Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

Yes, I often tout the benefits of fresh wild salmon, but sometimes I’ve just gotta go with Air Fryer Frozen Salmon. It’s a quick and easy and deliciously healthy meal.

I’ll admit it. I can be a bit of a salmon snob. I blame my husband for this. I wasn’t very picky about it when I started cooking salmon years ago. But he schooled me on the difference between farm-raised Atlantic salmon and fresh wild sockeye. Yes, wild is better.

Then I got my air fryer. And guess what? I made farm-raised Atlantic air fryer frozen salmon and my hubby LOVED it! Not kidding!

To be clear, I can now find sockeye wild-caught frozen salmon, as well, but it’s quite a bit more expensive, so I do tend to reach for the less expensive kind now. And everyone is happy. This air fryer salmon will work with either wild or farm salmon. So just use whichever one you want.

Is Salmon Good for You?

I did a lot of research about food when I started my clean eating anti-inflammatory diet. And when I say a lot of research, I mean A LOT! (We lawyers are like that.)

In my quest for easy healthy recipes that were good for my body, salmon came up over and over. So I looked into it further.

The answer is, yes, salmon is good for you. It is very low in saturated fats and a great source of protein. But the reason I was most drawn to salmon is for the high level of Omega-3 fatty acids. These are great for heart health and have been shown to reduce inflammation.

One of the keys to success in my anti-inflammatory diet has been ensuring a good balance between foods with lots of protein and foods that are shown to reduce inflammation. Salmon hits the mark on both counts. Three cheers for salmon! (I also make my air fryer tilapia a lot too if you’re looking for another fish recipe.)

Is it OK to Cook Salmon from Frozen?

I get asked this all the time. The great news about air fryer frozen salmon is that it’s very easy to cook it from frozen. It’s a simple two-step process.

Yes, it is possible to season the salmon while still frozen, then put it in the air fryer. But the better way is to first put the frozen salmon fillets into the basket and cook them a bit to thaw them out.

Then put on the seasonings and finish the cooking cycle. This way the seasonings will stick to the salmon and you’ll get all of the flavorful goodness.

But if you’re looking to just season and toss it into the basket, that will work too. You may have to sprinkle on a little more flavor when it’s done, but that’s easy to do. This really is one of the best and easiest air fryer recipes I have. It honestly makes perfectly cooked salmon every time!

How Long Do You Cook Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer?

The total cooking time for air fryer frozen salmon is about 12 minutes. This can vary depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets. Be sure to check your air fryer manufacturer’s guidelines to see if you should preheat your air fryer first.

Six minutes on the first side, then five or six on the other. Easy peasy! You can even cook it without flipping if you want (but it won’t be quite as evenly crisped up on the outside). Just be sure to cook your salmon to 145 degrees to make sure it is fully cooked.

Ingredients in Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

• 2 Frozen Salmon Fillets – these can be wild or farm-raised (see full recipe below)
• Olive Oil – this helps with keeping the outside crisp, but the inside tender
• Garlic – either finely minced or grated fresh, or garlic powder
• Dijon Mustard – optional, but adds a great flavor
• Salt and Pepper – to taste
• Fresh Lemon Juice – just a squeeze after it’s done cooking

How to Cook Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

1. Preheat your air fryer to 390 if your manufacturer recommends preheating. (see full recipe below)
2. Whisk together the oil and seasonings in a small bowl.
3. Oil the air fryer basket with cooking spray or a quick wipe of cooking oil.
4. Place the frozen salmon fillets into the air fryer basket, leaving a little room between each one.
5. Cook for 6 minutes then open the basket and brush half of the oil mixture onto the fillets. Flip the salmon and brush the other side.
6. Cook for another 6 minutes or until the salmon is easily flaked with a fork or reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees.

Air fried salmon is a quick, easy, and healthy recipe that is on your table in 15 minutes. It goes well with my air fryer frozen green beans and Instant Pot Brown Basmati Rice.

You’ll love this easy healthy recipe, whether you use wild or farm salmon! Just ask my husband!

Tools Used in This Recipe

• My favorite air fryer
• Silicone Spatula