This Air Fryer Frozen Salmon recipe delivers tender, flaky, perfectly-soft salmon every time. No need to thaw first, this quick, easy recipe is done in 12 minutes!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Frozen Salmon Recipe
- Here’s What You Need for this Air Fryer Frozen Salmon Recipe
- How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Salmon: An Easy Guide
- Make Ahead and Storage
- How to Serve this Easy Air Fryer Salmon
- Steal My 3 Pro Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Frozen Salmon Recipe Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Frozen Salmon Recipe
I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that I make this for lunch 3x/week.
I am in a season of life when these kinds of easy meal hacks are what keeps me going.
Here’s why I love this recipe:
- No need to thaw first. Just grab a fillet from the freezer, season, and pop it in the air fryer.
- In fact, cooking from frozen actually insulates it from overcooking in the time it takes to get crispy skin. This method delivers tender, flaky, perfectly-soft salmon every time.
- Fresh salmon is expensive and needs to be used quickly. I keep a Costco bag of frozen salmon fillets on hand all the time.
- Cooking it from frozen means there’s no need for advance planning.
- Perfect for salads, it’s one of my lowest-effort ways to eat feel-good lunches on super busy days. I like to “eat to live” at lunch and “live to eat” at dinner 🤣
- Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and there’s literally ZERO CLEANUP.
It’s also great for wraps or grain bowls!
- Fab nutrition profile: salmon is packed with high-quality protein and essential omega-3 fatty acids for heart and brain health. As a dietitian, I try to get in lots of fatty fish.
Here’s What You Need for this Air Fryer Frozen Salmon Recipe
Cooking frozen salmon in an air fryer is simple and efficient. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need, from the basic ingredients to handy kitchen tools.
Air Fryer Salmon Recipe Ingredients
- Frozen Salmon Filets: They are super tasty and cook beautifully in the air fryer without even thawing first. I buy skin on and let the skin get really crispy.
- Oil Cooking Spray: Helps to prevent sticking and ensures even cooking. I like avocado oil spray. You could alternatively brush on a tablespoon olive oil (I just prefer the convenience of not dirtying a small bowl and brush for oil).
- Seasonings: Sprinkle with salt, garlic Powder, dried herbs (like dill or parsley) or cayenne pepper.
Variations and Substitutions
- Different Herbs: Experiment with other herbs like thyme or rosemary for varied flavors.
- Spice it Up: Add a dash of paprika or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. Smear on some dijon mustard, or add a little fresh ginger and soy sauce. Cajun salmon is another great flavor profile if you’ve got cajun spices on hand.
- Citrus Twist: Swap lemon for lime or orange for a different citrus note.
Grab these Tools
- Air Fryer: Essential for cooking the salmon. Any standard air fryer works great. Here’s my guide to choosing and using an air fryer.
- Tongs: For safely placing and removing the salmon from the air fryer.
- Parchment Paper or aluminum foil (optional): Makes cleanup easier if you choose to use it.
- Meat Thermometer (optional): Makes it super easy to check for doneness.
How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Salmon: An Easy Guide
Making salmon in an air fryer is a game-changer for quick, delicious meals. Follow these simple steps to get perfectly cooked salmon from frozen fillets.
Preparing Your Air Fryer
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Begin by setting your air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Let it warm up for a few minutes to reach the right temperature.
Prepping the Salmon
- Get the Fillets Ready: While the air fryer heats, spray each salmon fillet with oil. Then evenly season them with salt, garlic powder, and dried herbs.
Cooking the Salmon
- Air Fry the Salmon: Place the seasoned salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, skin-side down. Cook them for 12-15 minutes. No need to flip midway.
Checking for Doneness
- Ensure Perfect Cooking: The salmon is perfectly cooked when it flakes easily and reaches an internal temperature of 125-145°F (63°C). Thicker fillets might need additional time. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can tell it’s done when it turns opaque and flaky.
Make Ahead and Storage
Here’s how to keep your Air Fryer Frozen Salmon fresh and delicious, whether you’re prepping ahead or saving leftovers.
- Freezing Raw Salmon: You can store uncooked, seasoned salmon in the freezer. Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Refrigerating Cooked Salmon: Once cooked, the salmon can be refrigerated. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: To maintain moisture, reheat in the air fryer at a lower temperature, around 275°F, until warmed through. Avoid microwaving as it can dry out the fish.
