Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Creamy Garlic Sauce

Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Garlic Cream Sauce are cubed salmon fillets that are seasoned, air-fried, and tossed in a luscious garlic butter sauce. If you love salmon, be sure to try my Salmon Patties and Blackened Salmon too!

The seasoned salmon bites are delightful on their own, but when they’re drenched in a creamy garlic sauce, it truly elevates the dish. Plus, the salmon is cooked in an air fryer! Serve these bites over mashed potatoes or rice, and pair them with a vegetable like roasted asparagus and a basket of breadsticks. If you don’t have an air fryer, I’ll also explain how to bake the salmon in the oven.

Air Fryer Salmon Bites Ingredients

• Salmon: Start with two 6-ounce salmon fillets (170 grams each), with the skin removed. I’ll guide you on how to remove the skin easily.
• Seasonings: Coat the salmon in lime juice, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy cream contains at least 30% fat, unlike half and half, which has only 10-18% fat.
• Garlic: Since garlic is a key ingredient in the sauce, be generous with it!

How to Remove Skin from Salmon

Typically, it’s best to leave the skin on salmon when baking. However, for this recipe, you’ll want to remove the skin first since we are cutting it into bite-sized pieces. One method is to use a sharp knife to carefully slice the skin off one end. Hold onto that flap of skin as you continue to run the knife in the opposite direction to slice off the skin.

Another method involves boiling water. Here’s how:

1. Boil a couple of cups of water (about 500 ml) in a saucepan.
2. Prepare a bowl and a wire rack.
3. Place the salmon fillet on the wire rack, skin side up.
4. Position the salmon (on the rack) over the bowl to catch the water.
5. Once the water is boiling, pour it over the salmon. The skin will begin to lift up.
6. Let the salmon cool enough to handle, then peel the skin off.

This method will cook the salmon slightly, but not enough to impact the recipe.

How to Make the Salmon Bites

With the skin removed, it’s time to cook the salmon in the air fryer. First, cut the salmon into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes and place them in a bowl. In a separate medium bowl, mix the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour this mixture over the salmon bites and toss to coat.

Place the bites in the basket of your air fryer. Depending on your air fryer’s size, you might need to work in batches. Cook the salmon for about 10 minutes at 390°F (200°C), flipping the bites halfway through (after 5 minutes). The salmon is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).

How to Make the Garlic Cream Sauce

While the salmon is cooking, make the cream sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, cream, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together for 4-5 minutes, until the butter is melted and the sauce is heated through.

Pour the sauce over the salmon, ensuring all pieces are covered in the creamy sauce. Serve the air fryer salmon bites with garlic cream sauce over mashed potatoes or rice. For a healthier option, top the salmon over cauliflower mashed potatoes. You might also want to try just the sauce over a pile of noodles…yum!

Can I Make Salmon Bites in the Oven?

Yes! If you don’t have an air fryer or prefer to use the oven, the salmon bites are still easy to make. Follow the recipe up to cooking in the air fryer. Place the oven rack in the top position and preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the salmon bites for about 16 minutes, flipping them over halfway through at around 7-8 minutes.

Ingredients

Salmon

• 2 salmon fillets (6 ounces each) (170 grams each), skin removed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (1-2 limes, squeezed)
• ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Garlic Cream Sauce

• 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
• ¼ cup (60g) heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Spray the basket of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Use a paper towel to pat the salmon fillets dry. Use a sharp knife to cut each fillet into 1-inch (2.5 cm) squares.
3. In a medium bowl, combine olive oil, lime juice, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper.
4. Pour the mixture over the salmon bites and gently toss to coat.
5. Working in batches, place the salmon bites in an even layer in the basket of your air fryer. (Do not overcrowd.) Air fry for 4-5 minutes. Flip and repeat on the opposite side, or until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F (60-63°C). Place the cooked salmon in a bowl.
6. While the salmon is cooking, prepare the garlic sauce.
7. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add butter, heavy cream, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir together until
8. the butter is melted and the mixture is fully combined and heated through (4-5 minutes).
9. Pour the garlic cream sauce over the salmon bites and serve over mashed potatoes or rice.