Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

This recipe for Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon is an easy and delicious weeknight meal. It’s ready in less than 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy days. The sweet and salty teriyaki glaze makes this dish irresistibly delicious!

I finally gave in and bought an actual air fryer. I technically had one prior but it was just the air fryer lid to my Instant Pot. When I tell you I struggled for over two years with whether or not I should get one, I literally agonized over the decision. I simply didn’t want another small appliance sitting on my countertop, but we had recently finished our pantry which gave me an additional countertop so that was kind of a good reason to finally give in.

Of course one of the first recipes I made in my air fryer were Air Fryer Sweet Chili Chicken Wings to give the air fryer a whirl. Next, I made this air fryer teriyaki salmon because I heard salmon in the air fryer is amazing and super quick. Folks did not lie about quick and now I’m telling you to not sleep on this!

Why You’ll Love This

Quick and easy. Air fryer teriyaki salmon is so super quick and easy. It takes less than 20 minutes to put together and really only 7 minutes in the air fryer. Did someone say perfect for busy weeknights?

Sweet and salty teriyaki glaze. The teriyaki sauce is used as a quick marinade for the salmon then used to create a thick, sweet and salty glaze that you brush on top before serving. It is truly an umami flavor bomb!

Great recipe to incorporate more fish in your diet. We all hear about the benefits of incorporating more fish and omega 3 fatty acids in our diet but when do we actually put that into action? This air fryer teriyaki salmon can help you with that goal!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make teriyaki salmon in the air fryer. Make sure to scroll down to view the full recipe for more details.

• Fresh or frozen salmon
• Garlic
• Low-sodium soy sauce
• Water
• Rice vinegar
• Dark brown sugar
• Cornstarch

Fresh or frozen salmon?

Did you know fresh salmon that you get at the counter (in the glass case) is not actually fresh? It has been refreshed. They’re charging you the price of fresh fish, it was perviously frozen, and it has likely been sitting on ice for two days so it has lost its peak freshness. You’re better off (and paying less) by getting frozen fish and just defrosting it and cooking it.

How To Make Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

Take a look at the recipe card below for detailed instructions on how to make this teriyaki salmon in the air fryer. For now, here are the basics.

Make the marinade and sauce. In a measuring cup, whisk together the ingredients for the sauce (reserving the cornstarch for later) then pour into a shallow dish and place salmon flesh-side down into the marinade for 10 minutes.

Preheat the air fryer. If you have the ability to, preheat your air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes and line the inner basket with parchment paper.

Cook the salmon. After your salmon is done marinating, put the salmon into the air fryer basket on top of the parchment paper. Do not stack them. Air fry at 400 degrees for 7 minutes.

Cook the sauce. As the salmon is cooking, pour the contents of the marinade into a small saucepan and whisk in the cornstarch. Allow sauce to thicken over medium heat then remove from heat.

Brush salmon with sauce and serve. Once the salmon is done, brush a generous amount of sauce on top of the salmon and pour more on if you like it saucy. Serve warm with rice or steamed vegetables.

Substitutions and Variations

If you have pre-made teriyaki sauce (like from a bottle or something), you can certainly use that in here as well! I would pour just enough for a quick marinade and use the teriyaki sauce out of the bottle to brush onto the cooked salmon.

To add a little spice, squeeze some sriracha or sambal oelek over top of the salmon and teriyaki sauce.

Tips for Success

• Do not stack your salmon filets. To make sure your salmon cooks evenly in the air fryer, do not stack them on top of each other. If you need to make them in batches, do that as opposed to stacking.
• Use parchment paper. The sauce is sweet and sticky which means that could create a mess in your air fryer even if you have a nonstick basket. It’s just so much easier to clean up if you put parchment paper down first.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Reheating fish is kind of iffy. You can microwave it with a damp paper towel on top for like 30-45 seconds to warm it a bit or you can pop it back in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

I always love serving Asian-inspired flavors with a side of white rice. It’s what I grew up with and it’s what I lean towards. You can also serve the teriyaki salmon with my favorite, Chinese cabbage stir fry.

Common Questions

Can I make this with frozen salmon? I suggest defrosting the salmon first as you need to marinate the flesh of the salmon and you can’t when it’s frozen.

Can I make this with another type of fish? You can certainly make it with another type of fish such as cod or haddock. Shrimp works great in this as well.

What if I don’t have an air fryer? You can do this in the oven as well, for slightly longer but same temperature. I would bake it for 10 minutes at 400 degrees F.

More salmon recipe ideas

• Easy Salmon Rice Bowls
• Sugared Soy Sauce Salmon
• Air Fryer Honey Sesame Salmon
• Sheet Pan Salmon and Vegetables
• Baked Salmon with Honey Dijon and Garlic