This Ninja Foodi frozen salmon recipe is incredibly moist and juicy. Cooked with fresh lemon slices, and minced garlic, this salmon is easy to make and has an amazing fresh citrus flavor. Learn how to use your air fryer to cook tender and flavorful frozen salmon in under 15 minutes! Garnished with chopped chives, this seafood recipe is beautiful and incredibly delicious!

Forgot to thaw fish for dinner? No problem! Ready in just a few minutes, this frozen salmon recipe is healthy, full of amazing flavor, and quick to make using your Ninja Foodi air fryer. When cooking frozen salmon in the oven it can very easily become dry and overcooked.

However, when air fried the fish cooks so fast that it retains its juices so it's never dry. Instead, it is very juicy and nicely browned with the best crispy exterior.

I use my Ninja Foodi air fryer to cook a lot of frozen foods. Not only because it's easy and super convenient, but because there isn't any excuse for getting a healthy meal on the table.

If you don't want to turn on the oven, or if you are short on time, you can always make a delicious and wholesome meal for your family quickly and easily with very little prep work.

Recipe ingredients

Frozen salmon fillets. Any type of frozen salmon will work for this recipe. You will need 2 (6oz) fillets.

Olive oil. Helps the fish get that nice crispy exterior in the air fryer.

Lemon slices and juice. Slices of lemon are used to line the air fryer basket so the salmon doesn't stick. Lemon juice is used to keep the fish moist and adds amazing citrus flavor to this dish.

Garlic. Minced and added to the fish halfway through. Adds a nice savory flavor.

Salt and pepper. Basic kitchen seasonings. Freshly ground black pepper has the best taste!

Herbs for garnish. Chopped chives or green onions, use whichever you prefer.

frozen salmon fillet on lemon slices in air fryer

How to make Ninja foodi frozen salmon

When cooking frozen unseasoned dish it’s important to remember that we need to cook half way first unseasoned. I like to do it so all the seasonings are not melting off the dish during cooking.

Thinly slice lemons and lay the air fryer basket with them. Lemon helps prevent dish from sticking to the basket. You can use an air fryer liner instead.
Place frozen salmon right on top of lemon slices. Cook at 360 degrees for 7 minutes, it will help salmon to thaw.

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seasoning mixrture for the recipe — mix seasoning ingredients

adding seasoning mixture to the salmon fillets — cover salmon with the mixture

Meanwhile in a small bowl mix olive oil, lemon juice (freshly squeezed), minced or chopped garlic, salt and freshly ground pepper.

Open the air fryer, cover salmon with mixture and then cook for additional 5 minutes. If unsure if its done, check the internal temperature using an instant meat thermometer. It should be at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit for a fully cooked fish. Do not overcook!

cooking frozen salmon in ninja foodi air fryer — cook in the air fryer

Frequently asked questions

Should I defrost my salmon before cooking?

Not at all! The beauty of this frozen salmon air fryer recipe is that you don't need to defrost the fish before cooking. Just place the salmon fillets into the air fryer straight from the freezer! It'll be crispy on the outside and flaky and tender on the inside in 15 minutes!

What temperature should I air fry frozen salmon?

The ideal temperature to air fry frozen salmon is 360 degrees Fahrenheit. It's not too high that fish will burn before it cooks, but still hot enough to achieve a nice brown and crispy exterior.

If your salmon fillets are a little thinner or skinless, you might want to check on your fish towards the end of the cooking time just to make sure they don't overcook!

Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

No. Preheating is great if you want your food to start getting crispy as soon as you put it inside the air fryer. However, in many cases, it is not necessary.

Should I add oil to fish when air frying?

Yes. The oil not only helps the salmon get crispy inside the air fryer, but it helps the fish stay moist as it cooks.

How do I know when my salmon is finished cooking?

A meat thermometer is always good to keep on hand when cooking meat or seafood. The thickest part of the fish should be at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a meat thermometer, the fish will look nicely browned with an opaque pink color, have a flaky texture, and be slightly firm to the touch.

Can I add aluminum foil to my air fryer?

This will depend on your air fryer and your cooking method. In most cases, it is not necessary to use aluminum foil because the air fryer basket and liner are both non-stick. However, when using aluminum foil, make sure it is under the air fryer basket so it doesn't get stuck inside the heating element and cause a safety hazard.

Side dishes

A nice green salad is a great idea. Mix arugula or spinach or romaine lettuce with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and cucumbers. Drizzle olive oil mixed with balsamic and mix.

A bowl of steamy hot white rice never disappoints when served with any kind of fish. Grilled, roasted or steamed vegetables like zucchinis, mushrooms, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli… you name it.

My all time favorite is Brussels sprouts or steamed asparagus cooked with just a pinch of salt and black pepper. Healthy and easy to make.

Storage

Leftovers. Store cooked salmon fillets in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezer. You can freeze cooked fish. Place fillets in the freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat. Reheat in the microwave for 1 minute or in the air fryer at 400 degrees for couple minute or until nice and hot.

More Ninja Foodi recipes

Hope you will like this Ninja Foodi frozen salmon recipe as much as we do. Please rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.

Ninja Foodi Frozen Salmon

Yield: 2

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients

2 frozen salmon fillets (6 oz)
1 teaspoon olive oil
juice from half lemon
1 garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper
chopped chives or green onions for garnish

Instructions

Slice lemon and place in the air fryer. Place frozen salmon fillets on top and cook for 7 minutes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
Meanwhile mix all other ingredients in the small bowl. Cover salmon with the mixture and cook for another 5 minutes at 360 degrees.
Once done, garnish with chopped chives on green onions

Notes

Leftovers. Store cooked red salmon fillets in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezer. You can freeze cooked fish. Place fillets in the freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat. Reheat in the microwave for 1 minute or in the air fryer at 400 degrees for couple minutes or until nice and hot.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 566Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 742mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 51g