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Spring’s Best Crispy Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon Butter

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This air fryer salmon recipe delivers shatteringly crispy skin and tender, flaky flesh in just 15 minutes. A bright lemon butter sauce made with fresh lemon juice and zest adds the perfect finishing touch, making it an ideal quick and elegant weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Most air fryers need about 3-5 minutes to preheat. If your model doesn’t have a preheat function, just run it empty for 3 minutes.
  2. Pat the salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels. This is the most important step for crispy skin. Pat each fillet, flip it, and pat again. Let them sit on a paper towel for a minute while you prepare the seasoning.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika. Brush this mixture all over the salmon fillets, making sure to get the sides and the skin side. Let the salmon sit at room temperature for 5 minutes while the air fryer finishes preheating.
  4. Place the salmon in the air fryer basket, skin-side down. Make sure the fillets aren’t touching each other or the sides of the basket. If your air fryer is small, cook the fillets one at a time.
  5. Cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes. Do not flip the salmon. At 8 minutes, the salmon will be medium-rare; at 10 minutes, it will be medium to well-done. 9 minutes is perfect for a medium that flakes easily but stays moist.
  6. While the salmon cooks, make the lemon butter sauce. In the same small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and minced garlic. Set aside.
  7. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the fillet. Aim for 125°F for medium, 130°F for medium-well. If not there yet, cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  8. Remove the salmon from the air fryer using tongs and transfer to a plate. Let rest for 2 minutes.
  9. Spoon the lemon butter sauce over the salmon—a generous drizzle over each fillet.
  10. Garnish with fresh parsley and a lemon wedge.

Notes

Do not flip the salmon during cooking to ensure crispy skin. Pat the salmon very dry for best results. If using a new air fryer, check the salmon at the 7-minute mark the first time. For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter or olive oil. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer salmon, crispy salmon, lemon butter salmon, spring salmon recipe, quick salmon dinner, healthy salmon recipe

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/springs-best-crispy-air-fryer-salmon-with-lemon-butter/