Air fryer salmon steaks are a great dinner option when you want salmon that feels a little more substantial than fillets but still cooks quickly. The air fryer makes them easier because you do not need to heat the oven, turn on the grill, or watch a pan on the stove.
This recipe uses a simple sweet-savory marinade with soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice, and a little brown sugar. The marinade gives the salmon good flavor without needing a separate sauce later, which is one less thing to think about at dinnertime.
The center bone is normal with salmon steaks and not something to worry about. I check the thickest part with a thermometer, then let the salmon rest for a few minutes before serving. It is one of the easiest ways I know to keep salmon from drying out.
Quick Success Tips
Start checking near the end of the cook time. Smaller steaks may finish earlier, and the color can deepen before the salmon is fully cooked. I would rather check a minute early than accidentally overcook the salmon.
Why This Recipe Works
The soy sauce, lemon, garlic, and brown sugar marinade works well with salmon because it gives the steaks enough flavor without needing a heavy sauce. The flavor is savory, slightly sweet, and easy to pair with simple sides.
The air fryer cooks the salmon quickly, and flipping halfway through helps both sides cook evenly. I like this method because once the salmon is in the air fryer, I can focus on getting the rest of dinner on the table.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- A good change from regular salmon: Salmon steaks feel a little more special but are still easy enough for dinner.
- Simple sweet-savory flavor: The marinade uses everyday ingredients and gives the salmon plenty of flavor.
- No oven or grill needed: The air fryer keeps the cooking simple and quick.
- Easy to pair with sides: Serve with potatoes, asparagus, rice, salad, or roasted vegetables.
- Weeknight-friendly: Once the salmon is marinated, dinner moves quickly.
Ingredients you'll need to make salmon steaks in the air fryer.
**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**
For this air fryer salmon steak recipe, you'll need:
Salmon steaks: Try to use steaks that are close in size so they cook more evenly. The center bone is normal and easy to work around after cooking.
Olive oil: Helps the marinade coat the salmon.
Soy sauce or coconut aminos: Adds savory flavor. Coconut aminos are a good soy-free option.
Brown sugar: Balances the salty flavor and helps the salmon get a deeper color in the air fryer.
Lemon juice: Brightens the marinade.
Garlic: Adds more flavor without making the recipe complicated.
Salt and pepper: Simple seasoning to finish the marinade.
Tools used to make the recipe.
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How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Steaks
Here's how to make salmon steaks in the air fryer:
First: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce or coconut aminos, brown sugar, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Next: Place the salmon steaks in a shallow dish or zip-top bag. Pour the marinade over the salmon and turn the steaks so they are coated. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Then: Remove the salmon steaks from the marinade and let the extra marinade drip off. Place the salmon steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Air fry at 390°F for 6-8 minutes per side, flipping halfway through. Start checking near the end of the cook time, especially when one steak is smaller than the other.
Finally: Check the thickest part with an instant-read thermometer. The salmon is done when it reaches 135°F, or your preferred doneness. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Helpful Tips
- Do not judge only by color. Brown sugar in the marinade can make the salmon look deeply browned before it is overcooked. I use the thermometer as the final check.
- Watch uneven pieces. Some salmon steaks are thicker on one side than the other. When I am cooking two steaks, I usually start checking the smaller one first because it often finishes before the thicker piece.
- Let the extra marinade drip off. The salmon should be coated, not dripping. Too much marinade can darken quickly and make the basket messier.
- Let it rest before serving. A few minutes of rest helps the salmon stay moist when you cut into it.
How long to cook bone-in salmon steaks in an air fryer
At 390°F, salmon steaks usually take 12-16 minutes total, flipping halfway through.
The exact time depends on the size and thickness of the steaks. Smaller steaks may be ready closer to 12 minutes, while larger steaks may need the full time.
For this recipe, I cook the salmon to 135°F. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
What goes well with salmon steaks
Make It a Meal
For an easy air fryer dinner, serve them with air fryer baby potatoes and air fryer asparagus. This is one of my favorite combinations when I want dinner to feel complete without making extra work for myself.
For a low-effort dinner plate, serve the salmon steak with a bagged salad and a quick side like rice, potatoes, or steamed vegetables. Some nights that is exactly the kind of dinner that gets everyone fed without spending the whole evening in the kitchen.
How to store cooked salmon steaks
Let the salmon cool, then store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Leftover salmon is great cold over a salad or flaked into a rice bowl with vegetables. Honestly, I often enjoy the leftovers this way more than reheating them.
How to reheat salmon steaks in the air fryer
Reheat salmon gently because it can dry out quickly.
Place the salmon steak in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or just until warmed through. You can also reheat it gently in the microwave in short intervals.
Once it is warm, it is ready. Heating it longer than needed can dry out the edges.
FAQs
A salmon steak is cut across the fish and usually has a center bone. The bone is normal, and the salmon cooks around it just fine. You can remove it after cooking if you prefer.
Yes, for this recipe I flip the salmon steaks halfway through. It helps both sides cook evenly.
Salmon steaks are not always the same size or thickness. Smaller steaks can finish earlier, so I start checking near the end of the cook time.
Check the thickest part with an instant-read thermometer. For this recipe, the salmon is done at 135°F, then it rests for a few minutes before serving.
The salmon should look opaque and flake easily, but it should still look moist in the center.
Yes, but the timing may change because fillets may cook faster. Start checking earlier and use a thermometer so the salmon does not overcook.
Check the salmon with a thermometer, start checking near the end of the cook time, and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
More Air Fryer seafood recipes you'll love
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Air Fryer Salmon Steaks
These air fryer salmon steaks are easy to make with a sweet-savory marinade and cook quickly in the air fryer. Use a thermometer to check the thickest part so the salmon stays moist and tender.
Ingredients
- 2 Salmon steaks (around 10 oz. each)
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or coconut amino
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 lemon, juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the brown sugar, oil, soy sauce or coconut amino, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Set aside
- Pat dry the salmon steaks on both sides, place in a medium bowl or Ziploc bag, pour the marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove the salmon steaks from the marinade and let the extra marinade drip off. Place the salmon steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry at 390°F for 6–8 minutes per side, flipping halfway through. Check the thickest part with an instant-read thermometer. The salmon is done when it reaches 135°F, or your preferred doneness.
- Let the salmon rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Tamari sauce will also work with this recipe if you don’t have coconut amino or soy sauce.
- Marinating the steaks for at least 30 minutes ensures the steaks absorb more flavor.
- Salmon fillets can work, but they may cook faster than steaks. Start checking earlier.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat salmon steaks in the air fryer to 350ºF for 3-5 minutes or until heated through.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part so you don’t have to guess. For this recipe, I cook the salmon to 135°F, then let it rest before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 447Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 540mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 44g
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated, only the sodium in the other ingredients is calculated.
