Air Fryer Blackened Salmon

This air fryer blackened salmon is fast, easy, and full of flavor. It comes together in less than 10 minutes, and we top it with an optional homemade corn and avocado salsa that balances perfectly with the spices in the blackening seasoning.

We love air fryer salmon because it always comes out perfectly cooked and takes less than ten minutes. This blackened air fryer salmon is one of our favorites. We make our own blackening seasoning out of spices we already have in our pantry, and top the salmon with a homemade corn avocado salsa that is so fast and easy and makes this salmon fresh and summery.

Looking for other fish recipes? Try our air fryer marinated salmon bites, blackened mahi-mahi, Traeger grilled salmon, and BBQ salmon bowls.

Jump to:

• Key Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to Make Air Fryer Blackened Salmon: Step-by-Step
• Serving Ideas
• Frequently asked questions
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

For the salmon:

• Salmon- We love fresh wild-caught salmon, but use whatever you prefer. If you choose to use frozen salmon, make sure you fully defrost it before seasoning and cooking.
• Blackening seasoning spices- ground cayenne, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and cumin
• Other- olive oil or other cooking oil

For the optional corn avocado salsa:

• Canned or cooked corn- More often than not, we use canned corn because it's fast and easy. If you're making this in the summer and you have some really good sweet corn on hand, feel free to use that. You can also use cooked frozen corn.
• Cilantro
• Bell pepper- We use red, orange, or yellow bell peppers. If you want something a tad spicy, you can use jalapeños instead.
• Red onion
• Avocado
• Lime juice
• Spices- Ground cayenne and salt

See recipe card for amounts.

How to Make Air Fryer Blackened Salmon: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Add ground cayenne, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and cumin to a small bowl and mix to combine.

Step 2: Pat your salmon dry with a paper towel. Then drizzle with olive oil and top generously with the seasoning mixture. Rub it in with your hands, then air fry at 400°F for 8-9 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flaky.

Step 3: While the salmon is cooking, combine the corn, cilantro, bell pepper, red onion, avocado, lime juice, ground cayenne, and salt in a mixing bowl.

Step 4: Top the cooked salmon with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and the corn salsa and enjoy!

Serving Ideas

• Blackened salmon rice bowls: Add cooked rice (we love Trader Joe's frozen jasmine rice) to the bottom of a bowl, then add the salmon and the corn salsa. You could also add pickled red onions, chopped cilantro, or sliced avocado. For a grain free version try making "rice" bowls with our hearts of palm rice with cilantro and lime.
• Blackened salmon tacos: Heat corn or flour tortillas, then add salmon, corn salsa, cabbage, pickled red onions, and fresh lime juice.
• Blackened salmon with summer sides: Serve this with traditional summer BBQ sides like cole slaw, fresh fruit, grilled veggies, or potato salad. It's super summery and fresh, so it pairs well with everything.

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📖 Recipe