1-Ready to dive into making this quick meal? Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F, which takes about 5 minutes and sets the stage for even cooking. This step ensures your salmon gets those seared edges without overcooking the tender center. Once that’s done, pat the fillets dry with paper towels to help them crisp up nicely.

2-Next, brush each fillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season them evenly with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Place the salmon skin-side down in the air fryer basket, making sure there’s room for air to circulate. This prevents overcrowding and helps achieve that flaky texture everyone loves.

3-Air fry for 7 to 9 minutes, depending on how thick your fillets are and your air fryer model. Check if it’s done by seeing if the salmon flakes easily with a fork if not, add 1 to 2 more minutes. For variations, you can substitute with tofu for a vegan option or adjust seasonings to your taste.