Air Fryer Salmon with Dijon Mustard Sauce

This air fryer salmon with dijon mustard is so simple to make and yet eating it will make you feel like you’re dining at a five star restaurant.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earnfrom qualifying purchases at no cost to you. See my Affiliate Disclosure to read my policy and more about affiliate links.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Salmon with Dijon Mustard Sauce

This air fryer salmon recipe is incredibly easy to make and it’s always tender and juicy. The simple dijon mustard sauce adds a ton of flavor despite the fact that it only takes a few minutes to whip together.

• Gluten Free
• Paleo
• Healthy
• Easy to Make
• Only A Few Ingredients
• Quick Cook Time

Here’s What You’ll Need to Make This Salmon with Dijon Sauce in the Air Fryer

•  Salt 
• Salmon 
• Agave 
• Dijon Mustard 
• Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs 
• Lemon Juice

For the full ingredient amounts check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Air Fryer Salmon with Dijon Mustard Sauce

Brine The Salmon

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the salt with 2 cups of warm water mix until the salt dissolves. Place the salmon in the salt water and allow it to brine for five minutes.

Make the Dijon Mustard Sauce

1. Lightly grease a foil lined baking sheet and place the salmon skin side down. Cover with mustard and bread crumbs. Try not to get the sauce on the baking sheet itself since it will burn.
2. Bake the salmon for 8-15 minutes. In the last minute of baking place the salmon under the broiler for 20 seconds. This will caramelize the sauce but beware that any sauce on the tin foil will burn and give off smoke.

Equipment You Need to Make Air Fryer Salmon

• Air Fryer
• Tin Foil
• Measuring Cup
• Measuring Spoon

Is Salmon Gluten-Free?

Yes salmon is gluten-free since it’s a form of animal flesh (protein) and does not come from wheat. The only way salmon would not be gluten free is if it’s cooked with gluten containing ingredients like bread crumbs. When eating out or at someone’s house, always ask if the salmon was made with gluten free ingredients if you have Celiac disease or are on a gluten free diet.

Ingredient Substitutions for Air Fryer Salmon with Dijon Mustard Sauce

Dijon Mustard

Dijon mustard is perfect for this sauce because it has a strong tangy flavor with a hint of spice. But if you don’t have dijon mustard the next best substitute is yellow mustard. Yellow mustard is a little more mild then dijon which has a bit more tang to it.

Lemon Juice

If you don’t have lemon juice you can use a light vinegar like:

• Red Wine Vinegar
• Rice Vinegar
• Champaign Vinegar
• White Wine Vinegar

Agave Nectar

• Maple Syrup
• Brown Rice Syrup
• Honey

Olive Oil

• Butter
• Ghee
• Safflower Oil

Salmon

• Arctic char: If you don’t have salmon you can use arctic char! Arctic char is another fatty pink fish that tastes similar to salmon but better! Arctic char is also healthier for you because it’s a vegetarian fish so it’s diet is less toxic. Most salmon are fed soy.

For this tangy sauce recipe I decided to use agave nectar instead of honey to keep it vegan friendly. If you don’t have agave or you want a more traditionally honey mustard sauce you can use honey instead.

Maple syrup would also work but will change the flavor profile a bit. If you use maple syrup instead of honey the sauce would taste great on roasted Brussels sprouts. You could use the sauce to drizzle over these Garlic Butter Brussels sprouts!

What to Serve with Salmon

This air fryer salmon makes for a tasty main course but by itself it isn’t really a full meal. I like serving a healthy green salad as a starter with my salmon like:

Starter Salads that Go Well with Air Fryer Salmon and Mustard Sauce

Healthy Sides to Serve with Salmon

I find that salmon digests best when served with a non starchy vegetable like carrots or broccoli. Here are a few of my favorite easy sides to serve with this air fryer salmon recipe with dijon mustard sauce.

What is a Good Seasoning for Salmon in the Air Fryer?

Salmon is so versatile that you can season it with almost anything and it will taste great. Spice blends are great to use on salmon because they’re conveniently mixed for optimal flavor and are easy to use. Some of my favorite spice blends for salmon are

• Italian Blend
• Taco Blend
• Peruvian Spice Blend – My own brand you can buy here!

You can use any of these spices by simply rubbing the salmon with olive oil and sprinkling a generous amount of the spice blend on top. Then air fry the salmon as per the directions in this post and enjoy!

Read the section below to figure out exactly how long you should cook the salmon in the air fryer.

How Long Should Salmon be in the Air Fryer For?

