We’ll show you how to make salmon nuggets step by step in this easy guide, so you can make them whenever you want. We’ll also share plenty of tips for customizing them to suit your tastes. Let’s get started!.
Step 1: Choose Your Salmon
The first step is picking out high-quality salmon fillets to use for your nuggets Here are some tips
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Opt for wild-caught salmon over farmed if possible for better nutrition and flavor. Common varieties like sockeye and king salmon work great
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Pick fillets that are 1 to 1. 5 inches thick so they’ll hold their shape when cut into nuggets. Avoid thin tail ends.
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Skinless fillets make prep easier, but skin-on is fine too – just remove it first.
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Buy fresh salmon if you can, but thawed frozen fillets will also work well.
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Plan on about 1 pound of salmon for 4 servings of nuggets. Adjust amounts as needed.
Step 2: Prep the Salmon Fillets
Once you have your high-quality salmon fillets, prep them for nugget-making:
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First remove the skin if using skin-on fillets. Use a sharp knife to slice under the skin separating it from the pink salmon flesh.
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Next, cut the fillets into 1-inch cubes. Uniformly sized cubes will cook evenly into great nuggets.
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Pat the salmon cubes dry with paper towels. Getting rid of excess moisture will help the breading adhere later.
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If desired, season the salmon lightly with salt and pepper for extra flavor. Just don’t over-salt before breading.
And that’s it – your salmon is prepped and ready to be turned into crispy nuggets!
Step 3: Bread the Nugget Pieces
Now, onto the fun breading process to give your salmon nuggets their crunchy coating:
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Set up three shallow dishes for breading station – one each for flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs.
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For the flour, use all-purpose flour or cornstarch. This light coating helps the rest of the breading stick.
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For the egg wash, whisk 1-2 eggs with 1 tablespoon water or milk. The egg will adhere the breadcrumbs.
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For the breadcrumbs, use panko or crushed crackers for extra crunch. Season them for more flavor.
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Dredge each salmon cube first in flour, then egg wash, then press into breadcrumbs to coat all sides.
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Place breaded pieces in a single layer on a plate or baking sheet as you work. Don’t overcrowd them.
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For crispier nuggets, chill breaded pieces in fridge for 10-30 minutes before baking if desired.
Step 4: Bake Your Salmon Nuggets
The final step is to bake your breaded salmon pieces into golden, delicious nuggets:
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Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
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Arrange nuggets in a single layer on the baking sheet, leaving space between each piece.
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Bake for 12-15 minutes, gently flipping once halfway through, until nuggets are golden brown.
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If nuggets seem soft in the middle, bake for a couple minutes more until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
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Allow nuggets to cool for 2-3 minutes before serving. Enjoy them while they’re warm and crispy.
And that’s it – you’ve turned salmon fillets into irresistible salmon nuggets at home! Now onto seasoning ideas and serving suggestions…
Flavor Ideas for Delicious Nuggets
One of the great things about making salmon nuggets yourself is that you can customize them to match your tastes. Here are some ideas for seasoning and flavoring:
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Lemon Pepper – Mix lemon zest and cracked black pepper into the breadcrumbs.
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Everything Bagel – Use everything bagel seasoning instead of plain breadcrumbs.
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Cajun – Sprinkle on Cajun seasoning for a kick, or mix it into the breadcrumbs.
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Cracked Pepper & Herbs – Use cracked pepper and dried herbs like dill or basil.
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Parmesan – Add grated parmesan to the breadcrumb coating for extra flavor.
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BBQ – Brush baked nuggets with bbq sauce or roll in bbq rub for smoky flavor.
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Buffalo – Toss cooked nuggets with hot sauce for spicy buffalo nuggets.
Get creative and try out flavor combos until you find your favorites!
Serving Tips and Pairings
Salmon nuggets are extremely versatile. Here are some ideas for serving them:
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Serve as an appetizer with lemon wedges and tartar or cocktail sauce for dipping.
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Make salmon nugget tacos by serving in warmed corn tortillas with fixings.
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Toss with greens or grains for a salmon nugget salad.
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Pair with oven-roasted veggies like broccoli, potatoes, or brussels sprouts.
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Stuff into pita pockets or rolls for salmon nugget sandwiches.
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Enjoy as an entree over rice, quinoa, or pasta. Sprinkle with fresh herbs.
However you choose to serve them, homemade salmon nuggets make for a quick, flavorful meal that even picky eaters will love. Leftovers also reheat beautifully.
Storing and Freezing Nuggets
Properly stored, homemade salmon nuggets will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. To store:
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Allow nuggets to cool completely after baking.
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Place in a sealed container or resealable plastic bag.
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Refrigerate and use within 2-3 days for the best quality.
To stock up, you can also freeze baked salmon nuggets for longer storage:
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Again, cool nuggets fully after baking, then place in a freezer bag.
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Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag tightly.
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Freeze for up to 3 months.
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When ready to eat, reheat frozen nuggets in the oven without thawing first.
Freezing is great for meal prepping a big batch of nuggets to have on hand whenever you need a quick dinner!
