Did you know you can prepare frozen salmon in an air fryer in under 20 minutes? The result is a salmon fillet that's tender, flaky, and packed with flavor! Serve this air fryer frozen salmon with a drizzle of your favorite sauce and this dill rice recipe!
This easy air fryer salmon recipe is perfect for those last-minute dinners when you have no idea what to make! It's quick, easy, and so delicious!
Who knew air frying salmon straight from the freezer could taste just as good as fresh salmon?
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- You can cook air fryer salmon from frozen, which means no defrosting or waiting is necessary.
- Salmon is a versatile high-protein meal that can be served in a wide variety of ways.
- You can make variations of the seasoning used in this air fryer salmon recipe, or substitute it for your go-to salmon seasoning instead.
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Frozen Salmon Fillet: No need to thaw!
- Old Bay Seasoning: Or your favorite Cajun seasoning.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning: If you prefer to use crushed black pepper instead, you totally can, but I like the acidity of lemon pepper.
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil also works!
- Lemon: A fresh squeeze of lemon juice (and, optionally, a bit of zest) really enhances the flavor of the salmon.
- Fresh Herbs: Parsley and dill both make excellent garnishes!
- Sauce: Serve salmon alongside Lemon Garlic Aioli, remoulade, dijon mustard, or your favorite sauce.
- Optional Ingredients: Garlic powder, paprika, dried herbs such as parsley or oregano.
🐟 How To Make Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
Step 1: Place frozen salmon fillet in air fryer basket skin side-down and air fry for 5 minutes at 400°F. Remove and brush with olive oil on both sides, the sprinkle the top with Old Bay Seasonings, lemon pepper, and salt. Return to air fryer and fry another 8-10 minutes, or until cooked all the way through.
Pro Tip: When your air fryer frozen salmon is fully cooked, the edges should be slightly crisp and lightly browned, and the fish should flake effortlessly when gently scraped with a fork.
Step 2: Top with a drizzle of fresh lemon juice and garnish with fresh parsley or dill, before serving.
Looking for more delicious air fryer recipes? If so, check out these tasty air fryer bone-in pork chops!
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve this frozen salmon in air fryer recipe with a Smoked Salmon Salad or this pear and arugula goat cheese salad. Or serve salmon alongside a bed of Parmesan Roasted Rainbow Carrots, Roasted Sugar Snap Peas, broccoli, or roasted asparagus.
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🥗 Ways to use Leftover Air Fryer Salmon
Are you looking for more delicious salmon recipes and ways to enjoy the leftovers from this air fryer frozen salmon recipe? Here are some of my recommendations:
- Make a Teriyaki Salmon Bowl with rice and fresh veggies.
- Top a bowl of Zupa Ogórkowa (Polish Dill Pickle Soup) with some flaked air-fried salmon.
- Add it to this Dill Pickle Chopped Salad.
- Make these Easy Salmon Cakes or a Salmon Pie!
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Air frying frozen salmon has its advantages just like air frying fresh salmon, neither is inherently better. The benefits of starting with fresh salmon is that you can season it before cooking it and it will take less time to fully bake. Air-frying frozen salmon, however, is more convenient as there's no need to wait for it to thaw!
While the white stuff on salmon can be visually unappealing, this substance known as "albumen" is completely harmless. This protein is naturally present in salmon and can become visible when the salmon is exposed to heat, especially if the salmon is overcooked.
To season air fried frozen salmon, simply air fry the fillet for about 5 minutes, then coat it in olive oil and seasonings before air frying for the remaining time.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- If your air fryer frozen salmon produces white goop while cooking, don't panic! It's not harmful and can be easily wiped away with a rubber brush or paper towel.
- All air fryers are different, and while 15 minutes was the sweet spot for my model, you may need to experiment with adding less/more time.
- Cooking more than one of these air fryer frozen salmon fillets at once may increase the amount of time they'll need in order to be fully cooked! You may also need to adjust the time if you're cooking a larger/thicker filet.
- You don't need to line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil for this recipe, but if you choose to do so for the sake of easy cleanup, make sure to coat the foil in a little cooking spray to keep it from sticking to the salmon.
- Always make sure your salmon fillet is fully cooked in the center before you start eating! If you're unsure if it's done you can check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. A fully cooked salmon fillet should reach 145°F.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
🍛 More Air Fryer Recipes
If you enjoy this frozen salmon in air fryer recipe, check out these related posts!
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📖 Recipe
20-Minute Frozen Salmon In Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 oz salmon fillet
- 1½ teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (or fresh dill)
Instructions
- Place frozen salmon fillet in air fryer basket skin side-down and air fry for 5 minutes at 400°F. Remove and brush with olive oil on both sides, the sprinkle the top with Old Bay Seasonings, lemon pepper, and salt. Return to air fryer and fry another 8-10 minutes, or until cooked all the way through.
- Top with a drizzle of fresh lemon juice and garnish with fresh parsley or dill, before serving.
Notes
-
- When the salmon is fully cooked, the edges should be slightly crisp and lightly browned, and the fish should flake effortlessly when gently scraped with a fork.
- If your salmon produces white goop while cooking, don't panic! It's not harmful and can be easily wiped away with a rubber brush or paper towel.
- All air fryers are different, and while 15 minutes was the sweet spot for my model, you may need to experiment with adding less/more time.
- Cooking more than one of these air fryer frozen salmon fillets at once may increase the amount of time they'll need in order to be fully cooked! You may also need to adjust the time if you're cooking a larger/thicker fillet.
- You don't need to line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil for this recipe, but if you choose to do so for the sake of easy cleanup, make sure to coat the foil in a little cooking spray to keep it from sticking to the salmon.
- Always make sure your salmon fillet is fully cooked in the center before you start eating! If you're unsure if your salmon is done, you can check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. A fully cooked salmon fillet should have an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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