Our easy Air Fryer Hot Honey Salmon Bites are a quick and flavorful dish combining tender salmon, a touch of spice, and a sweet honey glaze. This recipe uses an air fryer for simple cooking with minimal cleanup, creating perfectly cooked salmon bites in just 15 minutes. The foil pack method ensures moist, flaky fish infused with the rich flavors of butter, honey, and spicy Thai chilies.
Air Fryer Hot Honey Salmon Bites
Our Air Fryer is quickly becoming our primary cooking device in the winter. We love it so much; it gets used more than our oven, especially for our pre-teens and teenagers. You don’t have to relegate it to frozen meals and a replacement for the microwave, though. It can really put out some incredible meals, even for our big crowd.
This spicy salmon dish is delicious and would make a great appetizer or a hearty meal. You can serve it over with some mushroom risotto, a salad, next to some creamy garlic mashed potatoes, or even something like our wild rice pilaf.
Why You’ll Love This Dish
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal prep.
- Balanced Flavor: Combines sweet, spicy, and savory in one dish.
- Health-Conscious: Packed with protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Fuss-Free Cleanup: The foil pack keeps your air fryer clean.
- Customizable: Adjust spice levels or swap ingredients to suit your taste.
Try our Traeger Grilled Salmon with Tingly Salt!
Hot Honey Salmon Bites shopping list
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Ingredients
- Salmon Filets
- Salt
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Oil
- Butter
- Dried Arbol Chilies
- Thai Fresh Chilies
- Honey
You can omit the chili and use pre-made hot honey if that’s what you have. The recipe will still be delicious! This, as written, definitely has a significant kick. Don’t try to serve this to someone (especially with the Thai chilies involved) that is sensitive to heat. You will be on their “bad” list, for sure.
For those that love to crank it up a notch, this is going to be their new favorite thing.
You’ll love our Grilled Togarashi Salmon Rice Noodle Bowl!
How to make Hot Honey Salmon in the Air Fryer
This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Prep the Salmon: Cube the salmon, remove the skin, and season with salt, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Assemble the Foil Pack: Place salmon on an oiled piece of foil, top with chilies, honey, butter slices, and top with a couple of dried arbol chilies. and fold the foil to seal.
- Air Fry: Cook the foil pack at 400°F for 15 minutes.
- Unwrap Carefully: Open the foil pack with caution to avoid steam burns.
- Serve and Enjoy: Plate the salmon bites with your choice of sides or as an appetizer.
How about a Cedar Plank Salmon on the pellet grill?
FAQ
Can I store leftovers?
Yes, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How do I reheat the salmon?
Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes, or until warmed through. Avoid overcooking to maintain the salmon’s texture.
Can I make this without foil?
Yes, you can cook the salmon bites directly in the air fryer basket, but the honey and butter may drip, requiring more cleanup. Use parchment paper as an alternative if your air fryer allows.
What substitutions can I make?
- Replace Thai chilies with red pepper flakes for a milder spice.
- Use maple syrup instead of honey for a different flavor profile.
- Swap butter with ghee or a plant-based alternative for dietary preferences.
This Traeger Honey Garlic Salmon is delicious!
Serve This With…
- Steamed Rice: A neutral base to soak up the spicy honey glaze.
- Roasted Vegetables: Try asparagus, broccoli, or carrots.
- Simple Salad: A crisp green salad with a red wine vinaigrette balances all the rich flavors.
Air Fryer Hot Honey Salmon Bites are an excellent choice for a quick, flavorful meal. The combination of spicy Thai chilies, sweet honey, and rich butter perfectly complements the tender, flaky salmon. With easy preparation and adaptable ingredients, this dish is ideal for weeknight dinners or Sunday dinner with your guests. It can be served as an appetizer or a main, and people who love spice will enjoy this salmon with a kick!
More great salmon recipes to love!
We love fish! Eat some more!
Air Fryer Hot Honey Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon filets
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 Thai chile peppers (fresh)
- 2 dried arbol chile peppers
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- First cut your salmon filets into 1 inch cubes.(remove the skin if it hasn’t already been done.)
- Season the fish with the salt, garlic and onion powder.
- Slice the chili peppers as thinly as you can.
- Tear off a large piece of aluminum foil (12" x 24"), and pour the olive oil onto the foil, directly in the middle.
- Lay the pieces of salmon out onto the foil. Sprinkle the chili pepper slices on top of the salmon.
- Drizzle the honey out on top of the fish. Cut your butter into slices and place the chunks on top of the fish.
- Cover the fish with the excess aluminum foil. Place the foil pack into your air fryer. Close the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Remove the foil pack from the air fryer and slowly open, being careful not to let the steam burn you as the foil pack is being opened.
