These air fryer salmon bowls are quick and easy to make and are the perfect healthy weeknight meal. The salmon pieces take just 6 minutes to cook and are flavoured with a simple marinade, served over a bed of white sushi rice and topped with avocado, cucumber, edamame and a spicy sriracha mayonnaise.
I said it when I made my air fryer teriyaki salmon, and a couple of months later, I still very strongly agree that there is nothing more delicious than salmon cooked in the air fryer. It’s so incredibly fast and easy with the result being perfection every single time.
Oh and the salmon takes just 6 minutes to cook. The air fryer really is an essential kitchen appliance. I am converted, and if you are too, make sure to browse all my air fryer recipes.
I have recently realised that I am what the internet refers to as a bowl person. My preference of the food that I consume on a daily basis is that which is served in a bowl. So I’ve decided to start sharing more of the bowl combinations that make me excited (and that I actually eat in my everyday life), and this salmon rice bowl is one that I’ve been eating fairly regularly.
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I love a bowl because you have all the essential food combinations needed for a balanced meal so it’s basically a game of layering flavours and textures. Starting with your carbs, in this case the rice, then your protein aka the salmon. We have the healthy fats and creamy element covered by the avocado, so then it’s just about topping with our crunchy greens.
And then my favourite part of the bowl assembly is the sprinkle. In this case we have sesame seeds and some nori sheets that I’ve just thinly sliced. They add extra texture and flavour and just make this meal feel a little bit more like something I’ve bought rather than something homemade.
Finally, we need a sauce. You can use any you like but I can’t go past a spicy sriracha mayo to bring everything together.
This is such a flexible meal and is perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something nourishing but are looking for minimal effort and maximum taste.
Key Ingredients
The main ingredients here are for your air fryer salmon bites that are the hero of the bowl. Add some rice and your toppings and you have a delicious and nourishing meal.
Note all ingredients and their quantities are laid out in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Salmon – I am using fresh salmon, either one large fillet or two slightly smaller ones, depending on their size. If using skin on fillets, just remove this before cutting into cubes. You can use frozen, just make sure to thaw it completely first for about 30 minutes in a bowl of warm water and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Soy sauce – adds that essential salty flavour. You can use tamari for gluten free.
- Honey – for a little sweetness and some caramelisation.
- Sriracha – this just adds a little bit of spicy flavour to balance the marinade without it being a dominant taste. You can adjust and increase or omit depending on how spicy you want the salmon.
- Ginger – you can use fresh ginger or I like to keep a jar of crushed ginger in the fridge to use in sauces and marinades. Just make sure to check the ingredients and make sure you’re buying one that doesn’t have added sugar.
- Garlic – I am using one clove of fresh garlic but you can substitute with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Sesame oil – just a little bit adds extra flavour and helps the outside of the salmon crisp slightly.
- Rice – for the base of our salmon bowl I like to use sushi rice but you can use any rice you prefer or even swap it out for cauliflower rice for a low carb option.
- Toppings – you can use whatever you like or have on hand here as the best part of these bowls is that they are flexible. I am using avocado, edamame and cucumber and then adding a little extra with some nori and sesame seeds.
Equipment and Tools
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Air fryer – It’s no surprise you’ll need an air fryer to make this recipe. This is the one I have which I love and use a lot! It is perfect for 2 people, but if you’re feeding a family look for an XL or XXL size.
Step-By-Step Instructions
These air fryer salmon bowls are quite simple to make, with a few elements. Following the below order of operations will make your weeknight meal preparation as efficient and easy as possible.
To cook the salmon we are of course going to use an air fryer to keep it really simple. I am using my Philips Essential Air Fryer which is a smaller, basket style one at 4.1 Litres which is the perfect size when cooking for 2 people. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook your salmon pieces in a frying pan instead.
Order of operations
- Marinate the salmon
- Put the rice on to cook (stovetop or using a rice cooker)
- Chop and prep the vegetables/toppings and make the spicy mayo
- Cook the salmon
- Assemble the bowls
You’ll need to cut the salmon into bite size pieces and then place into a bowl with the marinade ingredients. I like to marinade the salmon for around 30-60 minutes for the best flavour but if you’re short on time, 15 minutes will do.
Once the salmon has marinated, place the salmon pieces into the basket of the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes. Check the salmon and turn carefully using tongs (I don’t recommend shaking the basket as this will break apart your salmon) and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
All air fryers are slightly different and cook quicker or slower so use these timings as a guide only. The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
While the salmon is marinating, you will have prepared your toppings so as soon as the salmon is cooked, it’s time to assemble the bowls.
Divide the cooked rice between 2 bowls and place the salmon pieces over the top. Add some sliced avocado, edamame and diced cucumber.
Top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and nori and finally a drizzle of sriracha spicy mayo to finish.
Meal Prep Instructions
This is a great meal to prep ahead of time as it reheats really well. I like to keep the salmon and rice in one container and the fresh vegetables in another with the exception of the avocado which is always best added fresh. You’ll also need a small sauce container for the sriracha mayo.
When ready to eat, heat the salmon and rice in the microwave for a couple of minutes and then top with the vegetables, freshly sliced avocado and drizzle of the sauce.
If you do make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! And tag any of your creations on Instagram with @eightforestlane as I would love to see.
More easy salmon recipes:
Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli
Creamy Salmon Tagliatelle (Dairy-Free)
Teriyaki Salmon and Avocado Rice Bowls
Whole30 Salmon Patties
Air Fryer Salmon Bowls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 250-300 grams salmon fillets, skin off approx 2 medium sized fillets
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon crushed ginger
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
To serve:
- 2 cups cooked rice see notes
- ¼ cucumber sliced
- 1 medium avocado
- ½ cup shelled edamame
- Sriracha mayo see notes
- Nori sheets optional for garnish
- Sesame seeds optional for garnish
Instructions
- Cut the salmon fillets into cubes and set aside. In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, honey, sriracha, ginger, garlic and sesame oil. Add in the cubes of salmon and toss to coat in the marinate. Set aside in the fridge for a minimum of 15 minutes to marinade but ideally 30 minutes to an hour.
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C or 400°F (if your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function, just run for a few minutes). Add the cubes of salmon to the basket in an even layer and air fry for 3 minutes. Check and turn the salmon to prevent any burning and air fry again for another 3 minutes or until the salmon is delicate and flakes easily with a fork.
- Assemble the salmon bowls. Place a cup of rice in each bowl and divide the salmon pieces between them. Add your toppings (cucumber, avocado and edamame) and garnish with pieces of nori and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Drizzle the sriracha mayo over the top and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a guide only and is calculated using automated online tools, therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We encourage you to make your own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
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