Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Broccoli
Published Jan 15, 2025•Updated Apr 15, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The air fryer to the rescue in these Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Broccoli. A simple marinade for the salmon is the secret ingredient and only needs 20 minutes to add flavor to the salmon and keep it moist while cooking. To make it a complete meal, serve these with air fryer broccoli over rice with my favorite Bang Bang Sauce on top.
Salmon and broccoli are essential weeknight ingredients at my house, but we can always use a different way to serve them. The air fryer turns out to be a great solution, cooking everything fast, and resulting in the most tender, flavorful bites of salmon that I’m tempted to eat piping hot right out of the air fryer.
But don’t do that! Because the real star is turning these air fryer salmon bites into rice bowls with broccoli, sesame seeds, and delicious bang bang sauce.
If you love the combination of broccoli and salmon as much as I do, try Teriyaki Salmon Stir-Fry or Sweet Chili Salmon. Or serve Broiled Paprika Salmon with easy roasted broccoli on the side.
What You’ll Love – The Simplest Marinade
This recipe adds big flavor in a really simple package. You won’t believe the flavor and texture benefit that comes from marinating salmon for just 20 minutes in a mixture of brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and garlic powder.
Pin this now to save it for later
Pin It NowHow to Make It
- Marinate the salmon cubes – 20 minutes is all it takes, but you can marinate the salmon for up to a day to let it soak up even more flavor.
- Air fry broccoli and salmon – Get the broccoli cooking first because it will take a little longer then add the salmon right on top. Air fryer salmon bites cook at 390° in just 6-7 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they’re flaky and just barely opaque in the center.
- Cook rice.
- Make Bang Bang Sauce – This is optional, but you’ll love it on the salmon! Get my recipe for Bang Bang Sauce here.
Want to make it vegetarian?
Try it with tofu cubes! Tofu cubes also work well in this marinade and get crispy in the air fryer.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Pin this now to save it for later
Pin It Now
Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Broccoli
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Mixing Bowls
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
For the Salmon and Broccoli:
- 10 ounces broccoli (or two small heads of broccoli)
- 1 pound salmon, skin removed (see note)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Sauce and Bowls:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Gochujang sauce (be sure to use sauce, not Gochujang paste which is more concentrated and spicy)
For Serving:
- cooked rice, for serving
- white sesame seeds, for topping
Instructions
- Chop the broccoli into small florets; if using pre-chopped florets, halve or quarter any large pieces. Transfer these to a mixing bowl.
- Slice the salmon into 1 1/2" cubes.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the salmon, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and garlic powder. Gently stir to combine. Refrigerate the salmon and let it marinate for at least 20 minutes and up to 8 hours.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°.
- Toss the broccoli with the cooking oil and 1/2 tsp salt. Put it in the basket of the air fryer and cook, until lightly browned around the edges, 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, use a slotted spoon to remove the salmon from the marinade and put it on top of the broccoli in the air fryer (the salmon will add flavor to the broccoli as it cooks).
- Air fry the salmon and the broccoli together until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and is just cooked through in the center, 6 to 7 minutes more.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce by whisking together the mayonnaise, Sweet Thai Chili Sauce and Gochujang.
- Serve the salmon and broccoli over rice with sauce and sesame seeds on top.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
