Air Fryer Salmon Nuggets Recipe
Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Salmon Nuggets coated with a blend of panko and regular bread crumbs, seasoned with Old Bay, garlic, and onion powders. These bite-sized salmon pieces are air fried to perfection for a healthy and delicious snack or appetizer, served with a spicy sriracha mayo dipping sauce and fresh dill garnish.
- Author: Marco
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Salmon Nuggets
- 1 pound salmon filet (skin removed), chopped into 1 inch chunks
- ½ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup regular bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Oil spray or brushing oil for air fryer basket and salmon
Sriracha Mayo Dipping Sauce
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
- Fresh dill for garnish
- Prepare Salmon: Chop the salmon into 1 inch chunks and pat dry thoroughly with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, ensuring better coating adherence.
- Mix Flour Coating: In a shallow dish, combine the flour and Old Bay seasoning. Stir well to evenly distribute the seasoning.
- Prepare Egg Wash: In a separate shallow dish, whisk together the two eggs and 2 tablespoons of water until smooth and uniform.
- Mix Bread Crumb Coating: In a third dish, combine the panko bread crumbs, regular bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Stir to blend all ingredients evenly.
- Coat Salmon Chunks: Dip each salmon piece first into the flour mixture, coating all sides, then into the egg wash, and finally roll thoroughly in the bread crumb mixture to ensure full coverage.
- Prepare Air Fryer Basket: Lightly spray or brush the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking. Arrange the coated salmon nuggets in a single layer, leaving space between pieces for even cooking. Spray the top of the nuggets liberally with oil.
- Air Fry Salmon: Cook at 400°F (204°C) for 8-9 minutes. At the halfway mark, flip the nuggets carefully and spritz them again with oil for extra crispiness.
- Make Dipping Sauce: While air frying, whisk together the mayonnaise and sriracha until smooth. Adjust sriracha quantity to your desired level of spiciness.
- Serve: Once cooked to golden crispiness, sprinkle the salmon nuggets with fresh dill and serve immediately with the prepared sriracha mayo dipping sauce.
Notes
- Patting the salmon dry before coating helps the breading stick better and crisps up nicely in the air fryer.
- Use fresh salmon for the best texture and flavor, and remove skin before chopping.
- Adjust sriracha in the dipping sauce according to your preferred spice level.
- You can substitute Old Bay seasoning with other seafood or Cajun seasonings depending on taste preferences.
- If your air fryer basket is small, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding, ensuring even crisping.
- For gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour and bread crumbs instead.
Keywords: air fryer salmon nuggets, crispy salmon bites, healthy salmon appetizer, sriracha mayo dipping sauce, quick air fryer recipes