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Crispy Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon Butter – Easy 15-Minute Recipe

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This crispy air fryer salmon with lemon butter delivers shatteringly crisp skin, tender flaky fish, and a bright, buttery finish in under 15 minutes. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner that feels restaurant-quality without the stress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skin-on
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
  2. Pat the salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels, both skin and flesh sides.
  3. In a small bowl, combine kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Sprinkle evenly over the flesh side of the salmon, pressing gently. Do not season the skin side.
  4. Lightly brush or rub the flesh side of the salmon with olive oil.
  5. Place the salmon skin-side down in the air fryer basket, ensuring fillets are not touching each other or the sides.
  6. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 7-9 minutes, until skin is golden brown and crispy and flesh is opaque and flakes easily (internal temperature 125°F to 130°F for medium).
  7. While salmon cooks, make the lemon butter sauce: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and minced garlic. Whisk together.
  8. Remove salmon from air fryer and let rest for 1-2 minutes.
  9. Drizzle with lemon butter sauce, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

For extra crispy skin, pat salmon dry and let it sit uncovered in the fridge for 10 minutes before cooking. Do not flip the salmon during cooking. Let salmon rest for 1-2 minutes after cooking to retain juices. If salmon fillets are thinner (3/4 inch), start checking at 6 minutes; if thicker (1.5 inches), may need 10-11 minutes. For best results, use wild-caught salmon and fresh lemon juice.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer salmon, crispy salmon, lemon butter salmon, quick salmon recipe, easy salmon dinner, weeknight salmon, healthy salmon, low-carb salmon, gluten-free salmon

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/crispy-air-fryer-salmon-with-lemon-butter-easy-15-minute-recipe/