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Home » Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Brown Sugar Salmon

Published: Apr 25, 2022 · Last Updated: Dec 11, 2023 by Aimee - This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

Air fryer brown sugar salmon is a flavorful dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner or easy lunch. The salmon cooks in less than 10 minutes, and the whole dish can be made in less than 15 minutes.

Cooked salmon on a white plate with a fork.

If you've cooked salmon fillets in the air fryer, you know how magical it is. The salmon gets perfectly flaky. The flavors are wonderful. And it's so easy.

This brown sugar salmon has easily become one of my favorite dishes. The sweetness of the brown sugar gets perfectly offset by the slight spice of the chili powder.

This air fryer salmon recipe is perfect for a weeknight or a healthy lunch. It cooks in less than 10 minutes, and is so flavorful. It requires only minimal prep time and cook time.

Ingredients

  • Salmon fillet
  • Olive oil
  • Brown sugar
  • Chili powder
  • Salt

How to make air fryer brown sugar salmon

To a small bowl, add your brown sugar, chili powder, and salt. Stir to combine.

Brown sugar, chili powder, and salt in a small bowl.

To prepare the salmon, thoroughly dry the salmon fillet, then remove any bones. Drizzle olive oil over the salmon and rub into all sides.

Raw salmon on a paper towel.

Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the top of your salmon. Then place salmon in the air fryer basket, sugar side up! Cook at 400 degrees F for 6-8 minutes.

If cooking multiple salmon fillets at once, add them in a single layer to your air fryer basket and make sure to leave room in between.

Raw salmon with brown sugar sprinkled on top.

Enjoy!

Cooked salmon on a white plate with a fork.

What to serve with the salmon

So many things pair beautifully with this brown sugar salmon. If you're wanting to make a vegetable in the air fryer, try these air fryer rainbow carrots, air fryer sesame green beans, air fryer Greek-inspired potatoes, or air fryer garlic herb zucchini.

If you're not looking for an air fryer side, the salmon pairs wonderfully with these side dishes. Try roasted harissa carrots for a touch of spice, roasted red cabbage, or these chipotle mashed sweet potatoes.

Can you use frozen salmon?

You can use frozen salmon for this recipe (I usually do!), but I do recommend thawing it before cooking in the air fryer for the best texture. You can also use Atlantic or sockeye salmon in this recipe for brown sugar salmon.

Recipe tips

  • Always check your salmon fillets for bones. If needed, use fish bone tweezers to remove the bones from your salmon.
  • This recipe can be cooked with or without skin. When I make this, I usually leave the skin on, but then discard as I'm eating it.
  • All air fryers cook differently. Cooking times may differ depending on your air fryer and how thick your piece of salmon is. Salmon should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. This can be checked with a meat thermometer by inserting into the salmon at the thickest part.
  • While this recipe is a single serving, this can easily be doubled (or tripled, or quadrupled), depending on the size of your air fryer.
  • You can use parchment paper in the air fryer basket if you prefer. I always use parchment paper with holes specific for my air fryer.
  • You do not need to preheat your air fryer for this recipe.

More air fryer salmon recipes

  • Air fryer harissa salmon
  • Air fryer gochujang salmon
  • Air fryer honey garlic salmon
  • Air fryer honey mustard salmon
  • Air fryer salmon
  • Air fryer garlic butter salmon
air fryer brown sugar salmon on a white plate

Air Fryer Brown Sugar Salmon

Recipe by Aimee
Air Fryer Brown Sugar Salmon is a flavorful dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner or easy lunch.
4.88 from 33 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 8 minutes mins
Total Time 13 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Seafood
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 325 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Air Fryer Parchment Paper

Ingredients
  

  • 6 oz salmon
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Add brown sugar, chili powder, and salt to a small bowl. Stir to combine.
  • Take your salmon fillet and dry. Remove any bones if necessary. Drizzle the olive oil onto salmon and brush to coat all sides with the oil.
  • Place the salmon on a plate, skin side down (if skin was left on). Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the top of the salmon.
  • Add salmon to the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook at 400 degrees F for 6-8 minutes, or until cooked through.
  • Remove from the air fryer and enjoy.

Notes

  • Always check your salmon for bones. If needed, use fish bone tweezers to remove the bones from your salmon.
  • This recipe can be cooked with or without skin. When I make this, I usually leave the skin on, but then discard as I'm eating it.
  • All air fryers cook differently. Cooking times may differ depending on your air fryer and how thick your piece of salmon is.
  • While this recipe is a single serving, this can easily be doubled (or tripled, or quadrupled), depending on the size of your air fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 34gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 676mgPotassium: 869mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 365IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 2mg

If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MARLYN POIER

    September 23, 2024 at 11:45 am

    Don't throw skin away. Eat it. That's where most of your vitamins are and when it's crisp it is a real treat.

    Reply
  2. Eleanor

    July 31, 2024 at 9:20 pm

    I made this recipe without any changes and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  3. Marcia Phyllis Brennan

    June 28, 2024 at 7:19 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe was so easy and very delicious. I followed your directions without any changes. Perfect!

    Reply
  4. Vickie

    February 07, 2024 at 6:32 pm

    Does this recipe work on frozen salmon?

    Reply
    • Aimee

      February 08, 2024 at 8:10 am

      I would thaw the salmon first before adding seasonings. I've personally never tried it with frozen salmon straight from the freezer.

      Reply
  5. Beverly Hajovsky

    November 16, 2023 at 4:40 pm

    🦋I’m so excited to find these recipes!

    Reply
  6. Elisa

    July 04, 2023 at 1:57 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent recipe! Thank you!

    Reply
4.88 from 33 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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Hi! I'm Aimee, and I'm so glad you stopped by! I love sharing easy recipes that are flavorful and delicious.
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