This Air Fryer Pesto Salmon recipe delivers tender, juicy salmon cooked to perfection, topped with an easy homemade walnut pesto. It’s the perfect 15-minute dish for a busy weeknight meal.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Salmon Air Fryer Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients for Air Fryer Salmon
• 🔪 How to Make Salmon in the Air Fryer
• 💡 Tips for Buying and Cooking Salmon
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🍴 What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• How Long Should You Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer?
• Should I Wrap my Salmon in Foil in the Air Fryer?
• Can You Air Fry Salmon From Frozen?
• 🍽️ More Salmon Recipes

❤️ Why You'll Love This Salmon Air Fryer Recipe

• Tender, juicy salmon is air-fried to perfection
• Topped with an easy homemade Walnut Pesto
• It only takes 15 minutes to make
• There's no need to heat up the kitchen with your oven
• Perfect for Keto, low carb, dairy-free and Pescatarian diets

This pesto salmon is about to become your new favorite weeknight dish! The air fryer gives the salmon filets the most amazing contrast in textures. The inside is moist and tender, while the circulating air creates a golden and slightly crispy outside.

What really takes these salmon filets to a whole new level is the bright and nutty flavors of homemade walnut pesto. Sure, you can just use store-bought, but trust me, this pesto recipe is totally worth the extra few minutes it takes to whip it together.

Air fryer cooking means you can say goodbye to heating up your kitchen with a conventional oven. For other delicious air fryer seafood recipes, check out this recipe for Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp and this Air Fryer Cod.

🛒 Ingredients for Air Fryer Salmon

• Salmon
• Walnut Pesto Sauce
• Olive oil
• Salt 
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Air fryer

🔪 How to Make Salmon in the Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. While your air fryer is heating up, brush each piece of salmon with the olive oil and sprinkle the salt and pepper over the tops.

Place the salmon in the basket of your air fryer, and depending on the size of your air fryer, you might have to cook them in two batches.

Air fry for 8–9 minutes, depending on how thick or thin your salmon is.

Spoon some of the pesto sauce over the tops of each piece of salmon and serve.

💡 Tips for Buying and Cooking Salmon

• If wild-caught salmon is available, opt for it over farm-raised varieties, which might have a milder taste due to being raised in enclosed spaces and fed fish meal and grains pellets.

• All salmon packs a host of health benefits, yet sockeye salmon slightly takes the nutritional lead with about 25% more omega-3 content compared to pink salmon.

• While buying fresh salmon at the store, make sure it looks moist, with no dry or curling around the edges.

• For the best freshness, cook fresh salmon on the same day, whether you have a whole fillet or portions.

• The skin on salmon helps keep the filets moist while cooking. So, unless a recipe says otherwise, it's best to leave the skin on.

• Hold off on seasoning until just before cooking. Many seasonings contain salt, which can draw out moisture and leave you with dry fish.

• Overcooking leads to rubbery, dry salmon. It's ready when it still moist but flakes easily with a fork. For safety, the USDA recommends an internal temperature of at least 145°F.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Allow the cooked salmon to cool down slightly at room temperature before storing.  

Separate pesto, if possible because it can sometimes lose its vibrant color and flavor when mixed with other ingredients.

Allow the cooked salmon to cool down slightly to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

While cooked salmon is best when it’s freshly cooked, you can freeze it for up to a month. Just wrap the salmon tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw in the fridge overnight before gently reheating.

🍴 What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon

This flavor combination in pesto salmon pairs wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. Here are some top favorites to consider:

• Roasted or grilled vegetables: You can never go wrong with a simple side of vegetables like this Air Fryer Asparagus, Grilled Broccolini, or these Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

• Salad: Serve the salmon with your favorite mixed green salad. I love this homemade Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing or this Creamy Italian Dressing whenever I serve salmon.

• Cauliflower: Whether it’s Roasted Cauliflower Steaks, Cauliflower Rice, or this Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower, cauliflower is always a great side dish with salmon.

• Green Beans: Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans or this recipe for Green Beans Almondine, are awesome side dishes with salmon.

• Potatoes: Garlic Mashed Potatoes or this Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are always hit.

For a complete healthy one-skillet meal, try this salmon orzo that's made in just 30 minutes!

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Fish: You can try this recipe with other types of fish, such as cod, Mahi Mahi, snapper and trout.
• Sauce: For other types of pesto or sauces, you top your filets with this Parsley Pesto with Almonds. this Basil and Pine Nut Pesto or this tangy Chimichurri Sauce.
• Seasoning: You can keep it simple with a little salt and pepper, or kick things up a little with some of this homemade Cajun Seasoning or this Blackened Seasoning.

As an alternative to pesto sauce, this easy white wine sauce would be amazing served over this salmon! You can put the salmon in the air fryer, prepare the sauce and they should be ready at the same time!

How Long Should You Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer?

The actual cooking time for salmon, to get the internal temp to 375°F, in an air fryer depends on the thickness of the fillets and the type of air fryer. Here's an general rule for cooking times for salmon filets at 375°F.

• Thin fillets (about ½ inch thick): Cook for about 6-8 minutes.
• Standard fillets (about 1 inch thick): Cook for about 10-12 minutes.
• Thicker fillets (over 1 inch): Cook for about 12-15 minutes.

Should I Wrap my Salmon in Foil in the Air Fryer?

For best results, do not wrap the salmon filets. You want to air to crisp up the outside.

Can You Air Fry Salmon From Frozen?

While it's possible to air fry frozen salmon, I recommended to thaw the filets before cooking to ensure even cooking. You can thaw the salmon in the refrigerator overnight or if you're in a hurry, you can thaw it in cold water in the sink for about 30 minutes.

🍽️ More Salmon Recipes

• Roasted Seeded Salmon with Green Lentils
• Walnut and Pumpkin Seed Crusted Salmon
• Bang Bang Salmon Cakes
• Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites
• Smoked Salmon Crustless Quiche
• Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Salmon