Air Fryer Salmon Fillets

Salmon in the air fryer takes 10-12 minutes and needs no attention once it goes in. No oil splatter, no checking the pan, no risk of it sticking. For a family weeknight dinner that is also genuinely nutritious, this is hard to beat.

What to Look For When Buying Salmon

Skin-on fillets hold together better in the air fryer than skinless. For families, individual portions (150-180g each) are the most practical size. Farm-raised Atlantic salmon works fine and is usually the most affordable option. Wild-caught salmon has a firmer texture and slightly different flavour - both cook the same way.

Thickness matters more than weight. A 2cm thick fillet needs 10-12 minutes. A very thick centre-cut fillet (3cm+) needs 13-14 minutes. Thin tail pieces need only 8-9 minutes or they dry out.

Three Seasoning Options

Lemon-garlic (works for all ages): 1 tsp olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove, lemon zest, salt, pepper. Rub over flesh side. Clean and mild - most kids accept this.

Teriyaki: 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp sesame oil. Brush over the flesh side. Add sesame seeds if you like. The sweet-savoury flavour is popular with children.

Dijon and herb: 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp olive oil, dried dill or parsley, salt. Spread over flesh. Slightly more grown-up but worth trying on kids.

How to Cook It

Preheat the air fryer to 200C / 400F for 3 minutes. Place fillets skin-side down in the basket. No flipping needed - the circulating air cooks the top evenly. Cook for 10-12 minutes for standard fillets. The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout. A small amount of white albumin (the white protein) appearing on the surface is normal and not a problem.

Do not preheat salmon to room temperature before cooking - cold from the fridge straight into the air fryer produces better results with fish.

Nutrition Estimates (per 170g fillet)

• Calories: approx 290 kcal
• Protein: 34g
• Fat: 16g (mostly omega-3)
• Carbs: 0g (plain seasoning)

To build a full week of dinners that hit your macro targets - with salmon nights included - Consillar's daily macro planner lets you enter your calories and protein goals and generates a day of meals around them.

Kid-Friendly Tips

Serve with a dipping sauce - a small bowl of soy-honey sauce or garlic mayo converts hesitant eaters. Flake the cooked salmon over pasta with butter and parmesan for kids who reject fish on sight. The flavour is mild when cooked this way and disappears into pasta well.

For an alternative baked approach, the lemon-butter baked salmon with asparagus is a good weekend version when you have more time. For the full family air fryer dinner plan, see the air fryer family guide.

Meal Prep Notes

Cooked salmon keeps in the fridge for 2 days. Reheat at 160C for 3-4 minutes - do not overheat or it dries out. Leftover salmon flakes well into fish cakes, salmon pasta, or grain bowls the next day. Do not freeze cooked salmon - the texture deteriorates badly.

What to Serve With It

Frozen broccoli or green beans cook in the air fryer in a second batch while the salmon rests. Rice in the microwave takes 10 minutes and can run parallel. For a lower-carb meal, serve alongside a simple cabbage salad - the whole dinner lands on the table in 15 minutes with minimal washing up.