Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

Air fryer teriyaki salmon is an easy and delicious meal that you can quickly and easily! Cooking in an air fryer adds convenience and the savory flavors of the teriyaki sauce infuse it with flavors that will delight your taste buds.

Using an air fryer to cook your salmon ensures that your fish will come out perfectly cooked and juicy every time. It's one of my favorite ways to cook salmon. Adding teriyaki sauce creates a tender, juicy salmon with a caramelized teriyaki crust on top.

Love salmon? I think you will enjoy my jerk salmon and this pesto salmon recipe. Serve up salmon with any of these suggestions on my list of what to serve with salmon patties.

Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Salmon

• Quick and Easy. This salmon recipe requires minimal prep and just a few simple ingredients.
• Reliable Results. The air fryer ensures that your salmon comes out moist and flaky every time, giving you restaurant-quality results at home that are sure to impress your family and friends.
• Easy Cleanup. Cooking salmon in an air fryer significantly reduces the cleanup process. You never have to worry about splattering oil or dirty pans.

Ingredients

Only a few ingredients are needed to make this super easy recipe. Here's what you need to make it!

• Salmon Fillets: You can use fresh or frozen. Ideally, aim for fillets that are 1 ½ inches thick.
• Soy Sauce: The necessary base to make the homemade salmon marinade and teriyaki sauce.
• Brown Sugar and Honey: Adds sweetness to enhance the teriyaki flavor.
• Ginger and Garlic: Creates a wonderful blend of flavors.
• Mirin Japanese Rice Wine: Adds sweetness, a nice luster, and helps create the sticky texture of teriyaki sauce.
• Cornstarch: Serves as a thickening agent that gives the sauce a rich, glossy texture that coats the salmon beautifully.

See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this air fryer salmon recipe.

• Add Garnish: Add a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds or thinly sliced onions for some additional flavor.
• Need to save some time? We love the marinade and sauce in this recipe but you can use store-bought to save time.
• Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno pepper, homemade hot pepper sauce, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the teriyaki marinade or sauce for a bit of heat.
• Mirin: Swap it out with dry sherry or sweet marsala wine or if you prefer a nonalcoholic substitute use white wine vinegar or rice vinegar.
• Use Different Fish: This method will also work for tuna fillets and other types of thick-cut fish. Just be prepared to alter the cooking time depending on the fish.

How to Make Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer

Here's a look at how to make the best teriyaki salmon in an air fryer! If you don't want to marinate the salmon or are using a store-bought teriyaki sauce you can skip over the first two steps! Be sure to check the recipe card for the full details.

Step 1: Making the Marinade

1. Add the ingredients to a large resealable bag and mix together.
2. Place the salmon in the bag and squeeze the bag to remove as much air as possible. Refrigerate the salmon for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours to infuse it with flavor.

Step 2: Making the Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

1. Combine the soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a small bowl. Stir together the mirin and cornstarch until the cornstarch dissolves. Add this mixture to the soy mixture.
2. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce is reduced and becomes syrupy. Add the honey and then taste. You can add more honey if you want it sweeter.

Step 3: Prep and Cook the Salmon

1. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil spray. Rinse and pat the salmon fillets with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
2. Brush the tops and sides of the fillets evenly with teriyaki sauce. You can skip this step if the fillets are marinated.

3. Arrange the fillets skin side down in the prepared basket of the air fryer. Leave space between the pieces.
4. Cook the salmon until the center is still translucent but be sure to rotate the fillets halfway through cooking them and baste the salmon with more sauce.

Hint: Start checking the salmon around 8 minutes if the salmon is only an inch thick and continue air frying until the internal temperature reaches no more than 145 degrees F. Be mindful not to overcook the fish as this can lead to a dry and less flavorful result.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our salmon a la plancha or almond crusted salmon recipe.

Storage

To store your Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon leftovers, simply follow these simple steps.

Refrigerator: Allow the salmon to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, place the portions in an airtight container, separating each piece with a layer of parchment paper to prevent sticking. Seal the container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Pack up leftovers in a container or resealable bag and remove as much air removed as possible. It will last inside your freezer for up to two months.

Reheat: Reheat leftovers in the air fryer or oven.

• Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and arrange the leftover salmon in a single layer. Reheat for approximately 5-7 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
• Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and place the salmon on a lined baking sheet. Cover it with aluminum foil to help it retain moisture during reheating. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the fish is heated through and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon

• Rice: A simple bed of steamed white or brown rice complements the flavors of the teriyaki sauce well. For a more complex flavor, you can enjoy this coconut ginger rice which adds a subtle sweetness to your meal.
• Noodles: Soba, udon, or ramen noodles make a great base for your Teriyaki Salmon. Check out our best asian noodle recipes for some ideas.
• Vegetables: To add some color to your plate, choose our vegetable medley casserole with carrots, green beans, and onions.
• Stir-fried Vegetables: For a slightly more adventurous side dish, consider our green bean stir fry.
• Salad: A light, crisp salad like our strawberry and spinach salad, mixed green salad with fruit and nuts, or bell pepper salad makes a refreshing contrast to the bold flavors of the salmon.

Tips

Following these guidelines will help ensure a delicious, tender, and moist teriyaki salmon cooked to perfection in your air fryer. Every time.

• Always place your salmon skin-side down in the air fryer basket to allow the skin to get crispy while the salmon stays moist and tender.
• Marinate the salmon to add moisture and flavor. Cover the fillets completely and let them sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• Don't overcook. Start checking the salmon after 8 minutes and continue air frying until the internal temperature reaches no more than 145 degrees F with a thermometer. Most thick fillets take about 10 minutes to cook.
• Brush some extra sauce on the fillets halfway through the cooking and before serving for added flavor especially if you did not marinate.
• Let the cooked salmon rest for a couple of minutes before serving.

FAQ

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Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.