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How to cook Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer is easier than you think! With only 3 simple ingredients, you’ll have tender flaky fillets with 0 prep time and ready in 16 minutes! Be sure to pair the salmon fillets with my creamy Bacon Aioli for a healthy and delicious easy weeknight meal.
Want more delicious salmon air fryer recipes? Try my Air fryer salmon with Dijon mustard sauce, air fryer salmon bites, or Soy Ginger Salmon. You will love them!
Table of Contents
Why this will be your go-to recipe
This air fryer frozen salmon recipe is the best! Not only does it make a perfect on-the-go protein choice, but it’s also a simple dish that’s easy and delicious.
- Flaky and tender! Moist and tasty salmon fillets with crisped skin on the edges.
- Convenient and fast! Perfectly cooked salmon in only 16 minutes with 0 prep time!
- No need to thaw! You do not have to defrost salmon in air fryer cooking. The fillets can be cooked frozen.
- No guesswork! I have outlined everything you need to know about the best times and temperatures.
Ingredients
Frozen salmon fillet in the air fryer is so easy and delicious that it will quickly become your go-to for busy weeknights. The best part is you only need a few ingredients to get started.
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- For the salmon: Frozen Atlantic salmon (skin-on, about 5.5 oz and 1-1.5” thick), olive oil, and coarse sea salt.
- For the pairing sauce: While the bacon aioli sauce is optional, the ingredients are – Turkey bacon, mayonnaise, coarse sea salt, paprika powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and lemon juice.
Tips for the best results
For the best results, I chose to use frozen farm-raised Atlantic salmon for its high-fat content. A higher fat concentration lessens the chance of the salmon filets becoming too dry in the air fryer.
The thicker the frozen salmon fillets the better. Select center-cut and about 1 to 1.5 inches thick. The same cooking temp and time work for Whole Food’s, Gorton’s, Costco, or Morey’s frozen salmon fillets.
Substitutions
- If you want fresh salmon in the air fryer (sockeye salmon with skin, perhaps?) I have listed the best way to cook fresh fillets below, similar to my air fryer salmon with dijon mustard and Teriyaki Salmon Air Fryer recipes.
- Fresh farm-raised salmon: 400° F (204° C) for 7-9 minutes.
- Fresh wild-caught salmon (a thinner filet than Atlantic varieties): 390° F (199° C) for 5-7 minutes.
- With or without skin: This recipe works for both salmon fillets with or without the skin.
How to air fry salmon from the freezer
Can you air fry frozen salmon filets? You can! Cooking air fryer salmon from frozen is super simple. I will show you how to make frozen salmon in the air fryer the easy way. Follow my step-by-step instructions below for perfectly moist and tenderly cooked salmon that your whole family will love.
Preheat your air fryer to 400° F (204° C) for 5 minutes and gather your ingredients.
- Arrange salmon: place the frozen salmon in the air fryer with skin side down— air fry at 390° F (199° C) for 9 minutes This stage is to defrost/thaw the fillets.
- Oil and season: After thawing, open the fryer basket, spray the salmon filets with oil, and season with sea salt. Continue to air fry for 7-8 minutes.
- Checking for doneness: Once the salmon is done cooking, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
- (Optional) Serve with bacon aioli sauce: Assemble your sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Serve the air fry salmon with the sauce.
Variations
I love to air fry frozen salmon fillets; it is the perfect healthy dinner. Salmon is also ideal for trying new things. Get creative! Try the fun twists and variations I have listed below.
- Dijon mustard: For a tangy flavor that pairs well with garlic and lemon.
- Lemon slices: Top fillets with sliced lemon for traditional seafood flavor.
- Maple Syrup & Honey: A great way to add a splash of sweetness
- Different seasonings: You can also season the salmon with lemon pepper seasoning or cajun seasoning. Sprinkle it in after the initial thawing stage so that the lemon pepper flakes won’t get burnt in the air fryer. Same principle for Cajun and blackened seasoning.
