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Ultimate Crispy & Juicy Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter

Close-up of a glistening, perfectly cooked piece of air fryer salmon topped with chopped parsley.
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Achieve perfectly crispy skin and flaky, juicy interior every time you cook salmon in your air fryer. This easy lemon garlic butter recipe is ready fast for a healthy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets, skin on or off
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pat the salmon fillets very dry using paper towels. This step is key for crispy skin.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Rub the spice mixture evenly over all sides of the salmon fillets.
  3. Lightly brush the salmon fillets with olive oil.
  4. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) for 5 minutes.
  5. Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch. If you have a smaller air fryer, cook in batches.
  6. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets, until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  7. While the salmon cooks, prepare the lemon garlic butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Stir well.
  8. Once the salmon is cooked, carefully remove the fillets from the air fryer basket.
  9. Brush the lemon garlic butter mixture generously over the top of each hot salmon fillet.
  10. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving immediately.

Notes

  • For the crispiest skin, place the salmon skin-side down in the air fryer basket.
  • If your fillets are very thick (over 1.5 inches), you may need to reduce the temperature slightly to 380 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 13-15 minutes to prevent the outside from burning before the center is done.
  • This recipe works well for meal prepping; reheat gently in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to restore crispness.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastytipster.com/air-fryer-salmon-crispy-juicy-lemon-garlic-butter/