Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon. Tender salmon fillets air fried in a delicious, sweet savory teriyaki glaze. A delicious meal made of simple ingredients in 30 minutes!
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What is Teriyaki Salmon?
Teriyaki Salmon features tender salmon cooked in a sweet, savory teriyaki marinade. My homemade teriyaki sauce made of soy sauce, sake, mirin and sugar with hints of garlic and ginger. You'll commonly find this dish served at many Japanese restaurants as an entrée on a bed of rice or in a bento box.
My personal preference is to serve this fish over white rice or brown rice with vegetables. It's one of those salmon recipes that makes for a healthy meal on those busy weeknights when I have little time as the air fryer is so convenient!
I share a lot of air fryer recipes and this easy air fryer teriyaki salmon was inspired by my ginger miso salmon. I thought since I make a mean teriyaki sauce why not share a version with salmon. That's how this recipe was born!
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 the fresh kind, use thawed frozen salmon. I also like using sushi grade salmon for that vibrant red color.
- Green onion
- Toasted Sesame seeds
Teriyaki Sauce
- Sake: helps to remove the fishy smell and taste of fish.
- Mirin: Or substitute with rice wine vinegar but for every tablespoon, add ½ teaspoon white sugar.
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute a gluten-free soy sauce of your choice.
- White granulated sugar
- Cornstarch: to thicken the sauce
- Garlic: or substitute with garlic powder
- Ginger
Note: Your Asian grocery store will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients.
How to Cook Teriyaki Salmon in Air Fryer
Make Teriyaki Sauce
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 Sauce
Cool the sauce in the freezer uncovered for 5 minutes until it comes to room temperature.
Marinate Salmon
Once sauce has cooled, marinate salmon filets in the sauce in a container or freezer bag for at least 15 minutes in the fridge.
Air Fry Salmon
Place marinated salmon into air fryer basket salmon skin side down. Brush a thin layer of the salmon marinade on top of the salmon. Air fry salmon at 400 degrees 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 & Serve
Garnish cooked salmon with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
This dish will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes or reheat on the stovetop in a pan on medium heat until hot.
Expert Tips
- Use Fresh salmon for best results.
- Pat Salmon Dry. The easiest way to clean your salmon is to pat the salmon dry with clean paper towels.
- Use an Instant Read 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.
- Use parchment paper in air fryer basket. This helps with easy clean up.
- Monitor air frying process. The amount of time you air fry the salmon for ranges between 7-9 minutes depending on your appliance.
FAQ
I share detailed instructions in the recipe card below.
Other air fryer recipes you may like!
If you enjoyed this easy air fryer salmon recipe, check these out:
- 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)
📖 Recipe
Quick & Easy Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
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 sauce and marinate 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!
Jd
Your teriyaki salmon looks so good, I'll try to make it the way you do it
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.
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!