Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

This air fryer teriyaki salmon is one of my favorite weeknight dinners. It’s quick, flavorful, and comes out perfectly cooked every single time.

The teriyaki glaze is homemade with just a few simple ingredients – honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. It takes about two minutes to mix together and tastes so much better than anything from a bottle.

The air fryer does all the heavy lifting here. It gives the salmon a nice caramelized outside while keeping the inside tender and flaky.

You only need about 10 minutes of cooking time, which makes this perfect for busy days. Serve it with some rice and veggies, and you have a full meal ready in no time.

A sprinkle of sesame seeds and sliced green onions on top finishes it off nicely. Simple but it makes a big difference in both flavor and presentation.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ready in Under 15 Minutes – Between the quick marinade and the air fryer’s fast cooking time, you can have perfectly glazed teriyaki salmon on your plate in about 12 to 15 minutes. That’s faster than waiting for takeout.

The Air Fryer Makes Salmon So Easy – Cooking salmon on the stove can be stressful because it sticks to the pan or cooks unevenly. The air fryer takes all that worry away and gives you a beautiful, evenly cooked fillet every single time.

That Homemade Teriyaki Glaze Is Next Level – The mix of teriyaki sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil creates a sticky, sweet, and savory glaze that tastes way better than anything from a bottle. Once you try it, you won’t want store-bought glaze again.

Crispy Edges With a Tender Center – The air fryer caramelizes the honey and teriyaki on the outside of the salmon, giving you those slightly crispy, sticky edges while the inside stays melt-in-your-mouth tender. It’s the perfect contrast.

Ingredients

• 4 Salmon Fillets (6 oz each)
• 1/4 cup Teriyaki Sauce
• 2 tbsp Honey
• 1 tbsp Rice Vinegar
• 1 tsp Sesame Oil
• 1 tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
• 2 Green Onions, sliced

How to Make

Step 1

In a bowl, whisk together teriyaki sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic.

Step 2

Place salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour half of the teriyaki mixture over them. Marinate for 15 minutes.

Step 3

Place marinated salmon skin-side down in air fryer basket and air fry at 380°F for 8-10 minutes until salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Step 4

During the last 2 minutes of cooking, brush salmon with remaining teriyaki sauce.

Step 5

Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.

Tips

Pat the Salmon Dry Before Marinating

Before you put the salmon in the marinade, grab a paper towel and pat each fillet dry on all sides. This removes the extra moisture sitting on the surface of the fish.

If you skip this step, the marinade won’t stick to the salmon as well. You want that teriyaki mixture to actually cling to the fish, not slide right off because there’s a layer of water in the way.

It also helps you get a slightly caramelized outside in the air fryer instead of a steamed, soggy texture.

Don’t Marinate Longer Than 30 Minutes

The recipe says 15 minutes and that really is the sweet spot. If you’re short on time, even 10 minutes will work since the teriyaki and honey are strong enough flavors to soak in quickly.

Whatever you do, don’t let the salmon sit in that marinade for over 30 minutes. The rice vinegar and teriyaki sauce are acidic, and if the fish sits in it too long the texture starts to break down and get mushy.

Preheat Your Air Fryer

Turn on your air fryer and let it run at 380°F for about 3 minutes before you put the salmon in. This way the basket is already hot when the fish hits it.

If you put the salmon into a cold air fryer, the cooking time will be off and you won’t get that nice slightly crispy outside. A preheated air fryer gives you more even cooking from the very start.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Crispy Avocado Fries
• Air Fryer Lemon Blueberry Mini Cakes
• Air Fryer Loaded Hasselback Potatoes
• Air Fryer Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
• Air Fryer Pizza Dough Knots with Garlic Butter

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I cook teriyaki salmon in the air fryer?

Cook the salmon at 400°F for about 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets. A 6 oz fillet that is about 1 inch thick will usually be done in around 8 minutes.

You will know it is ready when the top is nicely caramelized from the teriyaki glaze and the internal temperature reaches 145°F. If your fillets are thicker than 1 inch, add an extra minute or two.