Last updated: September 2023

An air-fryer staple with under 5 simple ingredients, quick cook time, and great nutrition.

Salmon is my toddler’s FAVORITE food and it doesn’t get easier (or more delicious) than a salmon filet in the air fryer! The key when air frying salmon is to leave the skin on so the juices stay in the salmon when cooking. A lot of mistakes (I think) people make is to remove the skin before air frying, which dries the salmon out.

This recipe is as simple as brushing a salmon filet with some olive oil, adding seasoning, and air frying for about 12 minutes! There’s also an option to marinate the salmon a few hours before air frying (I like to marinate or brush on some teriyaki sauce and garnish with sesame seeds) if you’d like.

This article from Solid Starts talks about salmon for little ones, the benefits, how to serve, and much more! It’s a good read if you’re offering salmon for the first time to your little one (this was one of our first solid foods for our little one).

INGREDIENTS

• 1 salmon filet

• Extra virgin olive oil (to brush on)

• Sprinkle of salt, pepper, garlic powder

• Light spray of avocado oil

• Sesame seeds to garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat air fryer to 380F

• Brush salmon filet with olive oil and sprinkle with a dash of salt, pepper, garlic powder

• Spray with avocado oil

• Air fry for about 12 minutes skin-side down (thickest part of salmon should reach 145F)

• Let cool and serve! Store in fridge in air-tight container for 2-3 days.

NOTES

• Cook times may vary based on air fryer; check the salmon around 10 minutes (internal temperature should reach 145F) and cook longer as needed. In my air fryer, it's ready in 12 minutes.

• Option to marinate the salmon first in a few tablespoons of your favorite sauce (teriyaki, bbq, etc.) for a few hours before air frying. If you're doing this, no need to brush with olive oil first, you can start directly with seasoning the salmon.

• It's important that you leave the skin on the salmon when air frying - this leaves the juices in the salmon and prevents it from becoming too dry. You can remove the skin after it's cooked.

This post may contain affiliate links where My Toddler’s Kitchen may earn commissions. Please reference the disclaimer policy.