Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon. Tender salmon fillets air fried in a delicious, sweet savory teriyaki glaze. A delicious meal that hits the spot every single time!
This Easy Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon is the best recipe ever! You will find many teriyaki salmon air fryer recipes online, but I guarantee that this one is the tastier and packed with flavor!
Just make sure you use fresh vibrant salmon for best results! My personal preference is to serve this juicy flaky salmon over a bed of rice, either white rice or brown rice. Add some vegetables and you have yourself a delicious weeknight meal!
Quick & Easy Weeknight Meal
This delicious dinner is made with simple ingredients and serves as a healthy meal packed with amino fatty acids! It's one of those easy air fryer dinner ideas that you can also prepare the night before and then pop the marinated salmon into your air fryer to cook in just 9 minutes or less! Making it great for those busy weeknights!
Homemade Sauce
This will be the most perfect air fryer teriyaki salmon recipe you've ever made because we're making our own flavorful homemade teriyaki sauce! The teriyaki flavor is perfectly balanced in sweetness and saltiness accented with fresh ginger and garlic. My homemade teriyaki marinade is quick and easy to make at home in less than 5 minutes!
You can even make this quick homemade teriyaki sauce in large batches and bottle it for later. Then use your bottled teriyaki sauce to use on any protein or stir-fries of your choice!
Ingredients
This recipe for Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon requires the below ingredients. ***Please scroll down to the below Recipe card for full measurements***
- Salmon fillet: I recommend using fresh salmon over frozen salmon for best taste. However, if you can't find fresh salmon at your grocery store, feel free to use thawed frozen salmon. I also like using sushi grade salmon for that vibrant red color.
- Green onion: this will be used as our garnish
- Toasted Sesame seeds: this offers a slightly nutty taste to our teriyaki glazed salmon. If you can't find sesame seeds, feel free to omit them or drizzle with a tiny bit of sesame oil. If you’re allergic to sesame seeds, omit completely.
Teriyaki Sauce:
- Sake: A Japanese wine that is commonly used in Japanese cooking. This helps to remove the fishy smell and taste of fish. Your Asian local grocery store, Western grocer, or an online retailer, like Amazon, will carry this ingredient.
- Mirin: A sweet thick Japanese cooking wine that tastes nothing like alcohol but offers a wonderful, sweet flavor. Most Asian grocery stores, Western grocers, or an online retailer, like Amazon, will carry this ingredient. If you can't find this ingredient, replace with rice wine vinegar but for every tablespoon used, add ½ teaspoon white sugar to balance out the sour taste of the vinegar.
- Regular soy sauce: Just your regular all-purpose soy sauce. The label will just say "Soy Sauce". Do not use light or dark soy sauce. Feel free to sub with low sodium soy sauce if needed. Most Asian grocery stores, Western grocers, or an online retailer, like Amazon, will carry this ingredient. To make this recipe gluten-free, sub soy sauce with coconut aminos, tamari sauce or any gluten-free soy sauce.
- White sugar: White sugar works best but feel free to sub with brown sugar, honey, or any sweetener of your choice.
- Cornstarch: This ingredient helps to thicken the sauce
- Garlic
- Ginger
How to Cook Teriyaki Salmon in Air Fryer
Below are brief steps and visuals on cooking teriyaki salmon in air fryer. ***Please scroll down to the recipe card below to find full instructions and details***
- In a small sauce pan, combine teriyaki sauce ingredients and mix well. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and allow sauce to thicken. Once thickened, immediately remove off heat and pour into a wide container to cool off completely. Cool in the freezer uncovered for 5 minutes until it comes to room temperature.
- Once sauce has cooled, marinate salmon filets for at least 15 minutes in the fridge.
- Place marinated salmon into air fryer basket salmon skin side down. Brush a thin layer of the marinade on top. Air fry salmon at 400 F for 7-9 minutes until you reach an internal temperature of 145 F using a meat thermometer. Note: The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fish and your air fryer. For medium-rare, cook for 7 minutes or for well done cook for 9 minutes.
- Optional: Meanwhile pour leftover teriyaki sauce into a small saucepan to reheat over medium high heat until it bubbles. Pour sauce into a small bowl to use as a finishing sauce for later.
