These easy air fryer salmon tacos are crispy, juicy, and ready in under 20 minutes! Seasoned salmon bites get golden in the air fryer, then are layered into warm tortillas with a silky avocado lime crema. Quick, flavorful, and perfect for taco night or an easy weeknight dinner!
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Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Salmon Tacos
- Quick & Easy – Ready in 15-20 minutes with minimal prep.
- Healthy(ish) – Salmon is packed with protein and omega-3s.
- Customizable – Use flour or corn tortillas, add slaw, cheese, or your favorite toppings.
Recipe Ingredients
- Salmon. Obviously, the fresher your salmon fillet, the better the flavor will be. But because I don’t live in the PNW … not yet anyway… I get all of my salmon from Costco. You are going to want to remove the skin first before cutting it into bite-sized pieces.
- Olive oil. This helps the seasoning stick and helps crisp up the outside of the fish.
- Seasoning. Chili powder and smoked paprika give the salmon a nice taco flavor, while the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper are the perfect addition.
- Avocado Lime Crema. I think this is my favorite sauce. It’s made with a ripe avocado, sour cream, lime juice, garlic, and salt.
- Tortillas. Use either small flour or corn tortillas, whatever you have. Or make your own using my Homemade 3-ingredient Flatbread.
- Toppings. Use your favorite taco toppings. I like to add shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix), feta cheese, Pickled Red Onions, and Cowboy Candy.
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Tacos
Step 1: Prep the Salmon
Pat the salmon dry and remove the skin if it hasn’t already been done. Cut into 1-inch chunks. Add olive oil, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and lime juice to a medium bowl. Add the salmon and gently toss until evenly coated. Let it sit while the air fryer preheats.
Step 2: Air Fry the Salmon
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Spray the basket lightly with avocado oil. Arrange the salmon chunks in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. Air fry for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the salmon is golden on the edges and reaches 145°F internally. (This is what is recommended by the USDA).
Step 3: Make the Avocado Lime Crema
While the salmon cooks, add the avocado, sour cream, lime juice, garlic, and salt to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust with more salt or lime if you like.
Step 4: Warm the Tortillas
Heat the tortillas in a dry skillet, wrap them in foil to warm in the oven or a quick blast in the air fryer. You just want them soft and flexible.
Step 5: Assemble the Tacos
Now is the fun part. I like to spread a layer of crema on the tortilla first so I get some in every bite, but you can drizzle it on top instead. Add a few chunks of crispy salmon to your tacos, add fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and any extra toppings you love (shredded cabbage, cotija cheese, or pickled red onions work great). Serve immediately and enjoy!
Variations
Spicy Salmon Tacos: Add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or a pinch of chipotle powder to the salmon seasoning mix for extra heat.
Cajun Salmon Tacos: Swap the chili powder and smoked paprika for 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning.
Mango Salsa Tacos: Top the salmon tacos with fresh mango habanero salsa.
Dairy-Free Tacos: Make the crema with dairy-free sour cream or plain unsweetened yogurt in place of sour cream.
Low-Carb Tacos: Skip the tortillas and serve the salmon and avocado crema in lettuce leaves or with cauliflower rice for a taco bowl.
Storage and Serving Tips
How to Store Leftover Salmon
Place any leftover cooked salmon in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Keep the avocado lime crema in a separate sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days (press plastic wrap directly against the surface to prevent browning). Read How Long Does Cooked Salmon Last in the Fridge for more details.
How to Reheat and Serve
Reheat the salmon in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, just until warmed through. Warm your tortillas fresh before serving, then assemble tacos with reheated salmon and crema.
Recipe FAQs
You can prep the salmon seasoning and crema ahead of time, but for the best texture, cook the salmon just before serving.
You can use plain Greek yogurt instead, or even your favorite mayonnaise.
Yes, just thaw it fully in the fridge overnight before cutting into pieces and seasoning.
Yes, but the salmon won’t be as crispy. For the best texture, reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.
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Air Fryer Salmon Tacos
These air fryer salmon tacos are quick, fresh, and full of flavor. Juicy salmon chunks are seasoned with smoky spices, air-fried until golden, then tucked into warm tortillas and finished with a silky avocado lime crema. Perfect for taco night or a fast weeknight dinner!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 199kcal
Ingredients
For the Avocado Lime Crema:
Instructions
Carefully remove the skin from the salmon and cut into 1-inch chunks. (I find a fillet knife works perfectly.)
In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil (1 tablespoon), chili powder (1 ½ teaspoons), smoked paprika (1 teaspoon), garlic powder (½ teaspoon), onion powder (½ teaspoon), salt (¼ teaspoon), black pepper (⅛ teaspoon), and lime juice (from ½ lime). Add the salmon pieces and toss until evenly coated. Set aside to marinate briefly while you preheat the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spray the basket lightly with avocado oil. Place the salmon chunks in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd. Air fry for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the salmon is golden on the edges and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
While the salmon cooks, prepare the avocado lime crema. Add the avocado (1 large), sour cream (½ cup), lime juice (2 tablespoons), garlic clove (1), and salt (¼ teaspoon) to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Warm the tortillas (8 small) in a dry skillet, wrapped in foil in the oven, or briefly in the air fryer until soft and pliable.
Assemble the tacos by adding a few chunks of crispy salmon to each tortilla. Drizzle generously with avocado lime crema and top with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, and your favorite toppings such as shredded cabbage, cotija cheese, or pickled onions. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Tortilla Tip: If you’re making these ahead, keep tortillas wrapped in foil in a warm oven so they stay soft and pliable until serving. (I like to use my 3 Ingredient Flatbread.)
Dairy-Free Option: For a dairy-free crema, swap the sour cream for plain unsweetened yogurt or a dairy-free sour cream alternative.
Extra Heat: If you like things spicy, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce to the salmon seasoning blend. You can also blend a jalapeño into the avocado crema.
Topping Ideas: These tacos are super versatile. Try topping with shredded cabbage, crumbled cotija cheese, pickled onions, or a drizzle of hot honey.
Meal Prep Friendly: The salmon reheats very well, making them great for meal prep.
Nutrition
Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 208mg | Potassium: 594mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
www.windingcreekranch.org (Article Sourced Website)
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