- Freezing Cooked Salmon: If necessary, you can freeze cooked salmon. Wrap it well and use within a month for the best quality. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
How to Serve this Easy Air Fryer Salmon
Here are some ways I love to eat it up.
- Big Salad: My fav way to enjoy this tender salmon is for lunch on a big bed of mixed greens with lots of additional colorful veggies (like grated beets, shredded carrots, thinly-sliced red cabbage, etc.). Top it with yogurt lemon dressing or avocado crema.
- Air Fryer veggies: If you’re only making one portion of salmon, you’ll have enough room in your basket to make some air fryer asparagus, sweet potato cubes, green beans, zucchini or other favorite veg right alongside the filet. I personally love this crispy air fryer eggplant recipe.
- Rice: Simple brown or basmati rice makes an easy gluten-free side. Or if you’re batch cooking for the week, why not whip up this Instant Pot Mexican Rice to have on hand. A poke bowl is another one of my favorite ways to serve fish.
- In a Sandwich or Wrap: Turn it into a salmon burger or wrap it up in a flour tortilla or roti with veggies for a delicious and portable lunch.
Next Reading: 35+ Best Side Dishes For Salmon
Steal My 3 Pro Tips
- Buy Individual Salmon Portions: They typically come in vacuum-sealed plastic wrapping. Run a portion under hot water for a few seconds until you can easily remove the packaging without thawing.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: The ideal cooking temperature for salmon to achieve flakiness is between 125ºF to 140ºF. At this range, the collagen softens into gelatin at a pace that allows the fish to stay moist and tender. Overcooking beyond this point causes the proteins to squeeze out moisture, making the salmon dry and tough.
- Skip Washing Dishes: Crumple a square of parchment paper and stuff it into the basket of the air fryer. This contains all the juices as the salmon cooks. You can just compost it afterwards and BOOM. Zero clean-up.
Recipe FAQs
Just skimming through? Here are some quick answers to the commonly-asked questions about cooking frozen salmon in an air fryer.
Can salmon be cooked from frozen in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook salmon straight from the freezer in an air fryer. It’s a convenient and efficient method to prepare a delicious meal.
Is it OK to cook frozen salmon without thawing?
Absolutely! Cooking frozen salmon without thawing is perfectly fine, especially when using an air fryer. You always just want to make sure it’s cooked through by using a meat thermometer to check that it reaches an internal temperature of 125-145°F.
How long to cook frozen cooked salmon?
One of the best ways to cook frozen salmon is in an air fryer. It’s quick, simple, and doesn’t require thawing the salmon beforehand.
Related: Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast Recipe
Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Tuna Steak
- Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant
- Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Air Fryer Pizza: The Ultimate Easy Recipe
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Frozen Salmon Recipe
This Air Fryer Frozen Salmon delivers tender, soft salmon every time. No need to thaw first, this quick, easy recipe is done in 12 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 frozen salmon fillets 6-8 oz each
- Oil cooking spray
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp dried dill or parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Spray each salmon fillet with oil and evenly sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and dried dill or parsley. Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, skin-side down. Cook for 12-15 minutes.
- Check for doneness; the salmon is ready when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 125-145°F (63°C) in the thickest part of the salmon. Rest the salmon for a few minutes before serving with lemon wedges, if desired.
Video
Notes
The cooking time may vary based on the thickness of your salmon fillets. Adjust accordingly.
The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145ºF but I like 125ºF for moist and flaky results. The FDA guidelines around eating raw or undercooked fish explain that freezing at sufficiently low temperatures or for a longer period of time effectively kills any parasites present in the fish. You can make this choice for yourself.
Experiment with different seasonings or marinades like lemon pepper or Cajun seasoning.
Cook the salmon directly from frozen without pre-thawing for convenience.
Run salmon under hot water to remove plastic wrapping if needed.
Use parchment paper in the air fryer for easy cleanup.
Nutrition
Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 842mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe? Leave a comment!
Frozen salmon has never tasted so good! Your air fryer method worked like a charm.
Glad you like it, Maeve!
This is now my go-to method for cooking frozen salmon. It’s so quick and turns out perfectly. Thanks for sharing!
It’s so good, right? I make it for lunches all the time.