Bite-sized pieces of salmon are coated in homemade Cajun seasoning and then cooked until golden brown and crispy in the air fryer or on the stove. Once you have the seasoning mix on hand, you can make these blackened salmon bites any night of the week for a quick, healthy dinner! Add them to salmon tacos, on top of a salad, or over a bed of rice for a simple meal your whole family will love! {Gluten-free, paleo & low carb}
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Cajun Salmon Bites Recipe
We try to eat fish weekly to take advantage of the omega-3 fatty acids and B12, but sometimes, we get in a rut and need to switch it up. These crispy blackened salmon bites have an elevated flavor, but they are so easy to make and are more casual than many salmon recipes.
It makes cooking fish a little less daunting, and the kids love sneaking extra bites, too! Tender, flavorful, quick, and nutritious…what’s not to love?
For more blackened fish recipes, try this Blackened Cod Recipe too!
Why We Love Air Fryer Blackened Salmon
- Packed with protein, healthy fats, and essential B vitamins
- Ready in less than 10 minutes!
- Bite-sized pieces can be added to salads, grain bowls, tacos, wraps, and more
- Homemade cajun seasoning is so versatile and works well on other proteins, too.
- The flavorful seasoning disguises any “fishy” taste, so this is a kid-friendly recipe for picky eaters.
Ingredient Notes
- Skinless salmon fillets: Dice these into 1-inch chunks to help them cook consistently.
- Olive oil: To help the seasoning mixture stick to the fish and for a nice crust.
- Cajun seasoning mix: My homemade blackening mix is made with common spices, including smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, dried oregano, and cayenne (to taste).
Optional Garnishes:
- Squeeze of lemon or lime juice
- Freshly chopped parsley or cilantro
Step-by-Step Instructions
Directions:
- Mix all of the blackening spices together in a small bowl. Make sure it is blended evenly.
- Thoroughly pat the diced salmon dry with paper towel. Place in a large bowl and toss with olive oil. You can also drizzle on a couple of drops of honey as well, if desired.
- Add the blackened seasoning mix and toss with salmon pieces until well coated.
To make in air fryer:
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F. Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place salmon in the air fryer basket and air fry for about 5 to 7 minutes, shaking halfway until the salmon is cooked through in the center and browned and crispy on the outside.
- Squeeze a bit of lemon juice over top and finely diced fresh parsley or cilantro to serve.
To make on stove top:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. A nonstick or stainless steel skillet will only take 30 seconds to a minute to heat, whereas a heavy skillet like cast iron may take a few minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet and swirl around to coat. Use tongs to remove the salmon cubes from the bowl and place them in the skillet. Sear for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown. Using the tongs, flip the salmon and sear on the other side for 2-3 minutes, or until browned and fully cooked.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
- Adjust the cayenne pepper to taste. If you prefer spicy salmon bites, use 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper. If you’d rather keep them on the milder side, stick to 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- For the easiest option, try to find skinless salmon fillets. If you can’t find them, use a sharp knife to cut off the skin carefully.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness. When fully cooked, the internal temperature of salmon should be 145 F.
- Be careful that you don’t overcook the salmon, or it will turn out dry and tough rather than moist and flaky.
Recipe FAQs
There are many different cajun seasoning mixes that you can buy, and each one is slightly different. But, most of them use the same spices but in different proportions. For this low-sodium version, I start with smoked paprika, which has a sweet, smoky flavor perfect for fish. Pair that with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, dried thyme, oregano, and, if you’d like, a little cayenne for heat. It’s very easy to make and tastes better than any seasoning blend from the store!
It’s a misconception that blackened salmon is actually black. It’s more about the cajun seasoning mixture spread over the salmon filets, which are then fried, baked, or griddled at a high temperature. You may get a slight blackening on the actual fish from the high heat, but you’ll see that these air fryer salmon bites are actually golden brown and plump.
For this simple recipe, I wanted to highlight two ways to prepare your fish: air frying or cooking them on the stovetop. They’re both simple, but air frying is hands-down the easiest way and my preferred method. Place the salmon pieces in a single layer in your air fryer basket, then bake! You don’t have to monitor the salmon to control how much it’s browning, and it’s ready in just a few minutes.
Storage Guidelines
Store any leftover blackened salmon bites in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, you can microwave the fish in bursts, but I prefer to either bake it or gently warm it in a hot skillet. This will also help the exterior of the bites crisp up and have a better texture.
You can freeze the leftovers, but the texture of thawed, cooked salmon isn’t that enjoyable. Since these bites are so easy to make, I prefer making them fresh whenever possible.
Serving Suggestions
These easy blackened salmon bites can be served in countless ways!
- Add to wraps for a pop of flavor
- Make a rice bowl with steamed veggies and your favorite sauce
- Serve with healthy roasted potatoes and veggies
- Add to a salad with cucumbers, peppers, and red onion
- Make salmon tacos
- Serve them as an appetizer with avocado creme sauce
Recipe Variations
- Cook them on skewers: Instead of cooking the salmon chunks separately, you can arrange them on wooden skewers and leave a small gap between each piece. Cook them in the air fryer like normal and serve! They’ll be easier for kids to hold and dip into their favorite dipping sauce.
- Change the seasoning: This method works well with any seasoning blend! Prefer an Asian flavor combination? Cook the salmon like normal, then coat it in a maple soy glaze. Love lemon pepper? Use your favorite lemon pepper seasoning and serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. There are so many options!
- Adjust the shape: Since salmon is tender and delicate, you’ll want to be cautious with this, but you can cut it into tenders or strips instead of little bites. This can be helpful if your family has hearty appetites and/or requires larger portion sizes.
More Tasty Salmon Recipes
- Walnut Crusted Salmon
- Best Mediterranean Salmon Recipe
- Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe
- Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Salmon
- Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Blackened Salmon Bites {Air Fryer or Stove}
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless salmon fillets, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more if you prefer it spicier, less if you prefer less spicy)
Optional Garnishes
- Squeeze of lemon or lime juice
- Freshly chopped parsley or cilantro
Instructions
- Mix all of the blackening spices together in a small bowl. Make sure it is blended evenly.
- Thoroughly pat the diced salmon dry with paper towel. Place in a large bowl and toss with olive oil. You can also drizzle on a couple of drops of honey as well, if desired.
- Add the blackened seasoning mix and toss with salmon pieces until well coated.
To Make in Air Fryer
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F. Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place salmon in the air fryer basket and air fry for about 5 to 7 minutes, shaking halfway until the salmon is cooked through in the center and browned and crispy on the outside.
- Squeeze a bit of lemon juice over top and finely diced fresh parsley or cilantro to serve.
To Make on Stove Top
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. A nonstick or stainless steel skillet will only take 30 seconds to a minute to heat, whereas a heavy skillet like cast iron may take a few minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet and swirl around to coat. Use tongs to remove the salmon cubes from the bowl and place them in the skillet. Sear for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown. Using the tongs, flip the salmon and sear on the other side for 2-3 minutes, or until browned and fully cooked.
Notes
- Adjust the cayenne pepper to taste. If you prefer spicy salmon bites, use 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper. If you’d rather keep them on the milder side, stick to 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- For the easiest option, try to find skinless salmon fillets. If you can’t find them, use a sharp knife to cut off the skin carefully.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness. When fully cooked, the internal temperature of salmon should be 145 F.
- Be careful that you don’t overcook the salmon, or it will turn out dry and tough rather than moist and flaky.
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