Description
These 30-Minute Air Fryer Salmon Bites are perfectly crispy on the outside and tender inside, paired with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce. An easy yet elevated recipe ready in half an hour, ideal for rice bowls, salads, or as a flavorful appetizer, featuring a gluten-free twist with a delicious blend of spices and a quick air frying method.
Ingredients
For the Salmon Bites
- 2 lb salmon fillet, skin removed
- 2 Tbsp neutral oil (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 (8 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 375°F (191°C) or an oven to 400°F (204°C). For best results, cut the salmon into bites and optionally cure for 10-15 minutes to enhance flavor and texture.
- Make the breading. In a large bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, granulated garlic, Italian seasoning, sweet paprika, Kosher salt, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly to create a flavorful coating.
- Coat the salmon bites. Drizzle the salmon cubes with neutral oil and toss them in the breadcrumb mixture until evenly coated. Transfer salmon bites to the air fryer basket or parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Cook the salmon bites. Air fry at 375°F (191°C) for 8 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking for even crispiness. If using an oven, bake at 400°F (204°C) for 10-12 minutes until crispy and cooked through.
- Make the hot honey sauce. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt unsalted butter and add Mike’s Hot Honey, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, Kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir well until the butter melts completely and the spices become fragrant. Remove from heat.
- Toss and serve. Place the cooked salmon bites in a large mixing bowl and drizzle with desired amount of hot honey sauce. Serve immediately as an appetizer, or over rice bowls or salads, optionally with a creamy dip like ranch on the side.
Notes
- For best texture, allow salmon cubes to cure for 10-15 minutes before breading, but this step can be skipped for quicker prep.
- Use neutral oil like grapeseed or avocado for better flavor and higher smoke point.
- Mike’s Hot Honey adds a unique spicy sweetness; substitute with your favorite hot honey if unavailable.
- Panko breadcrumbs give a crispy coating, but gluten-free panko can be used to keep the dish gluten-free.
- Can be served as a main dish or appetizer, versatile for rice bowls, salads, or as finger food.
- Adjust cayenne pepper and hot honey amount to your preferred spice level.
- For oven cooking, use a convection setting if available for crispier results.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American, Chinese
