Name: Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 6-ounce frozen salmon fillets; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 2 teaspoons honey; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (juice from approximately 1 small lemon); 1 clove garlic (minced, approximately ½ teaspoon); ½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste); ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper (more or less to taste)

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Cooking frozen salmon fillets in the air fryer gives you perfectly tender, flaky salmon with barely any time or effort. With a delicious honey dijon mustard glaze, this delicious low-carb entrée pairs well with a number of sides and is ready to eat in less than 30 minutes.

A previously-frozen salmon fillet cooked in the air fryer and served on a plate with a small side salad.

🐟 What Makes This Recipe So Good

This method is super quick and super easy. You don’t even need to thaw the salmon fillets first – just pop them right in the air fryer. It’ll take care of the defrosting for you.
The simple honey dijon glaze adds an incredible sweet-and-tangy flavor to the salmon. Odds are good you have all the ingredients you’ll need for it in your pantry, too.
Salmon is a delicious, low-carb, gluten-free, keto-friendly protein that pairs well with almost anything. A small salad, sautéed broccoli, green beans, roasted potatoes and carrots – the list goes on and on!

👩🏼‍🍳 Chef’s Tips

Salmon cooks quickly, and it’s pretty unpleasant when it overcooks. Use a meat thermometer to judge the doneness of your fillets, rather than eyeballing it. For medium-rare fillets, take them out of the air fryer when they read 125° Fahrenheit internally. For well-done fillets, you want an internal temp of 145° Fahrenheit.
The salmon will continue cooking a little as they rest after you take them out of the air fryer. Be sure to factor that in to your temperature readings. Allow for another 5° or so increase during that rest time.
If your fillets are smaller than 6 ounces or particularly thin, you’ll want to adjust the cook time to avoid overcooking them. Start with a 5-minute defrost followed by a 5-minute cook time. You can always add more time if needed.

A salmon fillet, cooked in an air fryer, topped with a creamy dill sauce and served with a small salad.

♨️ More Air Fryer Recipes You Should Try

Recipe By: Cheryl Malik

Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer

Prep 15

Cook 15

Total 30

Cooking frozen salmon in an air fryer couldn't be any easier or give more perfect results. Tender, flaky, and full of flavor, perfect for a quick meal with lots of nutrients.

2 servings

Equipment

air fryer
neutral-flavored spray oil safe for air fryers
medium mixing bowl
whisk
Basting Brush or pastry brush
internal meat thermometer

Ingredients

For the Salmon

▢ 2 6-ounce frozen salmon fillets

For the Honey-Dijon Glaze

▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
▢ 2 teaspoons honey
▢ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice juice from approximately 1 small lemon
▢ 1 clove garlic minced, approximately ½ teaspoon
▢ ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper more or less to taste

Instructions

Set air fryer to 390° Fahrenheit and allow air fryer to preheat 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove basket from air fryer and lightly spray basket with spray oil.
Place 2 6-ounce frozen salmon fillets skin-side down in air fryer basket, then return basket to air fryer. Air fry salmon 6 minutes or until just defrosted.
While salmon cooks, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 clove garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper to medium mixing bowl. Whisk ingredients together vigorously until fully incorporated.
Once salmon has defrosted, carefully remove basket from air fryer. Brush honey-dijon glaze generously onto tops of salmon fillets.
Return basket to air fryer. Air fry salmon 7 minutes more, then check doneness of salmon fillet with internal meat thermometer. If needed, air fry salmon 1 to 2 minutes more or until desired internal temperature is achieved (see Notes).
When satisfied with temperature of salmon fillets, remove salmon from air fryer basket and place on serving plates. Let salmon rest 3 to 5 minutes, then serve salmon with desired sides.

Cook Time: If your salmon fillets are smaller than 6 ounces or particularly thin, you’ll need to reduce the cook time so you don’t overcook them. Start with a 5 minute defrost and a 5 minute cook time, then add more time if needed. Be sure to use your meat thermometer!
Make it Keto: Use your favorite keto-friendly keto sweetener instead of honey. Depending on the sweetener you use, you may need to use less than 2 teaspoons.

Salmon Doneness by Temperature

Medium Rare: Mostly opaque, but still soft and moist. Remove fillets from air fryer when internal temperature reaches 113° Fahrenheit.
Medium: Opaque, slightly firm, and lightly pink in center. Remove fillets from air fryer when internal temperature reaches 118° Fahrenheit.
Medium-Well: Opaque, more firm, and barely pink. Remove fillets from air fryer when internal temperature reaches 125° Fahrenheit.
Well-Done: Opaque, very firm, and not-at-all pink. Remove fillets from air fryer when internal temperature reaches 138° Fahrenheit.

Note: The USDA recommends salmon reach an internal temperature of 145° Fahrenheit for maximum food-safety.

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet with glazeCalories: 330calProtein: 34gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 684mgPotassium: 855mgTotal Carbs: 7gFiber: 0.2gSugar: 6gNet Carbs: 7gVitamin A: 72IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 2mg