This easy 7 minute Air Fryer Salmon Bites recipe with Strawberry Mango Avocado Salsa are so crispy and so good! Crispy on the outside, tender inside, our salmon bites are an easy recipe, with healthy salmon tossed in a smoky-sweet spice blend with a vibrant mango, strawberry and avocado salsa!
In under 10 minutes you can be eating this air-fryed to crispy perfection salmon recipe, because we all know hangry happens.
Listen, fish isn’t for everyone, previously myself included, but I’m working so hard to change that and it’s slowly becoming one of my favorite proteins! It’s light and flaky, always tender, and cooks SO fast. I thought I had a few good salmon recipes, but this is the best salmon I have literally ever had.
I love that it’s high in protein and when baked in the air fryer it’s texture is heavenly! One of my new FAVORITE recipes for salmon is our smokey salmon bites with a fresh mango salsa! They are perfectly tender and caramelized bite-sized salmon pieces. So GOOD! I could eat these salmon bites every day!
Two Years of Testing…
I’ve been testing our air fryer salmon recipe for over 2 years now and I’ve discovered the absolute best dry rub recipe that takes this salmon from delicious to down right addicting. In fact, it is the best easy summer dinner recipe ever!! Yes, it is possible to make salmon in the air fryer without drying it out and yes, even our kids, the seafood haters love it!
Fresh Strawberry Mango and Avocado salsa
Our fruit salsa takes a regular salmon rice bowl from good to amazing!
This fruit salsa is the kind of sweet topping even picky eaters love!
No oven, no mess, and totally weeknight-friendly! This is a quick, healthy dinner that doesn’t feel like just getting something on the table.
Ingredients for Salmon Bites
All you need are simple pantry staples to make this dry rub for salmon.
In the next section, you can see all the ingredients you will need for the mango salsa– you will want to hit the produce section for those ingredients. Here is everything you will need:
For the Salmon
- Salmon– Look for skinless salmon filets to save yourself time on skin removal then just cut them into evenly sized, small cubes !
- Brown Sugar– A hint of sweetness, but it also helps to caramelize into a mouthwatering crust on the salmon.
- Spices– Smoked Paprika, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Cayenne, Thyme, Cinnamon, and Salt: My spice blend of choice! The cinnamon is a secret ingredient!
- Coconut Oil Spray– This ingredient is a must! It adds the best flavor while keeping the seafood from sticking. Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like coconut, but my testing showed the salmon turned out best with coconut oil spray!
For the Strawberry Mango Salsa
- Mango– Be gentle as you lightly touch the mango and apply a little pressure- A ripe mango will give slightly when squeezed, and have a sweet smell near the stem. Avoid wrinkly skin.
- Avocado– Press using a thumb and forefinger on the top and bottom of an avocado to test for ripeness, it should give a little.
- Strawberries– A little sweetness with more texture helps balance the salsa.
- Lime– Not only does it add a little acid, lime juice keeps your fruits from browning while you make dinner!
- Jalapeño– This can be skipped if little kids are eating the salsa, but 1/2-1 jalapeno really adds flavor.
- Cilantro– Fresh cilantro helps to break up the sweetness and acid in the salsa.
The measurements and all the details for the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
How to Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer
Preheat that air fryer and you’re less than 10 minutes from dinner! Here are the basic steps:
- Prep: Preheat the air fryer and place the salmon pieces in a mixing bowl.
- Season the Salmon: Combine all of the seasonings for the rub in a small bowl and toss with your salmon.
- Cook the Salmon: Spray the air fryer pan with coconut spray and place the salmon in the pan. Cook for 7 minutes and be sure to flip it half way through.
- Make the Salsa: While the salmon is cooking, prepare the salsa and let it chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
Tips for Making the Best Air Fryer Salmon Bites
We’ve cooked salmon every which way –Oven Baked Salmon in Foil, Grilled Salmon, Skillet Salmon. Through trial and error we’ve learned important tips for making salmon.
Top tips for having success with air fry salmon bites recipe:
- Cut the salmon pieces to the same size so that they cook evenly.
- Well coat the salmon on all sides with the dry rub. That brown sugar is going to crystallize and make the most amazing crust.
- Spray the air fryer basket with coconut oil cooking spray AND spray the tops of the salmon to avoid sticking and encourage proper browning.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket! You may need to do a couple of rounds depending on the size of your air fryer, but you want that air circulating!
Carrian’s Notes
How to Know When Salmon is Cooked
Starting to cook fish was intimidating to me. If you feel the same, here’s how you can verify.
Because the salmon is cut into small pieces and cooked at such a high temperature, you don’t really have to worry about whether or not it’s cooked. To be certain it is, salmon flakes easily with a fork or knife, and the internal temperature reaches 135°F to 145°F when fully cooked.
Do I Remove Salmon Skin?
Yes, I prefer to remove the skin before seasoning and cooking the salmon bites. This way you can flip the bites while they are cooking and get them crispy on all sides. Better yet, buy it already skinned!
Can I Use Frozen Salmon?
I’ve tested both fresh and frozen salmon so you don’t have to wonder if that frozen filet will let you down. Frozen salmon works just great! You need to let it defrost enough to be able to cut and for the dry rub to stick to it and you may need to add a minute or two to the cooking time.
Can I Make This Recipe in the Oven?
Yes, you can make salmon bites in the oven! You won’t get that same super crispy crust on the outside but it is still fabulous!
Preheat the oven to 450℉ and place the seasoned salmon bites in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake for 8-10 minutes. If you want to get a little crispiness on the outside, change the oven to broil and let it cook for 1-2 minutes.
What to Eat with Air Fryer Salmon Bites
I love to eat my salmon and salsa plain, but our family often serves it up with cilantro lime rice or my real favorite, coconut rice. If you are looking to cut the carbs, our cilantro lime cauliflower rice is a great alternative! You can make it as a salad, or alongside roasted sweet potatoes as well. The options are endless!
Storing and Reheating
How to Store Cooked Salmon:
If you have leftover salmon bites, make sure they have cooled completely and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat Salmon:
Place the salmon bites in the air fryer preheated to 400 degrees F and let them cook for 2-3 minutes or the oven at 425 degrees F for a few minutes.
Crispy, tender Air Fryer Salmon Bites topped with a sweet and spicy mango strawberry salsa—ready in under 10 minutes! An easy, healthy dinner your whole family will love.
Watch the Video on How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
More Healthy Dinner Recipes:
Description
This easy 7 minute Air Fryer Salmon Recipe with Strawberry Mango Avocado Salsa is your new dinnertime hero! Crispy on the outside, tender inside, and tossed in a smoky-sweet spice blend, they cook in under 10 minutes—because we all know hungry kids don’t wait.
For the Strawberry Mango Avocado Salsa
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Preheat the air fryer to 400℉.
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Place the salmon pieces in a mixing bowl.
1 lb Salmon
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In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the seasoning mixture.
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 teaspoon Onion Powder, 2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika, ¼ teaspoon Cayenne, ¼ teaspoon Dried Thyme, ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon, ½ teaspoon Salt
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Add the seasoning mixture to the salmon and toss to combine.
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Spray the pan of the air with the coconut spray.
Coconut Oil Spray
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Cook the salmon for 7 minutes, flipping them half way through.
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While the salmon is cooking, prepare the salsa by adding all the ingredients to medium bowl and stirring to combine.
1 Mango, 1 Avocado, 1 ½ Cups Strawberries, 1 Lime, ½ Jalapeño, 3 Tablespoons Cilantro
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Eat over cilantro lime rice or coconut rice with the salsa.
Nutritional information does not include the rice.
Calories: 326kcal
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