10 Minute Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Bang Bang Sauce

Name: Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 ½-2 lb center cut salmon filets (skin removed and cut into approx. 1 inch pieces); 2 Tbsp olive oil; Juice of half a lemon; 1 Tbsp honey; 2 Tbsp soy sauce (tamari for gluten free); 3-4 garlic cloves (minced); ¼ tsp onion powder; ¾ tsp smoked paprika; ½ tsp pepper; ½ tsp sea salt; ½ c mayonnaise; 3 Tbsp sweet chili sauce; ½ - 1 Tbsp sriracha (vary to desired spice level); 2 tsp honey; 1 tsp rice vinegar

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These quick and easy Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Bang Bang Sauce are a family favorite in our home. Prepped and served in less than 30 minutes! Crispy golden brown outside and tender flaky and so flavorful inside. This is going to a be a weeknight dinner favorite!

Dish with air fryer salmon bites topped with bang bang sauce and black sesame seeds.

Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Ingredient Notes
Recipe Variations
How To Make This Recipe
Recipe Tips
Storage
Common Questions
Other Favorite Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Salmon Bites Recipe
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It didn’t take me long to fall in love with my air fryer. I have made TONS of recipes in it, but this air fryer salmon bites recipe may be my all time favorite.

Golden brown crusted edges with the perfect texture in every bite. But the bang bang sauce is what seals the deal.

I have made these bang bang salmon bites 3 times in the last three weeks–enough said, right?

Love air fryer recipes? Make these other favorites: Air Fryer Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw, Air Fryer Steak Bites, Air Fryer Country Style Ribs or for something sweet, these Air Fryer Apples.

Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Salmon Bites

They are so quick and easy to make.
The combo of the marinade with the bang bang sauce is unlike anything else.
Great for weekly meal prep.
The perfect start to a big salmon bowl with all the toppings!
Can be a perfect option for a quick dinner recipe or an easy appetizer.

Ingredient Notes

Find the full list of ingredients with exact measurements below in the recipe card.

Salmon, onion, soy sauce, and other labeled ingredients needed for recipe.

salmon: for best results, use center cut salmon fillets. These will be the thickest pieces of salmon. Skinless salmon is recommended to make this a lot easier, if you can have the butcher or worker at the fish counter of the grocery remove the skin, that is a great option.
oil: I prefer olive oil in this salmon recipe, but toasted sesame oil would be great too. Olive oil is more readily available in most homes so it makes for an easier recipe when everything is already in the pantry.
minced garlic is ideal in my opinion, but you can use garlic powder if preferred. Use 1/2 – 1 teaspoon

Recipe Variations

add minced fresh ginger to the marinade for another layer of flavor
add some extra spice with more sriracha, or your favorite hot sauce or sprinkle cayenne in the salmon bites marinade.
serve these as salmon bowls packed with any of the following: cubed avocado, pickled onions, shaved carrots, shredded cabbage, sesame seeds, shelled edamame, jalapeño, cucumbers, a squeeze of lime juice, rice, and many more favorite garnishes!
use a different sweetener than honey like maple syrup, agave, or a sprinkle of brown sugar
add a citrus pop with some lime juice or zest in the bang bang sauce. Orange zest could be amazing as well!

How To Make This Recipe

Salmon marinade in glass bowl with whisk.

Step 1: Combine all of the salmon marinade ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well.

Salmon cubes in glass bowl with marinade.

Step 2: Cut salmon into approximately 1 inch cubes/pieces making them as uniform in size as possible. Add them to a medium bowl. Toss the marinade with the salmon to fully coat. Marinate for up to 30 minutes, but do not let this sit for more than that as the acid in the lemon will cause the salmon to become mushy.

Raw salmon bites in air fryer basket before cooking.

Step 3: Add the salmon bites to air fryer basket in a single layer. You can work in batches if needed. (I do not preheat my air fryer, but you can if preferred).

Air fried salmon bites in air frying basket.

Step 4: Set air fryer to 400°F and cook for about 7-10 minutes, turning or shaking halfway through is optional. Salmon is ready when the outside is brown and crisp and the internal temperature reads 145°F.

Mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha and honey in glass bowl.

Step 5: While the salmon cooks, whisk the bang bang sauce ingredients together and adjust spiciness to taste.

Whisk in stirred bang bang sauce in small glass dish.

Step 6: When salmon is ready, allow to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving with a generous drizzle of bang bang sauce. Enjoy!

Air fried steak bites on plate topped with green onion and served with bang bang sauce in dish.

Recipe Tips

Cut the salmon in uniform sized pieces. The closer the salmon pieces are in shape in size, the more even they will cook. If some pieces are much smaller, that is ok, just remove them when finished cooking and then cook the larger pieces a bit longer.
I don’t preheat my air fryer when making this recipe to make it easier to add the salmon since it takes a minute to get all the individual pieces in and don’t want to risk overcooking some pieces as they sear while adding the rest.
Do not marinade the salmon longer than 30 minutes. Salmon marinated in anything with acidic ingredients can have a negative impact on it if it sits longer than 30 minutes. The acidic qualities of the lemon juice will cause the texture of the salmon to become mushy if left too long.
Stay close to the air fryer to make sure you don’t overcook it. Air fryers are all a bit different. You know your air fryer best, so adjust the time as needed.

Storage

Store leftover salmon bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. The bang bang sauce will keep for about a week in the fridge. Reheat for a couple minutes in the air fryer!

The salmon bites can be frozen. Allow them to cool completely and then wrap in foil and then add to a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Common Questions

Can this recipe be made without an air fryer?

Yes, these salmon bites absolutely can be made even if you do not have an air fryer! You can bake at 400°F on a parchment lined baking sheet for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway. You can also pan sear over medium-high heat in a large skillet for about 3-4 minutes each side.

What is The white Stuff That Is coming out of my salmon?

Don’t be afraid, having a thick white substance coming out of your cooked salmon is perfectly normal. The substance is called “albumin” and it’s a protein that exists as a liquid when the salmon is raw, but solidifies when heated. You are welcome to scrape it off of your fish, but it is ultimately tasteless and okay to eat!