- Sauces: Try a different sauce for a new experience each time. My Keto Teriyaki sauce is savory and just a little sweet. For my paleo friends, my Paleo Gochujang substitute is crazy delicious!
Serving suggestions
My frozen salmon air fryer recipe will give you perfect salmon every time, but what’s a meal without a side dish? Here are some excellent ideas to get you started.
- Soup and salad starters are always a great idea, and my authentic keto egg drop soup or Chinese cucumber salad will be sure to please.
- If you want a vegetable side to go with your salmon, I promise you my frozen broccoli in air fryer, bok choy stir-fry or Air fryer frozen asparagus is unlike anything you have ever tasted!
- Rice: make a full meal by pairing the salmon with air fryer fried rice or shirataki fried rice to keep it low carb.
Storage tips
Leftover salmon can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can enjoy it cold or reheat it in a microwave on medium for 30 seconds with a small splash of water.
Common FAQs
No. You do not need to thaw before you airfry frozen salmon. You can air fry it from frozen.
The cook time depends on the thickness of the salmon fillet. 1-1.5″ thick frozen salmon fillets will need 9 minutes at 390°F (199°C) to thaw in the air fryer, followed by 7-8 minutes to cook. For thinner salmon fillets, reduce the cooking time by 2 minutes.
For a 1-1.5” thick filet, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 5 minutes then drop the temp to air fry at 390°F (199°C) for 9 minutes to thaw, and after seasoning with oil and spices, air fryer at the same temp for 7-8 minutes.
Fresh is always best. But this air frying frozen salmon recipe tastes fantastic and is super convenient, making it a great alternative when fresh salmon isn’t available.
More air fryer recipes
Busy weekdays are perfect for firing up the air fryer to make a quick healthy meal. If you are looking for more fresh and flavorful ideas to add to your rotation, you’ll also love my Air Fryer Eggs , Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp, or Air fryer frozen chicken wings.
If you happen to have frozen veggies in the freezer, my air fryer frozen corn on the cob, frozen brussel sprouts in air fryer, and air fryer frozen cauliflower are all fantastic choices!
Umami Tips
- Preheat the air fryer for a few minutes to reach the optimal cooking temp so that the salmon cooks evenly.
- You can cook salmon filets frozen; no need to defrost them first.
- Place the salmon skin-side down so that the skin gets crispy and the flesh remains juicy.
- Season the salmon after the initial thawing time. Spray or brush with oil to keep the fish moist and sprinkle in salt, pepper, or your favorite spices and sauce so that they don’t get burnt.
- 1 to 2 salmon fillets at a time. Avoid overcrowding the basket. The cooking time and temp are based on cooking 1-2 fillets at once.
- Cooking time and temp depend on the thickness of the frozen salmon filet used. In general, 1-1.5″ thick frozen salmon fillets will need 9 minutes at 390°F (199°C) to thaw in the air fryer, followed by 7-8 minutes to cook.
- Select center-cut: I recommend using center-cut thick Atlantic salmon fillets for the best result and taste.
- Check for doneness. When cooking frozen salmon in air fryer, it’s more important to pay attention to the internal temperature to measure the doneness as opposed to the cooking time. According to the FDA, salmon is considered done when the internal temperature (at the thickest part of the fillet) has reached 145°F (62.7°C). (source)
- The same recipe works for frozen skin-on or skinless salmon in air fryer
Frozen salmon in air fryer recipe
Video
Ingredients
To air fry salmon from frozen:
- 2 pieces farm-raised frozen Atlantic salmon skin-on and at 5.5 oz (156gram) per fillet, about 1 to 1.5-inch thick (2.54cm to 3.81cm) fillet
- Spray Avocado oil
- Sprinkle coarse sea salt
For the bacon aioli: (optional)
- 3 slices turkey bacon or pork bacon
- 1 cup mayo
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼+1/2 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp lemon juice about half of one whole lemon juice
Instructions
To cook the salmon from frozen:
- Preheat the air fryer, following your air fryer default setting. I have a 6 qt. Cosori air fryer and the default is 400°F(204°C) for 5 minutes.
