Sometimes just need an easy dinner recipe. Well – look no further! This salmon recipe is easy, quick, and time saving! The best part of it is how hands off cooking the salmon is. All you need is an air fryer or oven. I enjoy the bite size salmon because the seasoning has more surface area to get more flavor and we have more room for beautiful caramelization on each side.
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If you’re looking for a fast, flavorful way to enjoy salmon, these Easy Airfryer Salmon Bites with Garlic Cream Sauce are about to be your new go-to. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with bold, garlicky goodness, this recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, high-protein meal prep, or anyone searching for quick air fryer seafood ideas. Whether you’re new to cooking fish or just want a fun twist on salmon, this 20-minute dish delivers restaurant-style flavor with minimal effort—and pairs perfectly with rice, roasted veggies, salad or my favorite Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe.
What You’ll Need
- Cutting Board
- Cutting Knife
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Large Spoon or Spatula
- Air Fryer or Oven
- Large Pot
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Step 1: Cube the Salmon
For the first step is we want to do is cut our salmon into about 1 inch cubes. I find that this is the perfect size so they are still tender. You want to take the skin off the salmon for this recipe, but I love salmon skin, so I save mine and crisp it up.
Step 2: Season & Air Fry the Salmon Bites
I seasoned my salmon with a little olive oil, my Traeger BBQ Rub, Tony’s Creole seasoning, paprika, and cayenne pepper. I put this into my air fryer and made sure not to over crowd the basket.
I airfryed my salmon at 390F for 10 minutes. I found this was the perfect time for my salon to cook, but I recommend 8-10 minutes depending on your model. It is recommended to preheat your air fryer by turning it to airfare for a couple of minutes.
Step 3: Make the Garlic Cream Sauce
Meanwhile, while the salmon is cooking, you can make your garlic butter cream sauce. This sauce is the perfect match for your salmon.
In a pot, melt your butter, garlic, heavy cream, parsley, and lemon juice. I also added some of Tony’s seasoning as well.
Step 4: Plate and Serve!
Place your salmon bites atop your favorite side dish. For this recipe, I used my favorite Roasted Garlic Mashed Potato recipe. Drizzle your garlic cream sauce atop of the salmon bites and enjoy!
Airfryer Salmon Bites with Garlic Cream Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Cutting Knife
- 1 Medium Mixing Bowl
- 1 Large Spoon or Spatula
- 1 Medium/Large Mixing Pot
Ingredients
- Salmon
- Olive Oil
- Seasonings of Choice olive oil, my Traeger BBQ Rub, Tony's Creole, paprika, and cayenne pepper
Garlic Cream Sauce
- ½ stick Butter
- ¼ cup Heavy Cream
- 2 tbsp Garlic
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1 tbsp Chopped Parsley
- 1 tbsp Seasoning of your Choice
Instructions
- First cube your salmon into 1 inch squares.
- Season with a little olive oil and seasonings of your choice.
- Place evenly in air fryer and fry at 390℉ for 8-10 minutes.
- While your salmon is cooking you can make your sauce.
- In a pot, melt butter, garlic, heavy cream, lemon juice, and parsley.
- Once your salmon is cooked, place on a bed of mashed potatoes and drizzle with your butter cream sauce.
Video
Refrigerator Storage:
- Let them cool completely before storing to prevent condensation (which can make them soggy).
- Store in an airtight container lined with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
- Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, use the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes to restore crispiness, or warm gently in a skillet.
Freezer Storage (if needed):
- Place cooled salmon bites in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1–2 hours.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, label, and store for up to 2 months.
- Reheat straight from frozen in the air fryer at 375°F for about 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Love this! A little too much lemon for me in the sauce but the whole dish is *chefs kiss*
OMG this my family’s new favorite! We have now made this two nights in a row!
My husband and I tried this one night and absolutely loved it!! We will absolutely be making it again!
This is phenomenal! Don’t change a thing. This recipe is perfection! Will definitely make again.
Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Hello, I was wondering how long to cook salmon bites in the oven or do I broil them? I do not have an air fryer but wanted to try your recipe. Thank you!
Delicious such an easy meal to make.
I made this recipe exactly as it is written and it was amazing!! The entire family loved it and it will become part of our rotation. (I added 1/4 tsp of ground mustard and 1/2 tsp of dill weed to the sauce – So delicious!!!)
Ohh that sounds like a yummy variation on the sauce! I’ll try that next time.
For the sauce, it looks thick. However mine did not end up like that. Did you use flour to thicken.
A little cornstarch mixed in water 1:1 ratio of 1 tsp cornstarch to 1 tsp water. Mix together then pour into the sauce. You can use flour but I am Gluten free so I use cornstarch
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Can this be served over rice?
Yes it goes great over rice!
Could you tell me about how much salmon you used for this recipe?
About 3 oz
Definitely want to try this recipe!
Can I substitute heavy cream for whole milk and do I use salted or unsalted butter?
You can substitute with whole milk , but you will need to add flour to thicken it. I find flour adds a texture I personally do not like. I always use unsalted butter so I can control the salt levels myself. Hope this helps!
Hi – you didn’t answer the earlier inquiry about doing this in an oven in the absence of an air fryer. For how long and at what temperature would you cook the salmon to get the same results?
Thanks.
390F about 15 Minutes.
Delicious and simple! This is now my go-today to cook salmon. And the sauce! Oh my!!! I want to put it on everything!
I cooked this meal last week & it was so flavorful & tasty! Great recipe!
Hi there! Which traeger rub do you use? I googled it and they have so many!
The garlic and chili pepper one with the orange label!
Thank you! I can’t wait to try this recipe next week!
Any other seasoning that can be used to sub the traeger one?
Most any rub will suffice!
Loved this sauce Mmmm. I didn’t have time for mashed potatoes (although that sounds delish) so I did some rice instead and even just air fried the fillets without cutting up into cubes. Again, I was rushed. The butter/cream/lemon sauce over the fillets and rice was oh so freaking good though! This recipe has gone into my recipe box and is a new go-to for us. My husband loved it too. It really made the salmon and the rice. I have to try it with your mashed potatoes next.
so for the salmon I used paprika, chili powder, olive oil and garlic powder and then did the cream sauce basically the same minus the parsley soooooo good. Like something you could get in a restaurant good! I can’t wait to make it again!!!
Literally so delicious, I used olive oil, paprika, chili powder, and garlic powder on the salmon but kept the sauce basically the same besides I didn’t have parsley. It was so amazing!!! It tasted like something you can get at a restaurant!!! I’ll definitely be making it again soon!