My Air Fryer Salmon Teriyaki is the perfect quick and nutritious weeknight meal! Salmon is cooked to perfection in the air fryer and topped with a delicious sweet and savory homemade teriyaki sauce. Simple, flavorful, and healthy- and it can be made in under 20 minutes!
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My Air Fryer Salmon Teriyaki is packed with flavor and is so easy to make- you don't even need to turn on the oven. I cook salmon in the air fryer until it's tender and flaky and then top it with a flavorful homemade teriyaki sauce.
Serve this salmon on a bed of rice with a vegetable on the side and you've got a healthy and satisfying meal that your family will love. This dish may just become a regular in your dinner rotation!
My air fryer has quickly become one of my most used kitchen appliances. Not only is air frying a healthy way of cooking, it also cooks food really fast and is easy to clean. I make everything from quesadillas to turkey tenderloin to Beyond Burgers in my air fryer. For more easy air fryer dinner ideas, check out my Air Fryer Recipe Collection.
Why This Recipe Works
It's Quick and Easy
- Salmon cooks super fast in the air fryer- it only takes 6-9 minutes. Compared to baking in the oven, air frying is much faster.
- This recipe is made with simple, pantry ingredients. It's the perfect dish when you need to get a healthy meal on the table fast.
It's Healthy
- Not only is air frying easy, it's also a healthy cooking method. Air fryers cook your food with hot air rather than oil.
- Salmon is packed with nutrients!
It's Delicious and Kid-Friendly
- Salmon comes out perfectly every time in the air fryer! It stays tender, flaky, and moist on the inside.
- My homemade teriyaki sauce is savory and sweet and packed with flavor. As it cooks in the air fryer, it caramelizes and forms a delicious glaze on the salmon. Even your kids will love it!
Doctor's Tips
Salmon is one of my favorite ingredients to cook because it's tasty and nutrient-dense. Did you know that the current USDA dietary guidelines recommend eating at least two servings (4 oz each) of seafood per week?
This is because salmon and other fatty fish have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which have many health benefits. To learn more, read my post all about the health benefits of salmon.
An analysis of 20 studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants found that eating approximately one to two 3-ounce servings of fatty fish a week reduces the risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent.
Salmon is also high in protein and has an abundance of vitamins and minerals. This includes B-complex vitamins, selenium, phosphorus, and potassium.
Not sure if your salmon is past its prime? Read my post on How To Tell If Salmon Has Gone Bad so that you can always enjoy this delicious fish at its best!
What Goes Into This Recipe
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:
- Salmon- I like to use skinless fillets. You can also use salmon with skin if you prefer. If you keep the skin on, you may want to line your basket with an air fryer liner so that the skin doesn't stick.
- Soy sauce- I always use low sodium soy sauce so that I can control the amount of salt in a dish. You can always add more but you can't take it away! Substitute tamari to keep this recipe gluten free.
- Rice vinegar- I use unseasoned rather than seasoned rice vinegar
- Ginger and garlic- you can use dried ginger and garlic but fresh will add more flavor to the dish
- Brown sugar- you can substitute any sweetener of your choice like coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey or agave
Best Air Fryer
Looking for an air fryer? I love the Ninja Max XL 5.5 quart Air Fryer. The large basket is perfect for a family of four.
How To Make Air Fryer Salmon Teriyaki Step-By-Step
Step 1: Mix the soy sauce, water, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil together in a measuring cup or bowl.
Step 2: Pour about half the sauce over the salmon fillets in a bowl. Let the salmon marinate.
Step 3: Pour the remaining sauce into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer. Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch and water together in a small bowl.
Step 4: Whisk the cornstarch slurry it into the sauce and simmer a minute or two until the sauce is thickened.
Step 5: Preheat your air fryer (I use this Ninja 5.5 quart air fryer). Spray the air fryer basket with a little oil and put the salmon fillets in.
