Air fryer salmon bites are the perfect solution. They’re a main course that doubles up as an appetizer for parties. Season salmon chunks and toss them in the air fryer; you won’t even believe how quickly these come together! Serve with mashed potatoes and green beans or with remoulade sauce as an appetizer!

cajun salmon bites on mashed potatoes with green beans

Air fryer salmon bites are the recipe you didn’t know you needed.

They’re the main course; they’re a starter. They’re an appetizer for parties. 

Check, check and check. Did I mention these cajun garlic butter salmon bites are full of flavor and ridiculously straightforward to make. I’m talking ready-in-10-minutes easy to make. These taste fantastic over a bed of asiago roasted garlic or even cheddar mashed potatoes alongside garlic broccolini, steamed broccoli, sauteed green beans, rice, or a salad

But wait. What if this is an app that you pass around for parties? I’ve got you there too. Make my simple remoulade sauce – stir together a little mayo, minced green onions, garlic, mustard, hot sauce, a squeeze of lemon, and a little horseradish. It’s creamy, a little spicy, and it’s protein, so you know the I’m-starting-my-diet-early-keto folks won’t be complaining. All of a sudden, you’re passing around the IT app for New Year’s Eve or Christmas.

YES and YES.

salmon bites topped with garlic butter and parsley

Ingredients for air fryer salmon nuggets:

  • Salmon Filet: I usually buy my salmon filet in a full piece and then just break it down into 1 1/4 inch cubes using a sharp knife on a clean cutting board. You can purchase skinless salmon fillets if you don’t want the skin to get in the way. The fishmonger will usually remove the skin or make salmon pieces for you.
  • Cajun Seasoning: This is a rustic seasoning blend that contains ingredients like white pepper, paprika, cayenne, oregano, and dried basil amongst other ingredients. Use whatever brand you like best. I use one that contains salt, so I don’t add any additional salt to the recipe. If yours doesn’t have salt, you’ll want to add about 1 teaspoon of salt when seasoning the salmon.
  • Garlic: You’ll need grated garlic to make the garlic butter that we’ll toss the salmon pieces in once they’re done air frying.
  • Butter: You’ll need a tablespoon of unsalted butter for the garlic butter.
  • Parsley: Minced parsley adds color to the finished dish!
salmon chunks in bowl before and after seasoning
salmon bites in skillet

How to make air fryer salmon bites:

  1. Season it up. Pat the salmon fillet dry. Using a sharp knife on a clean work surface, break the filet down into 1-1/4 inch square pieces. Add the salmon cubes to a bowl, and spray with a high-heat cooking spray. I like to use avocado oil, but olive oil would also work! Season with the cajun seasoning and be sure to add salt if you use a salt-free seasoning.
  2. Air fry these bad boys. Heat the air fryer at 400ºF for a few minutes while you’re prepping the salmon. You want the pieces to start cooking right away so preheating the air fryer is critical for this recipe. When the air fryer is ready, add the salmon pieces to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook them for a few minutes. 
  3. Prepare the garlic butter. While the salmon is cooking, melt the butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley together in the microwave. When the salmon is done, Add it to a bowl and drizzle the garlic butter over the salmon, then place the salmon back in the airfryer just long enough for the garlic to caramelize and the salmon to finish cooking through. If your basket has a bottom, you can even just drizzle the garlic butter while the salmon is in the air fryer.
  4. Serve it up. Plate up your salmon and serve with my remoulade sauce or with prepared mashed potatoes and your favorite side dish.
dipping air fryer salmon bites in remoulade sauce

FAQs about this recipe:

  1. Do you have a recipe for remoulade sauce? I’ll include the recipe on the card! You’ll just need mayo, green onions, garlic, cajun seasoning, mustard, hot sauce, fresh lemon juice, and a little horseradish! If you can stir it all in a bowl, you can make a remoulade.
  2. How do I make it less garlicky for parties? You can melt the butter and parsley together then add in 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder instead of fresh garlic. That should curb it.
  3. Can I make this recipe in the oven or on the stove? Yes, the recipe card includes directions on how you can make this recipe on the stovetop as well. 
  4. Is this recipe gluten-free? As written, the recipe is both gluten-free and keto-friendly as long as the seasoning blend you use doesn’t contain gluten or added sugars.
  5. How do you suggest storing leftovers? You can store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheating is easy, just pop it back in the airfryer at 300ºF for a few minutes or zap it in the microwave.

Other salmon recipes to try:

salmon chunks with garlic butter over mashed potatoes with green beans
Yield: serves 4-6

Air Fryer Salmon Bites (Ready in Under 10 Minutes!)

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Air fryer salmon bites are the perfect solution. They're a main course that doubles up as an appetizer for parties. Season salmon chunks and toss them in the air fryer; you won't even believe how quickly these come together! Serve with mashed potatoes and green beans or with remoulade sauce as an appetizer!

Air Fryer Salmon Bites (Ready in Under 10 Minutes!)

Ingredients

Salmon Bites:

  • 1 ½ pound skinless salmon filet, cut into 1 ¼ inch pieces
  • Cooking Spray
  • 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
  • 1-2 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, for serving

Optional Remoulade:

  • ½ cup mayo
  • 1 green onion, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning (or creole)
  • 2 tablespoons creole mustard (or dijon)
  • 1 tablespoon EACH: hot sauce AND lemon juice
  • 1-2 teaspoons horseradish (whatever you can handle!)

Instructions

    1. REMOULADE: In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the sauce. Stir and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate the sauce until you’re ready to serve.
    2. SEASON: Place the salmon in a medium bowl. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with Cajun seasoning; stir or gently toss to coat evenly.
    3. AIR FRYER: Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF for a few minutes. Add the salmon chunks in a single layer; don’t crowd the pieces too close together. It’s better to do this in two batches than to crowd the fish. Cook for 4 minutes. While the salmon is cooking, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the microwave with the garlic and parsley. When the salmon is done, transfer to a bowl, and drizzle with garlic butter. Place the salmon pieces back in the air fryer with the skin side down and allow the salmon to cook for an additional 30-60 seconds. Serve warm with mashed potatoes and broccolini/green beans or with remoulade sauce.
    4. OR STOVE TOP: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salmon to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the butter, allow it to melt a little, then add the grated garlic and coat the salmon with the melted butter with a spoon. Cook the salmon until it reaches a minimum temp of 145ºF. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with prepared remoulade sauce or with mashed potatoes and broccolini/green beans.

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