Air fryer garlic butter salmon is quick and easy to make. It can be ready in less than 15 minutes start to finish, which makes it the perfect dish for lunch or a weeknight dinner.
I've said it time and time again. I love making salmon in the air fryer.
It just cooks up so quickly and is easy to make! I make it for myself for lunch all the time.
For this specific salmon recipe, I made a garlic butter sauce using melted butter and minced garlic, and it was so good! Flavorful and so satisfying. A favorite I'll be adding into the rotation for sure.
What's even better is I almost always have all these ingredients on hand. So it's easy to make this when I feel like there's nothing else in my house.
Ingredients
- Salmon fillet
- Butter
- Garlic
- Dried thyme
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Pepper
Customization ideas
For more heat, add more red pepper flakes or some harissa to the garlic butter. To make it less spicy, leave out the red pepper flakes.
You could also swap out the dried thyme with another dried herb or use fresh chopped herbs instead.
What to serve with the salmon
The garlic butter salmon pairs well with so many dishes! Here are a few ideas.
Air fryer sides - Air fryer smashed potatoes, air fryer radishes, air fryer zucchini chips, air fryer squash
Non-air fryer sides - Chipotle mashed sweet potatoes, bang bang potatoes, peri peri fries
Desserts - Air fryer apples, icebox lemonade pie, air fryer puff pastry, raspberry clafoutis
Recipe notes
- Cook time may depend on type and thickness of salmon. Salmon should be flaky and opaque when cooked.
- This recipe serves one, but can easily be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled to serve more.
How to make garlic butter salmon in the air fryer
Pat salmon dry with paper towels and remove any bones if needed. Season salmon fillet with salt and pepper.
Melt butter and add minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and dried thyme.
Stir together.
Either brush or spray the air fryer basket with oil (so salmon doesn't stick) or use air fryer parchment paper, like I did.
Place the salmon in the air fryer basket.
Spoon the garlic butter sauce over the salmon. (Alternately, you could do this while on the plate, and transfer the salmon to the air fryer after adding the sauce).
Air fry at 380 degrees F for 7-9 minutes.
Plate and enjoy! I served mine with lemons, and it was delicious with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness!
Yum.
Air fryer salmon recipes
- Air fryer honey dijon salmon
- Air fryer honey garlic salmon
- Air fryer pesto salmon
- Air fryer teriyaki salmon
- Air fryer crispy salmon
- Air fryer blackened salmon
- Air fryer salmon bites
Recipes to love
Air Fryer Garlic Butter Salmon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 ounce salmon fillet
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Pat salmon dry with paper towels and remove any bones. Season with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl, melt the butter. Add crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, and dried thyme. Stir to combine.
- Spray or brush air fryer basket with oil (or use air fryer parchment paper). Place salmon in air fryer basket and spoon garlic butter sauce over the top.
- Air fry for 7-9 minutes as 380 degrees F.
Notes
- Cook time may depend on type and thickness of salmon. Salmon should be flaky and opaque when cooked.
- This recipe serves one, but can easily be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled to serve more.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
Danielle E Cross
Can't wait to try some of these amazing recipes