Air Fryer Cajun Salmon

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword air-fryer-cajun-salmon, cajun-salmon-recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 9

Total Time 14

Servings servings

Calories 336kcal

Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Spray basket with cooking spray.
Brush salmon fillets with olive oil. Mix any remaining oil with brown sugar, creole seasoning, garlic, paprika, lemon pepper and salt. Rub on all sides of salmon.
Arrange lemon slices in air fryer, then place salmon on top.
Cook skin side down for 7-9 minutes or just until cooked through and a thermometer registers 145°F when inserted into the side of the fillet. It should easily flake with a fork. (Cook time may vary depending on thickness of fillets. Keep warm and repeat if frying in batches.)
Serve immediately garnished with fresh parsley and lemon.
Oven Instructions: Preheat oven to 425 °F. Spray a medium size rimmed sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray or brush with oil. Arrange lemon slices in a single layer. Set aside.
Brush salmon fillets with oil and season per the recipe. Transfer to the prepared pan.
Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and reaches a 145°F internal temperature.

Cajun Seasoning: You can use Cajun or Creole seasoning for this salmon recipe. I used Cajun seasoning. You can make your own or try one of the delicious prepared blends. Two well known brands that tend to be readily available in most grocery stores are made by Tony Chachere’s or Zatarain’s. You could also swap it out and use Old Bay, instead.

Salmon Filets: It's important to choose salmon fillets that are similar in size and width. In considering the size, please note that a thicker salmon filet will need a bit more cooking time than a thinner filet. If you pair even sizes together, they’ll cook more uniformly without over or under cooking. You could also use cubed salmon for Cajun salmon bites. (1-inch cubes)

Cook in Batches: Depending on the size of the fillets, you may choose to cook in batches. It’s important not to crowd the air fryer so air can circulate freely around the pieces.

Salt: You may choose to use seasoned salt or no salt at all, depending on the amount of sodium in the Cajun seasoning that you choose to use. Sodium content can vary from brand to brand, so taste and make that adjustment in real time.

Side Dishes: Sides you may consider for serving Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Cajun Dirty Rice or a simple Rice Pilaf. In addition, vegetables such as Panko Parmesan Broccoli or Roasted Asparagus work beautifully to round out the meal. You could also serve it with Cauliflower Rice if you want to keep it low carb.