Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

Name: Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 lbs. fresh salmon filets, thawed; 2/3 cup coconut aminos; 1/4 cup light pancake syrup; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 Tbsp. fresh ginger, minced; 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil; 1/2-1 tsp. arrowroot powder (at the end)

This flavorful Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon is made in less than 20 minutes and comes with a quick homemade teriyaki sauce. Add it to bowls, salads or pair with your favorite side dish for a complete and healthy meal.

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A plate features Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon, glazed to perfection and garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, served alongside fluffy white rice. A napkin is visible in the background.

Air fryer teriyaki salmon is 3 of my favorite things: quick, easy and delicious. It’s perfect for busy people who want a home cooked, healthy meal but don’t want to spend all night in the kitchen.

Salmon is the best and I won’t be convinced otherwise. It’s incredibly nutritious, is readily available and one of the easier fish to cook. The fish should be flaky when touched with a fork and no longer milky inside. Fish is delicate so keep an eye on it towards the end to not overcook.

We love sauce around here and this homemade teriyaki sauce delivers. With just a few main ingredients, it’s cheaper than store-bought, can be tailored to you and is ready in 5 minutes, tops. Wins all around.

I love this recipe because you can do so much with it. Serve over white or brown rice, in a teriyaki salmon bowl or pair with your favorite sides, like air fryer twice baked potatoes.

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Why you’ll love this recipe

24g of protein.
Simple ingredients.
Flavorful homemade teriyaki sauce.

Ingredients and Substitutes:

These are the main ingredients and substitutions. See recipe card below for full ingredients list and instructions for this easy air fryer teriyaki salmon.

Fresh Salmon: choose a wild caught salmon that looks moist with a firm flesh and red gills. Avoid anything discolored, dark, gray or dry.
Coconut Aminos: low sodium soy sauce or tamari.
Lite Pancake Syrup: honey, brown sugar or maple syrup.
Sesame Oil: regular or toasted. I prefer toasted.
Arrowroot Powder: cornstarch or your preferred thickener.

Variations

Use store-bought teriyaki sauce to save on time.

Dietary Modifications

This recipe is dairy-free, as is.
This recipe is gluten-free, as is. Use coconut aminos and arrowroot powder.

How to make air fryer teriyaki salmon:

Step 1: preheat and cook

Preheat your air fryer. While the air fryer heats, prep your sauce (image 1) and salmon filets by patting the salmon dry and using a sharp knife to cut into desired serving size. I’m cutting into 4 – 4 oz. filets (image 2). Place the filets skin side up, flesh side down, in a baking dish to marinate. Pour half the sauce on top of the salmon and marinate in the refrigerator for 10 minutes (image 3).

Line the air fryer basket with foil, drizzle with olive oil or cooking spray so the fish doesn’t stick to the bottom. Add marinated salmon to the basket of the air fryer in a single layer. Air fry the filets at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes. The salmon is done when it easily flakes with a fork or the internal temperature reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer (image 4).

Image collage showing a four-step process for marinating fish: 1) A bowl of dark marinade with a spoon. 2) Raw salmon fillets on a tray. 3) Salmon soaking in teriyaki marinade. 4) Air fryer teriyaki salmon cooked to perfection, arranged on a plate.

Step 2: add sauce

While the salmon cooks, pour the remaining extra sauce to a sauce pan and heat. Add 1/2 tsp. of arrowroot powder and stir to thicken. Add additional 1/2 tsp. as needed to thicken into a sticky teriyaki sauce.

Remove the fish from the air fryer, top with extra teriyaki sauce (image 5), chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds (image 6).

Two rectangular white plates of air fryer teriyaki salmon fillets are placed side by side. The left plate shows the salmon with a rich, dark glaze, while the right plate is garnished with green onions and sesame seeds. Various small bowls are around the plates.

Expert Tip!

Salmon is done cooking when 145 degrees F, no longer milky and easily flakes apart with a fork when pressed. If cooking with the skin on, cook with the skin side down.

Recipe FAQs

How to choose the best salmon filets?

Choose a salmon that is wild caught, red in color and moist. Avoid anything that is dry, gray or shows any signs of discoloration.

What to serve with this air fryer salmon recipe?

Serve with air fryer smashed potatoes, air fryer twice baked potatoes, cauliflower rice, sauteed vegetables, or rice. Make into fish tacos, burgers and sandwiches or in a salmon bowl with rice, cucumbers, edamame, etc.

How to store leftover salmon?

Salmon is best eaten right away for the freshest taste but it will hold in the fridge for up to 2 days.

How to cook this over the stove?

Using the same ingredients and instructions as provided, place the salmon on a foil lined baking sheet and place in a pre-heated oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 10-20 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork or reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer.

Check out some of our other easy air fryer recipes!

If you make this recipe, please leave a rating and/or comment! Tag me on Instagram @ohsnapmacros, I love hearing from you!