These Air Fryer Hot Honey Salmon Bites are moist, flavorful, and can be made from start-to-finish in just 30 minutes. Coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs with just the right amount of heat, you can air fry the salmon bites or cook them in an oven until crispy on the outside, but tender and flaky on the inside. Toss immediately with a delicious sweet and spicy hot honey sauce.
Versatile enough for a variety of dishes, these salmon bites are the ideal topping for a rice bowl and make a great appetizer when served with a cool, creamy dip. We love them with our Dill Sauce for salmon!
If you love seafood as much as we do (especially salmon!), check out our collection of easy seafood dishes including Broiled Miso Salmon (this cooks in just 8 minutes!), Honey Garlic Salmon and Miso Salmon Bites.
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh salmon fillet: Be sure to remove the skin and try our instructions for cutting salmon into salmon bites. This is Atlantic salmon, though you can check out our salmon guide for more information on the different species.
- Neutral oil: We recommend rapeseed, avocado, or canola oil, though olive oil is fine.
- Panko breadcrumbs: This will give the air fryer salmon bites a nice crunch.
- Dry seasonings for the breading: This includes granulated garlic, Italian seasoning, sweet paprika, Kosher salt, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper.
- Unsalted butter: This will form the foundation of the hot honey sauce.
- Hot honey: We recommend Mike’s Hot Honey, but you can use another brand if you prefer.
- Cayenne: Adjust the amount of cayenne to control the sauce’s spice.
- Garlic powder: To add another layer of flavor to the sauce.
- Chili powder: This will give your hot honey salmon a bit of a smoky flavor.
- Kosher salt: To bring out all the flavors in the sauce.
- Black pepper: Use freshly ground black pepper to enhance the sauce’s flavor.
You’ll also need large bowls, a small saucepan, and an air fryer or a sheet pan lined with parchment paper!
How To Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Cube the salmon. Preheat an air fryer to 375F or an oven to 400F. We recommend following our instructions for cutting salmon into salmon bites.
- Make the breading. Mix together panko breadcrumbs, granulated garlic, Italian seasoning, sweet paprika, Kosher salt, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper.
- Coat the salmon bites. Drizzle salmon cubes with a neutral oil, then add to the panko mixture, tossing well until thoroughly coated. Transfer to an air fryer basket, then cook at 375F for 8 minutes, turning once halfway through.
- If cooking in an oven, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook at 400F for 10-12 minutes.
- As the salmon cooks, make the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine unsalted butter, Mike’s hot honey, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, Kosher salt, and black pepper. Heat over until the butter has melted and the spices become fragrant. Set aside.
- Toss, then serve. When the salmon is fully cooked, drizzle with hot honey sauce and toss. Serve in rice bowls or with a cool, creamy dip alongside your favorite sides.
FAQs
We recommend Mike’s Hot Honey, which can be found at many stores, including: Whole Foods, Wegman’s, ShopRite, Kings, Walmart, Sprouts, Publix, or on Amazon.
No! You can also bake these on a sheet pan in an oven, if preferred. Instructions are in the Notes section of the recipe card.
Yes! Salmon is a great source of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients.
Absolutely! Just be sure to thaw completely before cooking and pat dry with paper towels before seasoning to absorb excess moisture.
Yes! I recommend adjusting the cayenne pepper amounts in the breading and/or the hot honey sauce to suit your tastes.
Expert Tips
- For the best flavor, use high quality salmon filets. That doesn’t necessarily mean fresh salmon, though if you can find it — great! A lot of fish are flash frozen shortly after being fished and are of even higher quality than fish that has been sitting on ice for a few days.
- We recommend following our instructions for cutting salmon into salmon bites– It takes a few more minutes, but it is well worth the time and effort!
- If you prefer more heat for your air fryer salmon bites, use 2 tsp of cayenne pepper in the hot honey sauce.