FAQs
Can I use other fish like tilapia for nuggets?
Yes! The breading technique works well for mild white fish like tilapia, cod, haddock, etc. Just adjust cook times as needed.
Do I need to use eggs for the breading?
Eggs help bind the breading, but you can try substitutes like mayo or plain yogurt. The nuggets just may not hold together as well.
Can I bake salmon nugget patties instead of individual pieces?
Absolutely! Form your breaded salmon into patties and bake until cooked through and browned.
Can I pan fry or air fry instead of baking?
Yup! Pan fry in oil over medium heat 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Or air fry at 400F for 5-8 minutes, flipping once.
Can I use gluten-free breadcrumbs?
Yes, you can use crushed gluten-free crackers, cornmeal, almond meal, etc. Just watch carefully as gluten-free breadings brown faster.
Conclusion
Making your own salmon nuggets at home is easy, fun, and delicious. With high-quality salmon, a few pantry staples, and these simple steps, you can have tasty salmon nuggets ready in no time.
Flavor them however you like, serve them up with your favorite sides and sauces, and enjoy a hearty, healthy meal of crispy, breaded salmon goodness. Make up a big batch to have on hand for quick lunches, dinners, and snacks all week long.
So grab some salmon fillets and breadcrumbs and get breaded with your own homemade salmon nuggets today! Your tastebuds (and family) will thank you.
Cajun seasoning for salmon nuggets
These nugget-sized salmon bites are Cajun-spiced with a little blackened seasoning, giving them lots of flavor.
I use about 1. About 2 to 5 tablespoons of seasoning is enough to cover 1 pound of salmon. This makes the salmon taste good and a little spicy. There are different kinds of Cajun seasoning, so make sure you use the right amount for you. It’s better to add a little more seasoning later than to make the salmon bites too spicy.
I used this blackening rub (also available in a 3-pack).
More seafood appetizers to try: Tuna Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers
Salmon bites in the air fryer, stove, or pan-fried
There are many ways I’ve cooked these salmon bites, so I made sure to write down the instructions for all of them. You can find them below. If you’re wondering which method I like better, it’s hard to say! For some recipes, I say whether pan-frying or air-frying is better, but for this one, it doesn’t really matter! The salmon bites stay juicy no matter what because they cook quickly and are small.
If I really had to pick one way to cook these, Id say air fryer. Heres why:
Air frying salmon bites is definitely fastest and most hands-off way (5-6 minutes). Pan-frying is just as quick, but you have to remember to flip the salmon bites halfway through. It takes longer than 10 minutes to roast salmon bites in the oven because the oven needs time to heat up.
So use whatever method works best for you!
Ill typically use the air fryer if I am roasting vegetables for dinner.
More finger food protein appetizers: Peach Meatballs
- Salmon: The thicker part of a salmon fillet is what you’ll need. Pick pieces that are all about the same thickness so they cook evenly, about 1 to 2 inches. 5 inches thick. You might have to buy one of those big 2-lb packs of salmon and cut off the thinner edges to get 1 lb of salmon for salmon bites. Those can be seasoned the same way and pan-fried. You can also use steelhead trout in this recipe. Be sure to check out my air fryer trout too!
- Salmon skin: Youll need to remove the salmon skin. Cutting the salmon into 1 Cut the meat into 5-inch cubes. Then, lay each cube on its side and cut off the skin. If you want to use the skin to make crispy salmon bacon, you should cut it off of the whole salmon fillet. This way, the skin stays whole.
- Changes to Cajun seasoning: As we already said, each Cajun or blackening seasoning has a different level of heat, and everyone can handle heat levels differently. Before you decide how much to use, taste the seasoning. Some taco seasoning can be used instead of the Cajun seasoning if you want to cut down on the heat but keep the flavor. Also, check your Cajun seasoning to see if it has salt in it. If not, you’ll need to add a little salt to the salmon as well.
But enough chatting! Lets grab our ingredients and cook!
More 5 minute air fryer bites: Air Fryer Bagel Bites
For the salmon bites:
- 1 lb salmon fillet without the skin (please read the notes above; the salmon should be the same thickness, so you may need to start with more than 1 lb and then cut off the thinner parts)
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, or adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Optional: salt, if your Cajun seasoning doesnt have salt
For the creamy dip:
- 3 tablespoons mayo
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon lime juice (squeeze 1 wedge), or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Cajun seasoning, or to taste)
More salmon recipes to try: Mayo Baked Salmon
Step 1: Cut the salmon fillet into even 1-1.5-inch cubes. Remove the skin, if the skin is on.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine the salmon cubes, seasoning, and oil. Mix together to coat the salmon in oil and seasoning completely. I find it best to get in there with my hands and mix.
Step 3: Cook the salmon bites using one of the methods below. Serve warm with dipping sauce. Prepare the dipping sauce by mixing all the ingredients in a small bowl or cup. Adjust the flavor to taste as needed with more seasoning, lime juice, and/or some salt.
Related recipe: Air Fryer Hot Pockets