Honey garlic air fryer salmon bites make a quick dinner with lightly browned edges and a sweet, savory finish. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 3 minutes, then cook 1-inch salmon cubes for about 7–9 minutes, gently flipping them halfway through. Toss the cooked bites with the honey glaze after air frying so the sugar doesn’t scorch in the basket. Serve them over rice or tuck them into a bowl with crisp vegetables.
Ingredients
For four servings, use 1¼ pounds of skinless, boneless salmon, cut into roughly 1-inch cubes. You’ll also need 1 teaspoon olive oil, ¾ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to season the fish. For the glaze, whisk together 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. The soy sauce adds saltiness, so taste a finished bite before adding any extra salt. Sliced green onions are an optional garnish.
How To Make It
Pat the salmon dry with paper towels before cutting it. Aim for similarly sized cubes so the pieces finish cooking at about the same time. Toss them gently with the olive oil, garlic powder, and pepper. In a separate, clean bowl, whisk the honey, soy sauce, and lemon juice until combined; set this glaze aside for the cooked fish.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 3 minutes. Arrange the salmon in a single layer in the basket, leaving a little space between pieces. Cook in batches if your basket is crowded. Air fry for 7–9 minutes, gently turning the cubes with tongs halfway through. Begin checking near the early end of the range: thickness and air fryer models vary. For food safety, check a thick piece with a food thermometer and continue cooking until the center reaches 145°F (63°C).
Transfer the salmon to the clean bowl of glaze and toss gently to coat. Spoon over any glaze left in the bowl, add green onions if you like, and serve right away.
Tips
Choose a fairly even-thickness fillet; a thin tail end will cook faster than center-cut pieces. If the salmon is still frozen, thaw it safely before cutting and cooking. Use a thin spatula or gentle grip with the tongs when turning—the cubes become delicate as they cook. Avoid pouring glaze into the basket, where honey can darken quickly and make cleanup harder.
Pile the glossy bites onto warm rice for an easy weeknight meal.
