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The perfect air fryer salmon recipe topped with homemade tartar sauce, fresh parsley and fresh lemon on a sheet tray.

The Perfect Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

Krista Stechman
A juicy and delicious air fryer salmon with herb garlic butter and homemade tartar sauce that cooks in just 5 minutes!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Marinating time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course dinner
Cuisine american
Servings 4 people
Calories 456 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 air fryer
  • 1 meat thermometer
  • 1 sharp knife
  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 small bowl
  • 1 whisk

Ingredients
  

Tartar Sauce

  • ½ cup mayo I use hellmans
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon green onions finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon dill pickle finely chopped
  • teaspoon fresh dill chopped
  • teaspoon fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
  • ½ teaspoon tobasco
  • ½ teaspoon capers chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Compound Butter

  • ½ cup butter room temp
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • teaspoon lemon juice fresh
  • teaspoon green onions finely chopped
  • teaspoon fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh dill chopped
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Salmon

  • 24 oz salmon filets I used 4, 6oz filets
  • 1 pinch kosher salt to add over the butter right before cooking

Instructions
 

Making the Tartar Sauce

  • Add all tartar sauce ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until fully combined
  • Set aside until needed or refrigerate in an airtight container if made ahead of time

Making the Compound Butter

  • Place all compound butter ingredients into a medium bowl and mix on low with a hand mixer until just combined. Turn up to medium and mix an additional 30 seconds

Seasoning the Salmon

  • Place a sheet of parchment paper on a sheet pan then add the salmon on top
  • Smear the butter all over the front, back and sides of the salmon
  • Place the salmon in the fridge for 30-60 minutes

Cooking the Salmon

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes
  • In the meantime, spray a small piece of aluminum foil with a small amount of non stick cooking spray. Make sure the foil is only large enough to cover the bottom of the air fryer basket and does not go up the sides of the basket
  • After the air fryer is done preheating, place the aluminum foil in the bottom of the basket then place the salmon on top in a single layer, not touching each other
  • Sprinkle each piece with a pinch of salt then cook for 5 minutes
  • Remove the salmon from the air fryer and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving
  • Serve with tartar sauce

Notes

***When choosing which salmon to buy remember that the salmon should not have a fishy smell, it should smell of ocean water or salt water. The salmon should be wet or moist looking with bright nice color. It should not be slimy or mushy.
***Do not stack the salmon on top of each other or overlap pieces. It should be cooked in one single layer, not touching each other. If your air fryer isn't big enough to fit all 4 pieces like that then cook the salmon in batches.
***Wait until after the air fryer is preheated to add the foil in the bottom of the basket. Do not add the foil while preheating. 
***Only cook the salmon for 5 minutes to get a nice juicy piece of salmon that is medium rare - medium.
***The tartar sauce and compound butter can be made up to 48 hours ahead of time.

Nutrition

Calories: 456kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 35gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 17gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 798mgPotassium: 904mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 179IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 2mg
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