Air Fryer Salmon Nuggets with Sriracha Mayo Dipping Sauce Recipe
These Air Fryer Salmon Nuggets are a crispy, flavorful twist on traditional fish bites, made with tender chunks of salmon coated in a seasoned breading and cooked to perfection with minimal oil. Served with a spicy sriracha mayo dipping sauce and garnished with fresh dill, they make a delicious and healthy appetizer or snack that’s quick and easy to prepare in your air fryer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (about 16-20 nuggets) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon Nuggets
- 1 pound salmon filet (skin removed)
- ½ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup regular bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Dipping Sauce
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (more to taste)
- Fresh dill (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Salmon chunks: Chop the salmon filet into 1-inch chunks and pat them dry carefully with a paper towel to ensure the breading sticks well.
- Mix flour and seasoning: In a shallow dish, combine the flour and Old Bay seasoning to create the initial coating mixture.
- Whisk eggs and water: In a separate dish, whisk together the eggs and 2 tablespoons of water until fully blended to form the wet dip for breading.
- Prepare bread crumb mixture: In a third dish, mix together the panko bread crumbs, regular bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt for the final crispy coating.
- Bread the salmon pieces: Dip each salmon chunk first into the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, and finally coat thoroughly with the bread crumb mixture, pressing to ensure the crumbs adhere well.
- Prepare air fryer basket: Lightly spritz or brush the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking, then arrange the salmon nuggets in a single layer with some space around each piece.
- Air fry the salmon nuggets: Spritz the coated salmon pieces generously with oil, then air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 8 to 9 minutes. Flip them halfway through cooking and spritz again with oil for even crispiness.
- Make the dipping sauce: While salmon cooks, whisk together the mayonnaise and sriracha until smooth to create a spicy, creamy dipping sauce.
- Serve: Once the salmon nuggets are golden and cooked through, sprinkle fresh dill on top for garnish and serve immediately with the sriracha mayo dipping sauce.
Notes
- Use skinless salmon for easier chopping and breading.
- Be sure to pat the salmon dry to get a crispier coating.
- You can adjust the amount of sriracha in the dipping sauce for milder or spicier heat.
- If you do not have an air fryer, these nuggets can be baked in a conventional oven at 425°F (220°C) for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Fresh dill adds brightness but can be omitted if unavailable.
Keywords: air fryer salmon nuggets, crispy salmon bites, salmon appetizer, healthy fish nuggets, sriracha mayo dipping sauce, easy air fryer recipe
