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Crispy Garlic Butter Air Fryer Salmon

Two perfectly cooked, glazed, and seasoned fillets of air fryer salmon resting on a white plate.
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Make crispy, flaky salmon in your air fryer. This recipe uses simple garlic butter seasoning and cooks fast, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (6 ounce) salmon fillets, skin on or off
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (for finishing)

Instructions

  1. Pat the salmon fillets completely dry using paper towels. This step helps achieve a crispy exterior.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the minced garlic, melted butter, salt, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Brush the garlic butter mixture evenly over the top (flesh side) of each salmon fillet.
  4. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
  5. Lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive oil or spray with cooking spray.
  6. Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching.
  7. Air fry for 10 to 13 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Cooking time will vary based on your air fryer model.
  8. Remove the salmon from the air fryer, drizzle with fresh lemon juice, and serve immediately.

Notes

  • For extra crispy skin, place the salmon skin-side down first and cook for 5 minutes before brushing the top with the butter mixture for the remaining time.
  • If your fillets are very thick (over 1.5 inches), you may need to reduce the temperature slightly to 380°F (195°C) to prevent the outside from burning before the inside cooks.
  • This salmon pairs well with simple sides like roasted asparagus or rice pilaf.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://daisyrecipe.com/air-fryer-salmon-crispy-garlic-butter-recipe/