Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Easy honey garlic air fryer salmon bites are sweet and garlicky, with caramelized edges, thanks to the air fryer. Salmon bites are great for bulking up salads and adding protein to meal bowls, or just serve them as a main dish for dinner!
How long it takes: 35 minutes (including marinating time)
Equipment you’ll need: air fryer, mixing bowl, sharp knife
Servings: 4
Bowls, Salads, Or Appetizer Platters — These Go on Everything
It’s hard to believe there was a day (way back) when I didn’t really like salmon, or any seafood. My oh my, how things have changed.
My site currently has 31 salmon recipes (and I’m always adding more!). If you think you don’t like salmon, you might not be reading this, but if you are reading, maybe you just haven’t found the right salmon recipe yet.
Maybe these salmon bites are it! You really can’t beat a honey-garlic situation, and they feel playful and appetizer-like, thanks to being bite-sized.
What makes them special:
- Quick cooking time: I’ve loved cooking salmon in the air fryer since the very first time I made air fryer salmon. Since then, I’ve come to love air fryer salmon bites, and now these amped up honey garlic salmon bites. Not only is the cooking fast, so is the cleanup afterwards!
- Sweet-savory marinade: The combination of soy sauce and honey is the perfect balance of umami and sweetness. Add garlic to the mix and you’ve got wow-worthy salmon! As a bonus, when you air fry the salmon, the marinade glazes the salmon, too.
- Perfect texture: The air fryer is a champ when it comes to salmon, giving it a crisp exterior and beautiful caramelization, all while keeping it tender and flaky in the middle.
- A protein you’ll make again and again: Use these salmon bites for bowls, salads, appetizers, or dinner with an Asian-inspired side like quinoa spring roll salad or fried rice.
Ingredient Notes
You’ll find the full ingredient list in the recipe card, but here’s an overview of what you’ll need.
- Salmon: Thick center-cut salmon fillets work best because they hold their shape and stay juicy. Thin pieces tend to dry out too much.
- Marinade: Honey adds sweetness to the marinade, but it also encourages caramelization on the outside of the salmon which makes it pretty irresistible. Soy sauce and fresh garlic provide a savory balance to the honey. Salt and pepper are the only other seasoning you’ll need.
- Green onions (optional): I like to garnish the salmon with a handful of sliced green onions for fresh flavor and a pop of color.
How to Make Honey Garlic Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Prep the salmon. If your salmon still has the skin on, carefully remove it with a sharp knife. Pat the salmon dry, then cut it into evenly sized 1-inch cubes.
Marinate. In a medium bowl, whisk the honey, garlic, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Add the salmon pieces and gently toss until coated. Let the salmon marinate for about 15 minutes. (If you plan to marinate it longer, refrigerate the salmon while it marinates.)
Air fry. Arrange the salmon bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each piece so the air can circulate. Air fry at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and lightly browned around the edges.
Serve. Sprinkle the salmon with green onions, if desired, and serve immediately.
Recipe Variations
- Make it spicy. Layering in a spicy element works really well with this glaze. Mix sriracha or chili garlic sauce into the glaze, add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes, or serve the salmon bites with chili crisp.
- Add ginger. Fresh ginger is a common ingredient in Asian-inspired dishes and it would work here instead of, or in addition to, the garlic.
- Garnish with sesame seeds. Lightly toasted sesame seeds will add a subtle crunch to the salmon.
Looking for an Air Fryer?
We really love our air fryer and use it frequently. Check out my air fryer recipes for inspiration. I’ve tried a few air fryers, and I really love this one.
Serving Suggestions
Bowls. Air fryer salmon bites are perfect for meal bowls because they’re just the right size for a bowl. Serve honey garlic air fryer salmon bites over Instant Pot jasmine rice or Instant Pot quinoa. They also go well with coconut rice or yellow rice. Add any toppings you like, such as cucumber, thinly sliced radishes, shredded carrots, edamame, mango, roasted cashews or peanuts, and so on.
Salads. Honey garlic salmon bites are great for adding protein to salads, whether it’s a purchased bag salad or this Asian-style cabbage salad with mandarin oranges.
With vegetable side dishes. Keep things simple and serve the salmon bites as a main course with honey glazed carrots or sautéed asparagus. Crispy roasted sweet potatoes would be perfect, too.
As an appetizer. Air fryer salmon bites are a popular appetizer. You’ll have a hard time keeping up with the demand! Serve them with tasty dipping sauces, like yum yum sauce or bang bang sauce.
Refrigerate: Store leftover air fryer salmon bites in an airtight container for up to 2 days. I don’t recommend freezing the salmon bites.
Reheat: Warm gently in the air fryer at 350ºF or microwave until heated through, being careful not to overcook.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Honey Garlic Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 16 ounces salmon, skin removed (see note)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced.
- 1 tablespoon less-sodium soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (if you use regular soy sauce, decrease salt)
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 2 green onions (optional garnish)
Instructions
- If the salmon has skin on, use a sharp knife to carefully remove it. Pat the salmon dry with paper towels and cut it into 1-inch cubes as evenly as possible, so the salmon cooks evenly.16 ounces salmon, skin removed
- In a medium bowl, mix together honey, garlic, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Add salmon to bowl, stir gently to coat, and let marinate for 15 minutes, or for up to 1 hour. (If you’re going to marinate it longer than 15 minutes, refrigerate the salmon.)2 tablespoons honey, 2 cloves garlic, finely minced., 1 tablespoon less-sodium soy sauce, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- Place the salmon bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each piece so they cook evenly. Air fry at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and lightly browned (see cooking tip).
- Garnish with sliced green onions, if desired. Serve over rice, tucked into bowls or salads, or as an appetizer with toothpicks.2 green onions
Notes
- Salmon: Thick cut center fillets work better than thin end pieces which tend to dry out too quickly.
- Yield: The number of servings you get from this recipe will vary depending on how much salmon you like to eat and whether you’re serving this as a main dish or an appetizer. Nutrition information is based on 4 main dish servings, 4 ounces each.
- Cooking tip: The salmon should be fully cooked (145ºF internal temperature) after 8 to 10 minutes but the cooking time depends somewhat on the size of the pieces. If you like your salmon more rare, adjust cooking time down slightly.
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or sriracha to the honey garlic marinade, or serve the salmon bites with chili flakes. You could also use hot honey instead of plain honey.
- Add a sauce: While the salmon is great as is, you could serve it with a sauce, especially if you’re adding it to a bowl or serving it as an appetizer. Yum yum sauce or bang bang sauce are great choices. The sauce in this salmon bowl recipe is great, too.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
