Make this easy air fryer salmon recipe with two different spice rubs. Learn how to season salmon for the air fryer to make the most tender, flaky salmon filets with delicious flavor in just minutes. You can cook this fish to perfection using your air fryer. It is perfect for a busy weeknight family meal.
Prep Time3 minutesmins
Cook Time9 minutesmins
Total Time12 minutesmins
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 30 minute meal, air fryer recipe, easy recipe, fish recipe
Servings: 2Servings
Calories: 322kcal
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1Teaspoonlemon and black pepper spice rubor BBQ spice rub
Drizzle of Olive Oil or Spritz of spray oil
Instructions
For best results, cut your fresh fish (or thawed) into similar sized pieces so they will cook evenly. Feel free to leave the skin on as it lends flavor and helps make this a nutritious meal
1 Pound Salmon
Place your fish on a plate. You want about 4 to 6-ounce salmon fillets.
Prepare your dry rub in a small bowl. You will need a couple tablespoons of your homemade rub or use a few tablespoons of store bought dry rub or seasoning. Lemon and black pepper, and the BBQ dry rub seasoning recipe in the notes section.
1 Teaspoon lemon and black pepper spice rub
Sprinkle your seasonings onto your fish and pat into the top, sides, and bottom. We find you want a thin coating all around your fish, not just the top of the filets
Drizzle olive oil if you'd like, but it is not necessary. You can also do a quick spritz of cooking spray
Drizzle of Olive Oil or Spritz of spray oil
Take your seasoned salmon and place it in the preheated air fryer basket
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook salmon in the air fryer for about 7-9 minutes. Until tender and flaky.
Making your own lemon pepper seasoning is not difficult and tastes so much better than store bought.You only need two ingredients: lemons and peppercorn.Start by zesting your lemons and then oven drying the zest. (Make sure to avoid the white pith!) We usually use 5 lemons to a 1/4 cup of peppercorns. Pro Tip. Drying the lemon zest helps this recipe stay fresh for a few months on the pantry shelf when stored in an airtight container.Drying the Lemon Zest. Layer the zest in a single layer and dry for about 2-3 hours checking occasionally for dryness. Once dried, combine with the peppercorns in a food processor or high-powered blender and process until mostly smooth.You can also add salt to this mix, but I like to also salt and pepper my fish filets to my taste so I leave it out.Store in an airtight container or use right away!How to make your own maple barbecue dry rubIt may sound daunting but making your own maple BBQ rub is easy! Plus, it will have you looking like a professional chef at your next cookout.
Maple Barbeque Dry Rub Recipe
Combine 1 tablespoon each of paprika, minced onion, garlic powder, chili powder, sea salt with 1 teaspoon of crushed peppercorns and 6 tablespoons of maple sugar.Shake in a jar to combine.