Bang Bang Salmon Bites
These Bang Bang Salmon Bites are made in the air fryer and served with a lighter bang bang sauce for a simple, healthy, 15 minute dinner.
From the first time I made these air fryer bang bang salmon bites, they became a fast favorite!
From a convenience standpoint, they’re so quick and simple! Less than 10 minutes (including the sauce!), made in the air fryer…it’s hard to top whether you’re tired, lazy, or busy!
Especially because they’re SO flavorful and delicious, and so nutrient-dense, too! Salmon adds so much nutrition and heart health benefits to your diet. I’ve furthered those benefits by reducing oil content by preparing the salmon bites in the air fryer, and making the bang bang sauce lighter with a Greek yogurt base, too.
This air fryer bang bang salmon is fantastic with my edamame cucumber salad, by the way! (And it’s another quick, flavor-packed recipe.)
If you like salmon, check out some of my other salmon recipes, too, like these easy salmon patties, blood orange rosemary salmon steamed in parchment, and pesto crusted salmon.
Bang Bang Salmon Bites Ingredients
For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
What you need for the air fryer salmon bites:
- Salmon: rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, salmon is a nutritious protein. You can use fresh or frozen salmon in these air fryer salmon bites (see the Expert Tips section below for tips for each).
- Avocado Oil: another heart healthy choice, avocado is nutrient-dense, with a high smoke point, making it great for applications like air frying, sauteing, and roasting.
- Honey: you only need a teaspoon, but it adds a little balance to the flavor profile of the salmon bites.
- Smoked Paprika: Smoke paprika packs so much flavor and pairs awesomely with the bang bang sauce!
- Garlic Powder: just another aromatic flavor note that ties everything together!
What you need for the healthier bang bang sauce:
- Greek Yogurt: Using Greek yogurt as the bang bang sauce base adds creaminess, but also adds protein and more nutrients like calcium. You need plain Greek yogurt, but any fat percentage works (nutrition information is calculated with fat free).
- Sweet Chili Sauce: always a great way to add flavor, and a classic ingredient in bang bang sauces. If you’re looking for a sweet chili sauce that’s not loaded with sugar, try G. Hughes Sugar Free Sweet Chili Sauce. It has only 5 calories and zero added sugar per 2 tablespoons!
- Sriracha: you need a little heat for that bang-bang in a bang bang sauce, right?! Now naturally, we all have different heat preferences, so start on the low end (not too spicy at all, more just a flavor enhancer), and add more as preferred.
Step-by-Step Directions
For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Skin salmon, if necessary, and cut into 1-inch cubes.
- Add salmon bites to a bowl with seasonings and gently toss.
- Spray an air fryer basket with nonstick spray, then place salmon bites in the basket.
- Air fry at 400 for 5-8 minutes, tossing halfway through.
- While the salmon in air frying, in a separate small bowl, whisk together the bang bang sauce ingredients.
- When the salmon is done, serve with the sauce to dip or drizzle the sauce over top a bang bang salmon bowl.
Expert Tips
- Skin your salmon. You can totally purchase skinned salmon, but if yours has skin on, you want to take it off.
- Frozen salmon needs to be thawed before use and patted dry.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Place the salmon bites so they are not touching or overlapping. This allows for better air flow and more even cooking.
- Don’t overcook! Because the salmon is cut into small pieces and is air fried at a high temperature, it cooks very fast! Thinner cuts of salmon will need closer to 5 minutes, whereas thicker pieces may need closer to 8 minutes. Toss the salmon after 2-3 minutes, then check again in another 2 minutes.
- Salmon is done when it is opaque, flaky, less pink, and its internal temperature reads 145 degrees.
Substitutions
- Sweet Chili Sauce: you can use any sauce you have or prefer, but if you’re looking for no added sugar, try G. Hughes Sugar Free Sweet Chili Sauce. It has only 5 calories and zero added sugar per 2 tablespoons!
- Salmon Substitutions: obviously this is a salmon recipe, but you can use the same ingredients/ ingredient amounts and technique on other proteins, like shrimp, chicken, and tofu.
- Regular paprika can be used if you don’t have smoked paprika.
- Honey can be omitted with a slight flavor change, or substituted with your preferred sweetener.
- Sriracha I don’t recommend skipping entirely, as it does add some flavor even in small amounts! But obviously, you do you! Start with just a teaspoon and add more as you/ your loved ones see fit.
Serving Suggestions
- With a fresh veggie salad, like my Edamame Cucumber Salad or Carrot & Cucumber Salad, both with Asian-inspired ingredients.
- As a bowl – because bowl meals are always so satisfying! Serve over rice, another grain, or cauliflower rice. And pair with edamame, roasted broccoli, or the salads mentioned above!
- Dipped in bang bang sauce: whether you’re serving as an appetizer or enjoying as is, you can totally just take the salmon bites and dip them into the bang bang sauce, too!
Meal Prep & Storage
These bang bang salmon bites are great if you’re into meal prep!
Store them in airtight containers in the fridge for 2-3 days. To reheat, you can either place back in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes, or microwave for 30-90 seconds.
Also – I recommend storing the bang bang sauce separately in its own container, that can be removed from meal prep storage before heating.
Supplies You’ll Need
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More Salmon Recipes You’ll Love
- Pesto Crusted Salmon
- Sheet Pan Pineapple Salmon Stir Fry
- Easy Salmon Patties
- Grilled Salmon with Orange Herb Marinade
- Rosemary Blood Orange Parchment Steamed Salmon
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Bang Bang Salmon Bites
Ingredients
For the Salmon:
- 1 pound salmon skinned, chopped into 1" cubes
- 1 ½ teaspoons avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1-2 teaspoons Sriracha
Instructions
- If salmon is not already skinned, carefully remove the salmon skin and cut salmon into 1-inch cubes.1 pound salmon
- To a large bowl, add salmon cubes, avocado oil, honey, and spices. Gently toss to fully coat each piece of salmon in the spice mixture.1 1/2 teaspoons avocado oil, 1 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Spray the air fryer basket with a bit of nonstick spray, then add salmon to the basket. Be sure the salmon pieces are evenly spread out and not touching.
- Air fry at 400°F for 5-8 minutes, giving the basket a shake to flip the salmon bites after 3 minutes. The salmon is done when it's flaky, opaque, less pink, and reaches an internal temperature of 145°.
- While the salmon is air frying, make the bang bang sauce. Add the Greek yogurt, sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Especially if you're sensitive to heat, start small with the Sriracha, then taste and adjust/ increase Sriracha as desired.1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce, 1-2 teaspoons Sriracha
- When the salmon is done, you can dip it into the bang bang sauce or serve over a bed of rice, drizzling the bang bang sauce on top. Enjoy!
