Honey Glazed Air Fryer Salmon

Salmon is one of those weeknight heroes - quick, healthy, and packed with flavour. This honey glazed air fryer salmon recipe delivers perfectly cooked air fryer salmon fillets in under 15 minutes, with a sticky, sweet & savoury honey soy glaze that caramelises beautifully thanks to the hot air circulation. Serve with crisp asparagus or your favourite roasted veg for a restaurant‑worthy dinner at home.

Honey glazed salmon made in the air fryer with rice and green beans.

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A Quick Look At The Recipe

✅ Recipe Name: Honey Glazed Salmon Air Fryer Recipe
🕒 Ready In: Under 15 minutes
👪 Serves: 4
🍽 Calories: approx 298 per salmon fillet (depending on size of fillets)
🥣 Main Ingredients: Salmon Fillets, Honey, Soy Sauce, Garlic Powder, Salt, Olive Oil, Sesame Seeds
📖 Dietary Info: Low-carb, high-protein, dairy-free, pescatarian diets.
👌 Difficulty: Easy

Summarise & Save This Content On

I've tried plenty of ways to cook salmon in the air fryer, and this method is the most reliable. The glaze stays glossy, the salmon turns out flaky and juicy, and there's hardly any washing up.

If you love salmon recipes, there are plenty more on the blog including salmon and prawn risotto and salmon and prawn pasta.

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Oh my, absolutely fabulous. Tastes unbelievable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Christine

Jump to:

A Quick Look At The Recipe
✔️ Why you'll love this air fryer salmon fillets recipe
🥘 Ingredients
Need to substitute an ingredient?
📖 Variations
🔪 How to cook salmon fillets in air fryer
Top Tips
🍴 Serving suggestions
Storage
❓ Frequently asked questions
Troubleshooting Guide
😋Related recipes
Recipe
💬 Comments

✔️ Why you'll love this air fryer salmon fillets recipe

Creates a glossy, sticky glaze that caramelises beautifully in the air fryer.
Quick marinade with simple pantry ingredients.
Minimal effort - straight into the air fryer and dinner is nearly done.
Sweet honey and savoury low sodium soy sauce add big flavour.
A reliable way to cook juicy, flaky salmon without turning on the oven.

🥘 Ingredients

A full ingredients list along with Metric and US Customary measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Salmon fillets - boneless salmon portions of a similar size so they cook evenly. Skin-on fillets also work; just cook them skin-side down. Salmon steaks can be used but may need a slightly longer cooking time.

Honey - a clear, runny honey that easily whisks into the marinade; maple syrup is a good alternative with a slightly deeper flavour.

Soy sauce - dark soy sauce gives a rich saltiness that balances the honey; use low sodium soy sauce if you prefer to control the salt level, or tamari for a gluten-free option.

Garlic powder - adds gentle savoury depth to the glaze; a small crushed garlic clove can be used instead.

Sea salt - for seasoning; you may find you need less if your soy sauce is already quite salty.

Sesame seeds - adds a subtle crunch and nutty flavour, but can be left out if preferred or swapped for a sprinkle of crushed peanuts.

Olive oil - helps the marinade coat the salmon and prevents sticking; sesame oil or another neutral oil can be used instead.

Need to substitute an ingredient?

Have an allergy or dietary preference? Let AI customise the recipe for you.

📖 Variations

Add some heat by stirring 1 teaspoon chilli powder, chilli flakes or a little sriracha into the honey glaze before brushing it over the salmon.
Brighten the flavour with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, or a little zest stirred into the marinade to cut through the sweetness.
Switch up the glaze with other flavours such as a balsamic garlic glaze, teriyaki-style glaze, or a sweet chilli and lime glaze for a different sweet-savoury balance.
Use a different fish like tuna steaks or cod fillets instead of salmon. Just make sure the fish is boneless and adjust the cooking time depending on thickness.

🔪 How to cook salmon fillets in air fryer

One: Make the glaze by whisking honey, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic powder, and a pinch of sea salt.

Two: Place salmon skin-side down in the air fryer basket and brush with half the glaze.

Three: Air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 7 minutes.

Four: Brush with remaining glaze, sprinkle with sesame seeds and cook 1-2 more minutes until flaky and sticky.

Step by step photo instructions collage for making air fryer salmon.

Top Tips

Make sure salmon fillets are a comparable thickness.
Preheat your air fryer while mixing the honey glaze so cooking starts at the right temperature.
Arrange salmon fillets in a single layer, not touching; cook in batches if needed.
Fully defrost frozen salmon in the fridge overnight before cooking.
Test doneness by gently flaking with a fork.
Let salmon rest for 5 minutes before serving to lock in juices.
Lightly oil the air fryer basket or line with baking paper to prevent sticking.
Add citrus or fresh herbs after cooking for extra flavour and season with black pepper at the end of cooking.

🍴 Serving suggestions

These honey glazed air fryer salmon fillets are perfect with rice, air fryer green beans, and tenderstem broccoli for a quick midweek meal.

Leftover salmon works beautifully stirred into a prawn and pea risotto at the end of cooking for extra flavour and texture. It also makes a tasty swap for bacon in my creamy Boursin pasta.

For a lighter, healthier option, serve the salmon alongside a halloumi couscous salad or a goat cheese and beetroot salad.

Air fryer salmon portions served with green beans.

Storage

Store - leftover salmon can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Wrap it well and place in an airtight container. It can be enjoyed cold or gently reheated in the microwave.

Freeze - cooked salmon can be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap tightly in foil and place in a freezer-safe container. Defrost (thaw) in the fridge before reheating.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Can I cook frozen salmon in the air fryer?

It's best to defrost salmon first so the glaze sticks and it cooks evenly. If cooking from frozen, add a few extra minutes and brush with glaze once it starts to thaw.

Do I need to flip the salmon while cooking?

No, flipping isn't necessary. Place the fillets skin-side down and the air fryer will cook the salmon evenly while the glaze caramelises on top.

How do I know when the salmon is done?

Salmon is cooked when it flakes easily with a fork and looks opaque throughout. An internal temperature of around 63°C (145°F) is another reliable way to check.

Troubleshooting Guide

Problem	Fix
Salmon sticks to the air fryer basket	Lightly brush or spray the basket with oil, or use baking paper. Make sure fillets aren't touching.
Salmon is dry	Don't overcook; check at 7-8 minutes for thinner fillets. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to lock in juices.
Glaze is too salty	Use low sodium soy sauce or reduce the amount of soy in the marinade.

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