This air fryer teriyaki salmon is one of my favorite weeknight dinners. It’s ready in under 30 minutes, tastes amazing, and is so easy to make.
The salmon comes out perfectly flaky and tender, with a sweet and savory teriyaki glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the air fryer.
I love that you don’t need to turn on the oven or stand over a hot stove for this one. The air fryer does all the work, and the cleanup is minimal.
The homemade teriyaki glaze is simple to whisk together and tastes so much better than anything from a bottle. A little honey, ginger, and garlic go a long way.
If you’re looking for a healthy dinner that the whole family will enjoy, this one is a winner. Let me show you how to make it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfectly Flaky Salmon Every Time – The air fryer cooks the salmon so evenly that every bite is tender and flakes apart beautifully.
That Sticky Teriyaki Glaze Is Incredible – The honey and teriyaki combo creates a glossy sweet-savory coating that caramelizes perfectly in the air fryer.
Crispy Edges With a Juicy Center – The air fryer gives the outside a light crispness while keeping the inside melt-in-your-mouth moist.
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 pour the teriyaki mixture over the fillets, pat them dry with a paper towel. This removes the excess moisture that sits on the surface of the fish.
If you skip this, the marinade slides right off and you end up with salmon that has barely any flavor on the outside. Dry salmon absorbs the marinade way better.
This also helps you get that slightly caramelized glaze on top instead of a steamed, pale finish.
Don’t Marinate Longer Than 15 Minutes
It might seem like marinating longer would mean more flavor, but with salmon it actually works against you. The rice vinegar and teriyaki sauce are acidic, and acid starts to break down the fish if it sits too long.
After about 20-25 minutes, the texture of the salmon starts to change and gets mushy on the outside. Stick to the 15 minutes and you’ll get plenty of flavor without messing up the texture.
Check the Salmon at 8 Minutes
Air fryers vary a lot in how hot they actually run. At 380°F, a thinner fillet might be perfectly done at 8 minutes while a thicker one needs the full 10.
Start checking at 8 minutes by pressing the top of the salmon gently with a fork. If it flakes apart easily and the inside looks opaque, it’s done. If it still looks translucent and feels very soft, give it another 1-2 minutes.
Overcooked salmon dries out fast and no amount of glaze will save it, so pulling it out right on time makes a big difference.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Cajun Honey Butter Salmon
- Air Fryer Everything Bagel Salmon
- Air Fryer Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon Bites
- Air Fryer Honey Garlic Salmon
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to flip the salmon halfway through cooking in the air fryer?
No, you don’t need to flip it. Placing the salmon skin-side down and leaving it that way the entire time works perfectly because the air fryer circulates hot air all around the fillet evenly.
Flipping it can actually cause the salmon to fall apart, especially once it starts getting tender, so it’s best to just let it cook undisturbed.
Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
- 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
- In a bowl, whisk together teriyaki sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic.
- Place salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour half of the teriyaki mixture over them. Marinate for 15 minutes.
- 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.
- During the last 2 minutes of cooking, brush salmon with remaining teriyaki sauce.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.