Air Fryer Honey Garlic Salmon Bites
These air fryer honey garlic salmon bites are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a glossy sweet-and-savory sauce. They come together quickly, cook in under 10 minutes, and work just as well for an easy weeknight dinner as they do for meal-prep lunches. Perfect over rice, in bowls, or paired with simple veggies.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs salmon fillets skin removed & cut into 1½-inch cubes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
Honey Garlic Sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water optional, for thickening
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and lightly grease the basket so nothing sticks.
- Season the salmon: Pat the salmon cubes dry and add them to a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Gently toss to coat, being careful not to break up the salmon.
- Air fry: Arrange the salmon in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each piece. Air fry for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the outside is lightly caramelized and the salmon is just cooked through.
- Make the honey garlic sauce: While the salmon cooks, add the honey, soy sauce, butter, vinegar, and minced garlic to a small saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, until smooth and glossy. For a thicker sauce, whisk in the cornstarch slurry and simmer for 30–60 seconds, just until slightly thickened.
- Toss and serve: Transfer the hot salmon to a serving bowl. Spoon the warm sauce over the top and gently toss to coat. Serve right away.