Go Back
–+ servings
Oven baked salmon bites on a plate, seasoned and cooked until flaky.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Salmon Bites For One, Three Ways

These salmon bites for one are tender, flaky cubes of salmon coated in garlic and paprika and cooked until lightly golden. Made with one salmon fillet, the recipe works three ways: in the oven, in the air fryer, or on the stovetop.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time13 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose
Keyword: air fryer salmon bites, oven baked salmon bites, pan fried salmon bites, pan seared salmon bites, salmon bites, salmon cubes, stovetop salmon bites
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 (5-ounce) salmon fillet
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
US - Metric

Instructions

Prep

  • Pat the salmon fillet dry with a paper towel. Cut into 1 inch cubes.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
  • Place the salmon cubes in a separate bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the top. Toss gently until each cube is evenly coated.

Then choose ONE cooking method:

    Oven Baked Salmon Bites (8 to 10 minutes)

    • Spread the salmon cubes in a single layer on the baking sheet, leaving a small space between each.
    • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until the cubes are opaque and flake easily with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 135°F.

    Air Fryer Salmon Bites (4 to 5 minutes)

    • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and let it heat for 3 to 5 minutes.
    • Place the salmon cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each cube.
    • Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the cubes are opaque and flake easily with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 135°F.

    Pan Seared Salmon Bites (4 to 5 minutes)

    • Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add ½ teaspoon additional olive oil and let it heat for 1 to 2 minutes.
    • Place the salmon cubes in the skillet in a single layer, leaving space between each cube.
    • Cook for 2 minutes without moving the cubes. Flip with a thin metal spatula and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until opaque and flaky. The internal temperature should reach 135°F.

    Notes

    To Make Extra: While this is a dedicated single serving salmon bites recipe, it's easily scalable if you're cooking for two. Double all ingredients. The cook time stays the same. In the air fryer, cook in two batches if the cubes don't fit in a single layer with space between them.
    Storage: Store leftover salmon bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 300°F oven or air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes.
     
    Pat the salmon completely dry before cubing. Wet salmon doesn’t take seasoning evenly, and the moisture creates steam in the oven or skillet that prevents browning. Use a paper towel to blot the fillet dry before you start cutting.
    Use a thick, evenly cut piece of salmon. Tail-end fillets cook too fast as cubes and tend to dry out. Look for a center-cut piece that’s at least 1 inch thick all the way across.
    Cut all the cubes the same size. Uneven cubes cook at different rates, which means some pieces overcook while others stay underdone. Aim for 1 inch cubes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 335kcal | Protein: 30g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 320mg | Potassium: 500mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 248IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.3mg

    QR code

    Scan this QR code with your phone's camera to view this recipe on your mobile device.

    qr code