Step 6: Cook salmon 6-9 minutes to desired doneness. No need to flip them. Plate the salmon and pour the teriyaki sauce on top. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced scallions. Devour!
Chef's Tips
- Preheat your air fryer before putting your food in. This will help ensure that your food cooks evenly.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. The salmon should be placed in a single layer in the basket. If cooking large amounts of salmon, cook it in batches.
- I prefer to use skinless salmon because it's easier and doesn't stick to the air fryer. If using salmon with the skin, I would recommend lining the basket with a silicone air fryer liner or perforated parchment sheets so that it doesn't stick. You can also make your own liner with a sheet of parchment paper. Cut it into a circle and punch some holes in it with a hole puncher. This will help the air circulate around the food better.
Line your air fryer basket with these reusable mats. You can buy square or round mats. The holes allow hot air to circulate around the food prevent it from sticking.
You can also line your air fryer basket with one-time-use parchment sheets. They come in different shapes, sizes and colors- white or brown (unbleached).
Recipe FAQs
The easiest way to check if your salmon is cooked is to press down on it gently with a fork. If the flesh flakes easily, then it's done. You can also check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The FDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F, which is well done. If that's how you like your salmon, remove it from the air fryer when it reaches 140°F since it will continue to cook after it's taken out. If you like your salmon a little less cooked (like I do), remove it when it reaches 130-135°F.
Yes. For best results, defrost it in the fridge overnight and then proceed with the recipe as written. You can cook frozen salmon directly in the air fryer without defrosting it first but the texture of the finished dish won't be as good. If cooking from frozen, skip the marinating step. Cook frozen fillets in the air fryer (it will take about 12-15 minutes) and then pour the teriyaki sauce on top.
Yes, you can use bottled sauce. However, some bottled teriyaki sauce tends to be quite thin. If the bottled sauce is thin, I would recommend simmering it in a saucepan on the stove with a cornstarch slurry (see recipe card) to thicken it. Then pour it over the salmon.
Yes, you can make this dish in the oven. Place the salmon on a lined sheet pan and bake in the oven at 400°F for 10-15 minutes to desired doneness.
Not sure what types of oils to use in your air fryer? Read my post on The Best Oils and Oil Sprays for the Air Fryer.
What To Serve With Salmon Teriyaki
Enjoy this Air Fryer Salmon Teriyaki on a bed of rice or try my Quinoa Fried "Rice" for a high protein alternative to rice. If you prefer noodles, try my Soba Noodles or Cold Sesame Noodles.
To round out your meal, serve this salmon with a green vegetable on the side like my Perfect Air Fryer Asparagus (pictured below), Air Fryer Zucchini, Miso Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Sesame Roasted Broccoli.
Learn how to adapt any recipe to cook in your air fryer! Read my Easy Oven to Air Fryer Conversion Guide and get my helpful conversion chart!
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Recipe
Air Fryer Salmon Teriyaki
Ingredients
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce (use tamari if gluten free)
- ¼ cup water
- 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon grated garlic
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 4 salmon fillets (about 5 ounces each), skin removed
- avocado oil or olive oil
- Optional garnishes: sliced scallions sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F.
- Mix the soy sauce, water, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil together in a medium bowl. Pour about half the sauce into a small saucepan. Add the salmon filets to the remaining sauce in the bowl and let them marinate.
- Bring the sauce in the saucepan to a simmer over medium high heat. Mix the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water together in a small bowl to form a slurry. Whisk the slurry into the sauce in the saucepan. Simmer a minute or two until thickened. Remove from heat.
- Spray or brush the air fryer basket with a little oil. Add the salmon to the basket. Cook 6-9 minutes to desired doneness.
- Plate the salmon on a platter and pour the teriyaki sauce on top. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Nutrition
About the author
Dr. Sonali Ruder
Meet Dr. Sonali Ruder aka The Foodie Physician- ER doctor, chef, culinary creator & mom.
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