- Lightly spray the fryer basket with oil. Place the frozen salmon fillet skin side down directly into the basket. Air fryer at 390°F (199°C) for 9 minutes.
- Open the basket and spray the salmon fillet with a thin layer of oil and season with a few sprinkles of salt directly onto the fillet. Air fryer at 390°F (199°C) for another 7 to 8 minutes.
- According to FDA, the salmon is done when the thickest part of the fillet reaches 145°F (62.7°C). However, for more moist salmon fillets, we like to cook them at 125°F (52°C).
- Drizzle a few spoonfuls of the bacon aioli sauce over the fillet, if using, and serve with extra sauce on the side.
- Instructions for bacon aioli.
To cook the salmon from fresh (thawed)
- Air fry at 400F for 7 to 9 minutes. The exact time will depend on the thickness of the fish and your appliance. Mine was done at 7 minutes for medium-rare and 8 minutes for medium.
Notes
- I chose to use frozen farm-raised Atlantic salmon for its high-fat content. A higher fat concentration lessens the chance of the salmon filets becoming too dry in the air fryer.
- If using fresh farm-raised salmon: 400° F for 7-9 minutes. If using fresh wild-caught salmon (a thinner filet than Atlantic varieties): 390° F for 5-7 minutes.
- When cooking frozen salmon in air fryer, it’s more important to pay attention to the internal temperature to measure the doneness as opposed to the cooking time.
- According to the FDA, salmon is considered done when the internal temperature (at the thickest part of the fillet) has reached 145°F (62.7°C). With this said, I like to cook my salmon to 125°F to keep the fillet moist and tender.
- The nutritional label is estimated without the bacon aioli sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made a dish and loved it? Please remember to rate the recipe and leave a comment in the section below! It helps my blog grow organically, allowing me to continue sharing free and awesome content with you. Thank you!
This dish is seriously a life saver! I now making it once a week or whenever I need a little quick dinner help! Thanks so much!
I have dual drawer Ni ha can you cook Birds Eye frozen fish fillets with tomato and salmon in this ninja and how? Thanks
Sorry dual drawer Ninja
Sorry I don’t have Ninja dual drawer system so I’m not sure.
We share a salmon filet. Can I do one salmon filet in the air fryer? cook for how long?
Thanks!
It will be the salmon amount of time. Thank you!
The picture directions call for 390 degrees, while the written says 400. Which is it? I am getting ready to start now, so I’m going with the 400. Fingers crossed!!
The air fry cooking temperature is 390F degrees. My air fryer is Cosori and the default PREHEAT setting is 400F degree for 5 minutes. Please preheat your air fryer at your machine’s default setting. After that, air fryer at 390F degrees.
This recipe was quick, easy and so delicious. The salmon was moist inside and slightly crispy on the outside. It was really good without the sauce too. Will be making on repeat!
Thank you so much, Sandy! Yes, a lot of time I only season the fish with a touch of salt. The bacon aioli is a great pairing choice, too! It adds extra good fat and lovely smokey flavor!
This salmon was so simple and quick to prepare & the bacon aioli is the crowning jewel of flavor! Such a good air-fryer recipe.
Who knew that frozen salmon in the air fryer would be so delicious? Light, flaky and full of flavor! Will be adding this to the dinner rotation!
YUP!! we love an easy way to make salmon too! air fryer is the best
I always have frozen salmon on hand but forget to thaw it ahead of time, lol. This is so helpful!
This airfry frozen.salmon is fantastic! I always have a bag of frozen salmon in my freezer for emergency meals or when I didn’t prepare meals in advance. It comes together so quickly – just open the frozen packet and add to the air fryer- super convenient. That bacon aioli sauce is Smokey delicious. Thank you for sharing it with us. This will be my weekly go-to!