Air Fryer Frozen Salmon (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

I Love My Air Fryer

If you haven’t experienced the miracle of an air fryer yet, you’re in for surprise!

It’s a magical kitchen appliance that cooks your food till crispy, without requiring copious amounts of oil (that deep-frying or pan-frying might need).

We first bought the air fryer to make air fryer french fries, and then as we got the basics down pat, we started experimenting with other air fryer recipes.

Our Favorite Air Fryer Meals:

• Air Fryer Chicken Quarters (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Crispy Hasselback Potatoes (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Crispy Air Fryer Bacon (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Cooking Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer

Juan and I love eating salmon, but most of the time we either have it as smoked salmon, pan-fried salmon or baked salmon kabobs.

This time though, we’re making air fryer salmon, but instead of using fresh salmon filets (because we don’t always have fresh salmon on hand), we’re making frozen salmon in the ar fryer.

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: The main ingredients for this air fryer salmon recipe are easily accessible at the local grocery store (nothing fancy required!).
• Super Easy to Make: These air fried salmon fillets are done in just 15 minutes, with very hands-on prep time needed. A healthy dinner will be ready in almost no time at all!
• Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Low Carb: The best part is that this healthy air fryer salmon is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease or those with gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy this simple dish without any issues! It’s also a low carb meal that’s great for those with diabetes or insulin resistance.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for making frozen salmon in the air fryer.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post).

Recipe Notes + Substitutions

• Salmon: I used frozen salmon fillets, but you can also use fresh salmon fillets if you prefer. If using fresh, skip the defrosting step and go straight to cooking the salmon fillets directly. You can use any type of salmon, but I recommend King salmon or sockeye salmon.
• Dijon Mustard: I like using Dijon mustard for its taste, but feel free to use yellow mustard or honey mustard if you prefer.
• Olive Oil: I like using extra virgin olive oil for its flavor, but you can also use another vegetable oil (such as sunflower oil, corn oil, avocado oil).
• Lemon Juice: I suggest using fresh lemon juice for the best results (as opposed to bottled lemon juice). Alternatively, you can also use fresh lime juice or orange juice if you prefer a different flavor profile.
• Salt: I used fine table salt, but you can also use fine Himalayan pink salt or fine sea salt if you wish.
• Granulated Garlic: I like adding granulated garlic to add depth of flavor. Alternatively, you can also use garlic powder.
• Coriander: Ground coriander adds a refreshing, tart taste to the marinade. If you don’t enjoy the taste of coriander, feel free to leave it out.

How to Cook Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer (Step by Step)

1. Preheat Air Fryer and Grease

Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and then preheat the air fryer to 340F.

2. Defrost Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer

Place salmon fillets (in their frozen state) in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Defrost the frozen salmon in the air fryer for 7 minutes, after which the pieces of salmon will be soft but still completely raw.

3. Prepare the Marinade

While the salmon is cooking, prepare a marinade by combining the olive oil, mustard, lemon juice, salt, granulated garlic and coriander. Mix thoroughly until you get a smooth and homogeneous yellow mixture.

4. Brush Salmon with Marinade

Use a pastry brush to brush the defrosted salmon pieces with the prepared marinade.

5. Raise Temperature and Cook Some More

Raise the temperature of the air fryer to 370F and air fry salmon for another 7-8 minutes.

6. Serve and Enjoy

Serve the air fried salmon immediately while hot and very soft.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

• Using Fresh Salmon: If you prefer to use fresh salmon fillets instead of frozen fillets, that works too! Simply skip the defrosting step and go straight to air frying the salmon fillets directly.
• Condiments: I used granulated garlic and ground coriander to flavor these fillets (in addition to the lemon juice and Dijon mustard). However, you can also add in other condiments such as onion powder or granulated onion, dried parsley flakes, red pepper flakes, curry powder, turmeric powder, chili powder, ground black pepper, Cajun seasoning etc.
• Cooking Time: Note that the total cooking time required is dependent on the thickness of your salmon. Thin fillets will generally be done quicker, while thicker fillets will require a few more minutes before they are fully cooked.

Recipe FAQs:

What to Serve with Air Fryer Frozen Salmon:

Enjoy these flaky salmon fillets with any or a few of the following sides.

• Air Fried Potato Wedges (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Air Fryer Green Beans (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Roasted Rainbow Carrots (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Crispy Hasselback Potatoes (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Cauliflower Rice (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Enjoy: