Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

This Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon is quick to make and absolutely delicious—perfect for a light and easy dinner!

Teriyaki salmon has a gleaming glaze and the flavors of soy and umami, with sweetness and a hint of smokey or grilled taste. No surprise that the word teriyaki translates to glazed (Teri) and grilled (yaki), referring to the method by which fish and meat were prepared in 17th-century Japan. History claims the transition from a method to a sauce was a modern-day American concept. The grilled teriyaki method was usually paired with soy sauce, then evolved to a sweeter taste when Japanese immigrants added pineapple juice to the dish in Hawaii.

This air fryer teriyaki salmon is marinated in homemade teriyaki sauce, similar to our teriyaki pork tenderloin and tasty teriyaki chicken. I love the complex flavor of teriyaki, the sweetness and deep saltiness of soy, with hints of fresh garlic and ginger. How can something have so much going on, go well with everything, and be so likable? As a kid, teriyaki was the most exotic flavor I was interested in, and I’m not surprised that my little ones, who can be ridiculously picky, love teriyaki sauce.

Aside from the delicious taste of air fryer teriyaki salmon, it is simple, healthy, and can be prepared in no time. The ease of this dish makes it the perfect weeknight meal. And since the salmon is so easy to prep, it’s also a wholesome on-the-go lunch.

Is Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Healthy?

Yes! Salmon is a superfood packed with protein, omega 3, and vitamins B12 and D. Cooking our salmon in the air fryer also saves us from the extra oil if we were to fry it, but it still gives us a crisp, tasty outside and flakey, moist inside.

Making the sauce at home instead of purchasing one of the many store brands ensures fewer additives, sodium, and sugar. To lighten the sauce even more, replace the brown sugar with pineapple juice or honey and replace the cornstarch with arrowroot. These tradeoffs will make the dish whole30 compatible, keto, and paleo-friendly.

Salmon Cheatsheet

Choose wild caught or sustainably farm-raised salmon, and you can’t go wrong. All varieties are high in protein and essential nutrients and readily available—sort of. You can buy most types of frozen salmon, but for fresh salmon, you may have more of a limited selection depending on the season and where you live. For example, King salmon, a Pacific salmon, can be found in summer or fall along the west coast of North America, mostly from Alaska but as far south as California. There are other varieties of Pacific salmon, such as sockeye, pink, silver, and keta. When wild Atlantic salmon is unavailable, you can get farm-raised salmon year-round, usually from Canada, Norway, and Chile.

INGREDIENTS

4 salmon fillets (about 5 ounces each)
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon water for slurry

INSTRUCTIONS

Marinate

Prepare and apply teriyaki marinade to salmon.

Cook

Air fry salmon until perfectly cooked.

Serve

Drizzle with thickened teriyaki sauce and enjoy.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

To make air-fried teriyaki salmon ahead, prepare the sauce, use half to marinate, and store overnight in the fridge in an airtight container. Since it cooks quickly, wait until you are ready to serve your salmon to cook it. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Do I cook air fryer salmon teriyaki skin side up or down?

You can actually do either! Skin-side up will give you a crispier bite. The great part of the air fryer is that you don’t have to flip your salmon, and it will be cooked evenly.

How do I know when my salmon is done?

When your teriyaki salmon is cooked and ready, it will have an internal temperature of about 145 degrees.

Serving Suggestions

Air fryer teriyaki salmon is super versatile and goes well with any veggie, salad, or grain. My go-to is jasmine or ginger rice with this easy sauteed broccoli. For a unique dish that is healthy and delicious, serve teriyaki salmon over soba noodles with avocado and crispy sugar peas. Another tasty way to enjoy this fish is over these gluten-free, honey garlic instant pot noodles.

Protip: Double your teriyaki sauce to pour over your rice, veggies, or whatever you serve. You’ll want extra!