Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon Bites Recipe
These Air Fryer Salmon Bites are a quick and delicious meal featuring tender salmon cubes tossed in a zesty lemon garlic butter sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe uses an air fryer to cook the bites to perfection with a crispy exterior and juicy interior, making it a perfect protein-packed snack or addition to your favorite salad or bowl.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Salmon and Seasoning
- 1 pound skinless salmon filet, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Instructions
- Season salmon: Add the cubed salmon to a mixing bowl and season evenly with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss gently to ensure the salmon pieces are well coated with the seasoning.
- Add sauce: To the same mixing bowl, pour in the melted butter, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Toss everything together until the salmon pieces are fully coated in the lemon garlic butter sauce.
- Air fry salmon bites: Place a liner in the basket of your air fryer to prevent the sauce from dripping through the holes. Arrange the salmon bites along with the sauce in a single layer in the basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the salmon is cooked through and slightly crispy on the edges. If you have more bites, cook them in batches without shaking halfway through.
- Serve them up: Once cooked, serve the salmon bites immediately with your favorite sides. They are wonderful on their own, on top of a salad, or as part of a macro bowl. Drizzle any remaining garlic lemon butter from the air fryer basket over the bites for extra flavor.
Notes
- Using a liner in the air fryer basket helps prevent sauce from falling through and makes cleanup easier.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking; cook in batches if necessary.
- You can substitute regular salt for kosher salt but adjust quantity accordingly.
- For best flavor, use fresh garlic and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- For a lower-fat version, reduce the amount of butter or substitute with a light cooking oil.