- Garnish cooked salmon with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Cooking Tips
Below are tips and FAQ on making the best air fryer salmon teriyaki:
Use Fresh salmon
The best way to make this recipe is to use fresh salmon for a tender juicy cut. I prefer using sushi grade salmon as it's vibrant in red. You may use frozen salmon as well if you can't find fresh salmon.
Pat Salmon Dry
The easiest way to clean your salmon is to pat the salmon dry with clean paper towels. This helps lift and remove any scales that may be on top of the salmon.
Use an Instant Read Thermometer
I like using a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of my salmon to ensure it is cooked through. You can find many affordable ones online like on Amazon for $10-15.
Spray oil or use parchment paper in air fryer basket
Spray the air fryer basket with oil or place a square sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil on the bottom of the basket. Make sure the paper doesn’t touch the heating element or it can easily burn. This is optional but I highly recommend it as the salmon skin tends to stick to the basket.
Cooking Time Ranges
The amount of time you air fry the salmon for ranges between 7-9 minutes depending on your appliance and how thick you slice the salmon. I would suggest air frying at 7 minutes and if it is not cooked by then, you can add an additional 1-2 minutes.
FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about this teriyaki salmon air fryer recipe:
How long will this salmon last?
Up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
How can I make this gluten-free?
Substitute the soy sauce with a gluten free soy sauce, coconut aminos or tamari sauce.
How can I cook this without an air fryer?
- In a non-stick frying pan set on medium heat, add about 2 teaspoon of cooking oil.
- Once the pan is hot, place salmon skin side up and fry for 3-4 on one side. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Flip over and fry on the other side for another 3-4 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 F or cooked through.
- In the last 30 seconds, pour in remaining marinade and let it bubble in the pan. Remove off heat.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Enjoy!
Other recipes you may like!
If you enjoyed this air fryer salmon, you may like these other recipes:
- Juicy Air Fryer Miso Ginger Salmon
- Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken
- Easy Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken
- Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken Wings
- Easy Air Fryer Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)
Full disclosure: This post for air fryer salmon recipe contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases
The BEST Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon (with homemade sauce!)
Ingredients
- 315 g salmon filet sliced into two filets
- 1 tablespoon green onion finely sliced (optional garnish)
- ½ teaspoon sesame seeds
Teriyaki Sauce:
- ¼ cup sake
- ¼ cup mirin
- 3 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon ginger grated
Instructions
- In a small sauce pan, combine teriyaki sauce ingredients and mix well. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and allow sauce to thicken. Once thick, immediately remove off heat. Pour into a 5 x 8 inch wide container to cool off completely. Cool in the freezer uncovered for 5 minutes until it comes to room temperature.
- Place salmon filets into container with marinade for at least 15 minutes in the fridge.
- Place marinated salmon into air fryer basket salmon skin side down. Brush a thin layer of the marinade on top. Air fry salmon at 400 F for 7-9 minutes until you reach an internal temperature of 145 F using a meat thermometer. Note: The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fish and your air fryer. For medium-rare, cook for 7 minutes or for well done cook for 9 minutes.
- Optional: Meanwhile pour leftover teriyaki sauce into a small saucepan to reheat over medium high heat until it bubbles. Pour sauce into a small bowl to use as a finishing sauce for later.
- Garnish cooked salmon with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Notes
How can I cook this without an air fryer?
- In a non-stick frying pan set on medium heat, add about 2 teaspoon of cooking oil.
- Once the pan is hot, place salmon skin side up and fry for 3-4 on one side. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Flip over and fry on the other side for another 3-4 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 F or cooked through.
- In the last 30 seconds, pour in remaining marinade and let it bubble in the pan. Remove off heat.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Enjoy!
Francisco Calderon
Your the BEST!
christieathome
Thanks so much Francisco! I hope you enjoyed my recipe. I also appreciate your support on my blog and on Instagram! Have a great day!
Jade
Hi Christie, this looks great! Can the sake be substituted with something else? Thank you!
christieathome
Hi Jade, the closest substitute is Chinese rice wine or dry sherry. For a non-alcoholic option, sub with a broth of your choice.