Would you believe it only takes a few minutes to make sauce from scratch for homemade teriyaki salmon in the air fryer? Delicious, healthy, and perfect for busy weeknights!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
Making healthy and delicious dinners shouldn’t be a chore. For a nutritious meal that can be ready in less than 30 minutes, try making teriyaki salmon in the air fryer!
First of all, you’re going to love how easy it is to make teriyaki sauce from scratch. All you need are a few basic ingredients you likely already have in your pantry! Soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, cornstarch, and a little seasoning come together for the perfect sticky glaze.
And, if you’re a big fan of teriyaki sauce, I recommend our Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken recipe too!
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- How to make the best air fryer teriyaki salmon
- The best way to keep your teriyaki salmon from sticking to the air fryer
- How to cook frozen salmon filets instead of fresh
- The easiest method for reheating teriyaki salmon without drying it out
You’re going to love this easy weeknight recipe. The glaze gets sticky and crispy on the outside while the filets stay moist and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Plus, once you see how easy it is to make teriyaki at home, you may never go back to the store-bought version again!
How to Make Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegars, and seasonings in a bowl.
STEP TWO: In a separate small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
STEP THREE: Pour the soy sauce mixture and cornstarch mixture into a saucepan and heat over medium-low for 3 to 4 minutes to thicken. Once it reaches your desired thickness, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.
STEP FOUR: Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, season your filets with a little salt and pepper, then use a basting brush to brush each filet with about 2 tablespoons of the teriyaki sauce.
STEP FIVE: Once the air fryer is preheated, line with a parchment mat or brush the basket with olive oil. Place your salmon filets in the basket and cook for 10 minutes.
What To Do With Leftover Teriyaki Sauce From Scratch
This recipe will give you around a cup of teriyaki sauce. You only need about two tablespoons per filet, so make sure to save the rest! It will keep covered in the refrigerator for a week or two. If you’re looking for ways to put it to good use, try the sauce on my Air Fryer Turkey Wings or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs!
How Long Should You Leave Your Salmon in the Air Fryer?
The cook time is going to depend on the size and thickness of the salmon filets. I find that 10 minutes is usually plenty of time, but the texture and the internal temperature can help you find the precise cooking time for your salmon.
How Do You Know When Salmon is Done in the Air Fryer?
The salmon is cooked perfectly when the glaze is nice and sticky, but the inside is still juicy. The fish should flake apart easily. It should also be opaque all the way through the center.
How Do You Keep Salmon From Sticking to the Air Fryer?
This dish is, for lack of a better phrase, a recipe for stickiness. First of all, salmon is prone to sticking, and second, we’re using a sticky sauce.
That’s why I like using a reusable mat in the air fryer for air fryer salmon teriyaki. There is no sticking at all, and as an added bonus, it’s super easy to clean. Talk about a win-win!
You can also use a parchment paper round in the air fryer for these too! Learn more about using parchment paper in the air fryer here.
What Temperature Do You Cook Salmon To?
The internal temperature should be 145 degrees F in the thickest part of your filet. I highly recommend using an Instant Read Thermometer to get the most accurate cooking time for your teriyaki salmon.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Corn on the Cob in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Garlic
- Ninja Foodi Rice
You can also try our other air fryer side dish options here.
Can You Use Store-Bought Teriyaki Sauce Instead?
Absolutely! If you have a store-bought brand you prefer to use, you can skip to step 4 in the instructions and then follow the rest of the teriyaki air fryer salmon recipe like usual.
I love using Stonewall Kitchen’s Sesame Garlic Teriyaki Sauce and Kikkoman’s Teriyaki Baste and Glaze.
Can You Cook Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer?
You bet! Just increase the cook time to 12 to 18 minutes depending on the thickness of the filets. You can also check out my Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer for more tips and tricks!
How to Reheat Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Place the salmon in the basket on top of the parchment mat.
- Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until warmed through.
Tips for Making the Best Air Fryer Salmon Teriyaki
- I highly recommend using a reusable non-stick mat. This will prevent the salmon from sticking, plus cleanup will be a breeze.
- Lay the salmon filets in a single layer in the air fryer with some space between each one. This will allow the air to circulate and cook the teriyaki glaze to perfection.
- For an extra sticky marinade, try brushing a little honey on the outside of the salmon filets with the teriyaki sauce.
Other Air Fryer Seafood Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Crab Cakes
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Air Fryer Salmon Patties
- Air Fryer Tuna Melt Sandwiches
- Air Fried Flounder
- Air Fryer Garlic Butter Salmon
- Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
- Air Fryer Oysters
- Air Fryer Fish Sticks
- Air Fryer Scallops
- Air Fryer Calamari
- The Best Air Fryer Fish Recipes
Love air frying? Join our newsletter! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or join our free Facebook Air Frying Community.
Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 salmon filets
Instructions
- To make homemade teriyaki sauce, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegars, and seasonings in a bowl.Â
- In a separate small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.Â
- Pour the soy sauce mixture and cornstarch mixture into a saucepan and heat over medium-low for 3 to 4 minutes, till it begins to thicken. Once it has reached your desired thickness, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.Â
- Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F. During this time, season your filets with a little salt and pepper and then, using a basting brush, brush about 2 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce on each filet.
- Once your air fryer is preheated, lay a parchment sheet down or brush your basket with olive oil. Place your salmon filets in the basket and cook for 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. The glaze should be a little sticky and crispy, but the inside nice and juicy.
Notes
How to Reheat Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.Â
- Place the salmon in the basket on top of the parchment mat.
- Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until warmed through.Â
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
