Crispy Salmon Bites

Why You’ll Want to Put These Crispy Salmon Bites on This Week’s Menu

Here are some of the reasons I love this easy-peasy salmon recipe.

• An irresistible marinade. The marinade for these salmon bites is sweet and tangy, with lots of Asian flavor thanks to the ginger, garlic, tamari, and rice wine vinegar. It’s SO good!
• Crispy texture. Air frying the salmon gives it a crispy exterior without pan frying or even leaving the skin on. 
• Quick cooking time. These salmon bites only take 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer, which makes them ideal for those busy weeknights when you want a healthy meal, but don’t want to spend an hour in the kitchen cooking dinner.
• Kid-friendly. With the crispy texture and fantastic marinade, these salmon bites are perfect for picky eaters.

What You’ll Need

You probably have most of these ingredients in your kitchen already! Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact ingredient amounts.

• Salmon – You can use frozen salmon, but thaw it first.
• Toasted sesame oil – This has a nutty flavor that sets it apart from regular sesame oil.
• Tamari sauce – Soy sauce or coconut aminos can be substituted.
• Honey
• Rice wine vinegar – This is sometimes also labeled as rice vinegar.
• Garlic and fresh ginger – Two keys to that Asian flavor. Grating fresh ginger makes all the difference!
• Cornstarch – This thickens the marinade so it can double as a glaze.
• Water
• Sesame seeds and green onions

How to Make Crispy Salmon Bites

Here’s how simple it is to make these little bites of deliciousness. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.

• Make the marinade. Whisk together the sesame oil, tamari sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic and ginger in a large bowl.
• Marinate the salmon. Add the cubes of salmon to the bowl with the marinade and toss to coat. Let this sit for 10 minutes while you preheat the air fryer to 400°F.

• Cook the salmon. Remove the salmon from the marinade and add it to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Make the glaze. Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan. Add a cornstarch slurry and cook, whisking, until it thickens.
• Finish. Glaze the salmon with the sauce and garnish with sesame seeds and green onion before serving.

Tips and Variation Ideas

Follow these simple pointers and you can’t go wrong.

• Cut the salmon to the same size. This ensures that all of the salmon bites cook evenly in the air fryer.
• Don’t overcrowd. Make sure there is enough space between the salmon bites in the air fryer to ensure they get crispy on all sides.
• Add some heat. For spicy salmon bites, add red pepper flakes to the marinade.

Serving Suggestions

With the Asian-inspired flavors in these crispy salmon bites, you can’t go wrong pairing them with Asian recipes. Try serving them with my Vegetable Stir Fry or Asian Noodle Salad. This recipe would also be fantastic with Crispy Air Fryer Asian Brussels Sprouts.

How to Store and Reheat Extras

• Refrigerator: Store leftover crispy salmon bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Place the salmon bites in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.
• Reheat: Warm up the salmon in a 375ºF oven, in a skillet coated with nonstick spray, or in the air fryer. You can use the microwave, but it won’t be as crispy.

More Salmon Recipes

• Chile Lime Grilled Salmon
• Pecan Crusted Salmon
• Teriyaki Salmon
• Honey Glazed Salmon