Description
This Air Fryer Honey Garlic Salmon recipe is a simple, quick, and flavorful way to enjoy perfectly cooked salmon with a sweet and savory honey garlic glaze. Using an air fryer ensures a crispy exterior while keeping the salmon moist and tender inside. Garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, this dish pairs wonderfully with rice or vegetables for a healthy and delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salmon
- 1.5 lbs Salmon fillet, skin on or off
For the Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Garlic, minced (about 4–6 cloves)
- 1 tablespoon Ginger, minced (about 1 inch piece)
- 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
For Garnish
- 2 tablespoons Green Onions, thinly sliced
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Salmon: Pat the salmon fillet dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture which helps in crisping. If your fillet is thick, cut it into smaller, evenly sized portions for uniform cooking.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, minced ginger, sesame oil, cornstarch, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. This creates a flavorful honey garlic glaze to coat the salmon.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat for 5 minutes to ensure it’s hot and ready to cook the salmon properly.
- Arrange the Salmon: Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, making sure they are spaced out and not overcrowded to allow air circulation and even cooking.
- Brush the Sauce: Generously brush the salmon on both sides with the prepared honey garlic sauce for maximum flavor and glaze coverage.
- Air Fry the Salmon: Cook the salmon in the air fryer for 8 to 12 minutes, flipping it halfway through cooking to ensure even doneness. Check that the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). If the sauce starts to darken too quickly, reduce the temperature or add a tablespoon or two of water to the air fryer basket to prevent burning.
- Optional Broil for Crispy Skin: For skin-on salmon, you can broil the fillets for the last 1-2 minutes to achieve extra crispy skin; watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Remove the cooked salmon from the air fryer and transfer to a serving plate.
- Garnish: Sprinkle thinly sliced green onions and sesame seeds over the salmon for added flavor and presentation.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately alongside rice, quinoa, roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad for a balanced meal.
Notes
- Use low sodium soy sauce to control salt levels and avoid an overly salty sauce.
- If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the amount of honey slightly.
- Adjust cooking time depending on the thickness of salmon fillets; thinner fillets require less time.
- To keep the sauce from burning, consider lowering the air fryer temperature or adding water to the basket during cooking.
- For extra flavor, marinate the salmon for 30 minutes before cooking.
- This recipe works well with salmon fillets both with skin on or off; the broiling step is recommended only for skin-on fillets.
- Serve with your favorite sides for a complete, nutritious meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Keywords: air fryer salmon, honey garlic salmon, quick salmon recipe, healthy salmon, simple salmon recipe, air fryer dinner, salmon with sauce, honey garlic glaze, Asian salmon