Make-Ahead, Leftovers, & Storage
- To make-ahead: Seasoned salmon bites can be prepped up to 24 hours in advance. When ready to enjoy, cook according to instructions, then toss with hot honey sauce.
- Leftovers and storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in a fridge for up to 3 days. Remember that seafood has a shorter shelf life than other proteins.
- To freeze: Salmon bites can be frozen for up to 3 months. Allow them to cool completely, then place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours. Once frozen solid, transfer the bites to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to eat, reheat (in an air fryer or very gently in a microwave) until just warm, being careful not to overcook the salmon. In an airfryer, we recommend 350F for 3 minutes. Add more time if needed.
How To Serve
Salmon is such a versatile ingredient — there are endless ways to enjoy these salmon bites! Our go-to is in rice bowls alongside roasted veggies, but they are also fantastic added on top of salads. Consider adding them to the following dishes for a bit of added protein:
- Green Goddess Salad
- Butter Lettuce Salad
- BLT Salad (the salmon would be so good with the smoky bacon!)
- Fall Cobb Salad (replace the chicken with air fry salmon bites!)
Substitutions and Variations
For a different twist, try tossing the salmon bites in the sauce from our Miso Salmon Bites (the sauce is made from white miso paste, soy sauce, ginger paste, and a little sugar).or with our Homemade Teriyaki Sauce. They would also be great with a creamy dipping sauce like our Yogurt Dill Sauce or Homemade Aioli and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or lime juice.
For added crunch, consider a sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving!
You’re going to love how flavorful and easy this dish is! We can’t wait for you to give it a try!
If you make our Hot Honey Air Fryer Salmon Bites recipe, please let us know by leaving a review and rating below!
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30-Minute Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Hot Honey
Equipment
Ingredients
For the salmon bites
- 2 lb salmon fillet, skin removed
- 2 Tbsp neutral oil, such as grapeseed oil, avocado oil, or canola oil
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tsp granulated garlic
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ½ tsp dry mustard
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
For the hot honey sauce
- ½ cup (4 Tbsp) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup Mike's Hot Honey, or other hot honey
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cube the salmon. Preheat an air fryer to 375F or an oven to 400F. We recommend following our instructions for cutting salmon into salmon bites, which includes a 10-15 minute cure time, but yields perfect salmon bites every single time. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step.
- Make the breading. In a large bowl, mix together ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs, 2 tsp granulated garlic, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, 2 tsp sweet paprika, 1 tsp Kosher salt, ½ tsp dry mustard, and ¼ tsp cayenne pepper.
- Coat the salmon bites. Drizzle salmon cubes with 2 Tbsp neutral oil, then add to the panko mixture, tossing well until thoroughly coated. Transfer to an air fryer basket, then cook at 375F for 8 minutes, turning once halfway through.
- If cooking in an oven, place on a parchment lined baking sheet, then cook at 400F for 10-12 minutes.
- Make the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup Mike’s hot honey, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp Kosher salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Heat over medium-high heat until the butter has melted and the spices become fragrant, stirring well. Set aside.
- Toss then serve. When the salmon is fully cooked, transfer to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with as much of the hot honey sauce as you like. Serve in rice bowls or with a cool, creamy dip (such as ranch dressing) alongside your favorite sides.
Notes
- To make-ahead: Salmon bites can be prepped up to 24 hours in advance. When ready to enjoy, cook according to instructions, then toss with hot honey sauce.
- Leftovers and storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in a fridge for up to 3 days. Remember that seafood has a shorter shelf life than other proteins.
- To freeze: Salmon bites can be frozen for up to 3 months. Allow them to cool completely, then place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours. Once frozen solid, transfer the bites to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to eat, reheat (in an air fryer or very gently in a microwave) until just warm, being careful not to overcook the salmon. In an airfryer, we recommend 350F for 3 minutes. Add more time if needed.
- If you prefer more heat, use 2 tsp cayenne pepper in the hot honey sauce.
Nutrition
Photography by: Alana of Your Home Made Healthy
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