The length of time salmon should be in the air fryer depends on the temperature you are cooking it at and how big the salmon is. The hotter you make your air fryer the faster salmon will cook. And the larger the fillets are the more time the salmon will take to cook.

The best way to know salmon is done is to check it’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Salmon should have an internal temperature of 135 degrees F to be considered cooked.

Here are a few rules of thumb for times and temps for cooking air fryer salmon:

• 400 degrees a 6oz fillet takes 15-18 minutes.
• 375 degrees a 6oz fillet takes 15-17 minutes or 8-12 minutes if wrapped in foil.

If salmon is cooked in foil it will cook faster.

How do you Keep Salmon Moist in the Air Fryer

No one likes a dried out piece of salmon. If you’re cooking salmon in the air fryer you should follow these top tips for keeping it moist.

• Coat the salmon in a lot of fat like olive oil or butter. Fat will insulate the salmon and prevent it from loosing as much moisture during the cooking process.
• Brine the salmon. Brining fish is the best way to keep it moist. Mixing 2 cups of warm water with 2 tablespoons of salt and placing the salmon in it for 5-15 minutes. The salt water brine will season the salmon and draw moisture into it. The salt will also break down the muscle tissue to form a water retaining gel.

How do you Flip Salmon in the Air Fryer

You don’t need to flip salmon in an air fryer! Just make sure to cook it skin side down and coat it with some olive oil. The oil will make sure the salmon skin doesn’t stick to the bottom of the air fryer basket.

How to Reheat and Store Leftover Salmon Made in the Air Fryer

Check out these sections below to learn how long salmon will last in the fridge, if you can freeze it and how to reheat it!

How Long will Salmon Last in the Fridge?

This recipe makes two servings of air fryer salmon. It’s so good I would be surprised if there are any leftovers. But if there are you can store the salmon in the refrigerator for up to four days in an air tight container. 

Can You Freeze Salmon?

Yes you can freeze this air fryer salmon with dijon mustard sauce. If you want to freeze leftovers here’s how:

• First allow the salmon to cool to room temperature.
• Place the fillets in an airtight container or wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a ziplock bag.

Salmon will last in the freezer for up to three months if stored properly. Keep in mind, if the salmon gets freezer burn it’s no longer safe to eat and must be thrown away.

What’s the Best Way to Reheat Salmon?

The best way to reheat leftover keto salmon is to warm it up in the oven at 275 degrees for about 15 minutes. You’ll know the salmon is ready when the internal temperature reaches about 125 degrees F.

How to Pick The Freshest Salmon In The Supermarket

Here are the top three things to look for when picking fresh salmon at Costco, Target, K-Mart or where ever you shop for groceries.

1. The eyes should be bright and clear. If they are cloudy the fish is spoiled.
2. Gills should be bright red.
3. When you pick up the salmon the belly should be tight and firm to the touch.

Choosing whole salmon is a lot easier than it is to pick a fillet. Salmon fillets are often dyed red to look fresher than they really are. That lovely pink tone associated with salmon comes from the food they would normally eat in the wild. When salmon eat a natural diet of krill and shrimp they’re insides turn pink! Just like how flamingos get their pink feathers!

Farm raised fish don’t eat shrimp and krill. Instead they’re fed soybean meal. So they’re flesh isn’t pink. Farmers inject the flesh with yeast to turn it pink. Farmers can even pick which shade of red they would like their salmon to be. This fools people into thinking that they’re buying fresh salmon.

How to pick salmon fillets at the supermarket:

• When you press your finger into the fillet the flesh should be firm and spring back. Your finger shouldn’t leave an indentation.
• Fillets should have nice marbling
• Touch the fillet, if it feels slimy don’t buy it.
• Watch out for a fishy smell.

Is Salmon Good for a Keto Diet?

Salmon is great for keto because it is carb free. You won’t consume your daily net carb allowance by consuming salmon which is important for a keto diet. Also salmon is a great source of fats because it is a nutrient dense food. While on a keto diet it is important to get your fats from healthy food sources so your body can burn fuel properly while in ketosis.

Is Salmon Good For Weight-loss?

Yes. Consuming salmon fillets frequently can help you loose weight and keep it off. Like other high protein content foods, eating salmon helps regulate the hormones that control appetite and help you feel full. Salmon is also high in omega-3 fatty acids and b vitamins. Omega-3 fatty acids and b vitamins help contribute to loosing weight and keeping it off.

More Salmon Recipes to Try

Here are some more gluten free salmon recipes from Eating Works!

Peruvian Salmon Made With Peruvian Spice Blend

Keto Salmon Recipe with Butter Sauce and Shallots

Google web story!