Air Fryer Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon Bites

If you love salmon but want a fun new way to enjoy it, these air fryer honey garlic glazed salmon bites are for you. Tender on the inside, slightly caramelized on the outside, and full of flavor.

The glaze is a simple mix of honey, soy sauce, garlic, and a touch of ginger. It comes together in minutes and makes these salmon bites taste like something from a restaurant.

The air fryer does all the heavy lifting here. You get that nice golden finish without deep frying or heating up your whole kitchen.

All you need is salmon fillets, a handful of pantry ingredients, and about 15 minutes. It’s one of those recipes that looks impressive but is honestly so easy to pull off.

Great as a main dish with rice or as an appetizer if you have people coming over. Either way, they disappear fast.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ready in Minutes – Salmon bites cook super fast in the air fryer because they’re cut into small cubes. You’re looking at roughly 8-10 minutes of cook time, which means dinner can be on the table before you even finish setting it.

That Honey Garlic Glaze Is Incredible – The combo of honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger creates a sticky, sweet, savory glaze that coats every single bite. It’s the kind of sauce you’ll want to drizzle on everything.

Perfectly Crispy on the Outside, Tender on the Inside – The air fryer gives these salmon bites a lightly crispy exterior while keeping the inside flaky and moist. You just can’t get that same result by baking them in a regular oven.

Bite-Sized Means More Flavor – Cutting the salmon into 1.5-inch cubes means every piece gets fully coated in that honey garlic glaze. No bland, unseasoned spots – just flavor in every single bite.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb Salmon Fillets, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons Honey
• 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon Sesame Oil
• 2 teaspoons Cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons Water
• Sesame Seeds for garnish
• Green Onions, sliced

How to Make

Step 1

In a bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Reserve half for glazing.

Step 2

Toss salmon cubes in the remaining marinade and let sit for 10 minutes.

Step 3

Place salmon bites in air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 390°F for 7-8 minutes, shaking basket halfway through.

Step 4

While salmon cooks, heat reserved sauce in a small pan. Mix cornstarch with water and add to sauce, stirring until thickened (about 1 minute).

Step 5

Toss cooked salmon bites in the thickened glaze, sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions, and serve immediately.

Tips

Cut Your Salmon Cubes Evenly

Try to cut all your salmon cubes to roughly the same 1.5-inch size. If some pieces are way bigger or smaller than others, the small ones will overcook and dry out while the big ones are still raw in the middle.

A sharp knife makes this a lot easier. If the salmon feels too soft and hard to cut cleanly, pop it in the freezer for about 15 minutes to firm it up a bit before cutting.

Also, check for any pin bones as you cut. Run your finger along the flesh and if you feel any small bones sticking out, pull them out with tweezers.

Remove the Skin Before Cubing

If your salmon fillets still have the skin on, peel it off before you cut the fish into cubes. The skin won’t crisp up nicely on small bite-sized pieces in the air fryer, and it usually just gets chewy and rubbery.

The easiest way to remove it is to lay the fillet skin-side down on your cutting board. Hold the tail end of the skin with your fingers and slide a sharp knife between the skin and the flesh, angling slightly downward toward the skin as you go.

Pat the Salmon Dry Before Marinating

Before you toss the salmon cubes into the marinade, pat them dry with a paper towel. Extra moisture on the surface of the fish will water down the marinade and keep it from sticking properly.

Dry salmon also gets better color and a slightly caramelized exterior in the air fryer. Wet salmon tends to steam instead of getting that nice golden finish you want from the honey garlic glaze.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
• Air Fryer Steak Bites with Garlic Butter
• Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
• Air Fryer Blackened Mahi Mahi
• Air Fryer Cajun Cod Fillets

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I put the honey garlic glaze on before or after air frying?

It works best to toss the salmon bites in a light coat of the glaze before air frying, then brush on an extra layer of glaze during the last 2 minutes of cooking. This gives you that sticky, caramelized finish without burning the honey.

If you add too much glaze right from the start, the honey can burn in the high heat of the air fryer. A two-step approach gives you the best flavor and that beautiful glossy look.