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Ultimate Crispy Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter

Two glistening, golden-brown fillets of air fryer salmon topped with chopped green herbs resting on a white plate.
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Achieve perfectly crispy skin and flaky, juicy interior with this simple air fryer salmon recipe. Ready in under 15 minutes, this lemon garlic butter preparation is ideal for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skin on or off
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pat the salmon fillets completely dry using paper towels. This step helps achieve crispy skin.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, dill, salt, and pepper.
  3. Brush the salmon fillets lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over the top and sides of the salmon.
  4. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
  5. Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring space between them for air circulation. If using skin-on, place them skin-side down.
  6. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets, until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
  7. While the salmon cooks, prepare the lemon garlic butter: In a small dish, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Stir well.
  8. Once the salmon is cooked, carefully remove it from the air fryer. Brush the lemon garlic butter mixture generously over the top of each fillet.
  9. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

  • For the crispiest skin, ensure the salmon is very dry before seasoning.
  • If your fillets are very thick (over 1.5 inches), you may need to reduce the temperature slightly to 380°F (195°C) and cook for 13-15 minutes to prevent the outside from burning before the inside is done.
  • This recipe works well for salmon bites; cut the fillets into 1-inch cubes and cook for 8-10 minutes.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://chefsily.com/air-fryer-salmon-crispy-juicy-lemon-garlic/