• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Peachy Plate
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Home
  • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Air Fryer / Easy Air Fryer Salmon Fillet with Crispy Skin

    Easy Air Fryer Salmon Fillet with Crispy Skin

    Published: Jun 20, 2022 by Kaylie This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Cooked salmon with skin on. Cooked salmon filet meat side up.
    Cooked salmon with skin on, garnished with lemon slices.

    This air fryer salmon fillet recipe has the crispiest skin ever, and will become a favorite in your weeknight dinner rotation. The salmon comes out perfectly cooked—not dry at all—with a delicious skin that crunches like a potato chip! Make this tonight in about 20 minutes, for an easy, no-fail meal.

    Cooked salmon filet with skin on.

    My family loves salmon for its rich flavor, and firm texture. It’s a great protein option that breaks up the usual chicken and beef we have during the week. Salmon is also so versatile when it comes to the types of seasoning and marinades you can pair with it, and when you cook it with an air fryer, you can literally set it and forget it, allowing you to prep and make your side dishes like this Chinese chicken salad to round out the meal!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients & notes
    • Kitchen Equipment and Tools
    • Instructions
    • Pro Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Air Fryer recipes you’ll love!
    • Easy Air Fryer Salmon Fillet with Crispy Skin

    Ingredients & notes

    Ingredients for salmon seasoning.

    Salmon – I’m using a fresh Atlantic salmon fillet that’s about 1 inch thick. 

    Seasoning – You can adjust the seasoning to taste, but the brown sugar adds a bit of sweetness that goes so well with salmon.

    Olive oil– the bit of oil helps the seasoning stick on the salmon better, as you will be cooking it skin side up!

    Kitchen Equipment and Tools

    Air Fryer – I’ve had my Philips XXL Air fryer for a long time now, and it’s a workhorse and has lots of space. The basket holds up to 3 pounds of food which feeds the whole family easily!

    Trivet/air fryer rack – You’re going to need this to help achieve that super crispy salmon skin. I use the trivet that came along with my Instant Pot. This helps to weigh down the salmon skin and prevents it from flying into the air fryer vent.

    If you don’t have a trivet, try using 2-3 spoons or forks to keep the salmon skin in place while cooking. 

    Instructions

    Images on how to make air fryer salmon with skin.

    1. Debone and de-scale the salmon filet as needed. Pat completely dry and season the salmon (meat side) with olive oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.

    2. Place the salmon into the air fryer, preheated at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, skin side up. Air Fry for 10 minutes. 

    3. Once salmon is done cooking, transfer it onto a plate. Use a fork to carefully lift the skin off the filet. The skin comes off really easily once the salmon is cooked. 

    4. Place the salmon skin back in the air fryer, place the trivet over it and air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the skin crisps up to your liking. 

    Cooked salmon fillet.

    Serve with a squeeze of lime and sides like this easy rice cooker turmeric rice!

    Pro Tips

    • The only way to truly get crispy skin without overcooking the salmon is to air fry the skin separately after the salmon is done. I’ve tried many attempts and this is the best way to get perfectly cooked salmon with the best crispy skin!
    • Season the skin with a bit of salt after it crisps up.
    • Make sure to weigh down the salmon skin properly, otherwise it will fly into the vent. 
    • No need to add oil to the skin, there’s enough oil on the salmon to help crisp it up. 
    • Make sure the air fryer basket is clean before you cook it. The oil from the salmon skin can cause it to smoke up.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do you flip salmon in air fryer?

    No need to flip the salmon, it will cook through.

    How long does salmon take to cook at 400?

    For a salmon with the thickest part at 1”, it takes about 10 minutes at 400. Adjust the cooking time according to how thick the fillet is. 

    Can you put frozen salmon in an air fryer?

    I would not recommend cooking frozen salmon, especially if it’s on the thick side. The edges will burn and dry out before the center thaws and properly cooks. Use fresh or completely thawed salmon, that way it cooks evenly and beautifully.

    More Air Fryer recipes you’ll love!

    • Air Fryer Chicken Wings Dry Rub
    • Easy Air Fryer Beef Taquitos
    • Easy 20 Minute Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
    • Crispy Air Fryer Catfish

    Love a recipe you’ve tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card and a comment below! That’ll make my day!

    Let’s be friends! Follow me on social media @ Instagram, Pinterest. Give me a tag @apeachyplate when you try out a recipe!

    Cooked salmon with skin.

    Easy Air Fryer Salmon Fillet with Crispy Skin

    Kaylie
    This air fryer salmon recipe has the crispiest skin ever, and will become a favorite in your weeknight dinner rotation. The salmon comes out perfectly cooked—not dry at all—with a delicious skin that crunches like a potato chip! Make this tonight in about 20 minutes, for an easy, no-fail meal.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 3 people
    Calories 128 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    • trivet/rack or something heavy like to 2-3 spoons/forks to weight the salmon skin down

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ pound salmon filet, skin on about 1 inch thick
    • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
    • Debone and de-scale the salmon filet as needed. Pat completely dry.
    • Drizzle the salmon (meat side only) with olive oil.
    • Season with brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt and pepper.
    • Add the salmon fillet on to the air fryer basket, skin side up.
    • Air Fry for 10 minutes.
    • This step is necessary for extra crispy salmon skin! Remove the salmon and place it onto a plate. Use a fork to carefully lift the skin from the salmon (it should remove easily after the salmon is cooked).
    • Place the salmon skin back into the air fryer, weigh it down with a trivet and air fryer for an additional 3-4 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
    • Serve the salmon with the skin immediately with a side of fresh lemon wedges.

    Notes

    *Nutritional facts provided are only an estimate, accuracy is not guaranteed.
    • For a salmon with the thickest part at 1”, it takes about 10 minutes at 400. Adjust the cooking time according to how thick the filet is.
    • The only way to truly get crispy skin without overcooking the salmon is to air fry the skin separately after the salmon is done. I’ve tried many attempts and this is the best way to get perfectly cooked salmon with the best crispy skin!
    • When cooking the salmon skin, make sure to weigh it down properly, otherwise it will fly into the vent. Use a trivet or two forks/spoons. 
    • Make sure the air fryer basket is clean before you cook it. The oil from the salmon skin can cause it to smoke up.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3peopleCalories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 15gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 422mgPotassium: 393mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 359IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tag @apeachyplate or hashtag #apeachyplate!
    « Ground Turkey Taco Seasoning
    How to Make Easy Rice Cooker Spanish Rice »

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello, I’m Kaylie -a licensed registered nurse and mommy to two hungry little boys who oversee my taste-test kitchen. Here you’ll find tasty recipes made with real ingredients that I cook for my family – from healthy and nourishing, to savory and comforting. I hope you enjoy, from my family to yours!

    More about me →

    Easy Instant Pot Recipes

    • Easy Instant Pot Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
    • Instant Pot (Whole) Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Instant Pot St. Louis Ribs with Apple Juice
    • Instant Pot Bone-In Pulled Pork Shoulder
    • Instant Pot Oxtail Beef Pho (Pho Duoi Bo)
    • Easy Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos

    Easy Weeknight Recipes

    • Easy Rice Cooker Fried Rice with Eggs
    • Baked Chicken Skewers in the Oven
    • Baked Panko Parmesan Encrusted Cod
    • Stove Top Ground Turkey Burger
    • Easy Rice Cooker Turmeric (Yellow) Rice
    • Vietnamese Garlic Noodles with Shrimp

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
    • Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2021 APeachyPlate