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This bang bang salmon is crazy creamy, crispy, and flavorful. You can cook the salmon in the air fryer or the oven and it comes out perfectly succulent and delicious every time! Drizzle it with more bang bang sauce and serve it over rice for a quick healthy dinner you will love!
My family loves any salmon in the air fryer like these air fryer salmon patties and these air fryer salmon bites. But this bang bang salmon is a new favorite. I have made this salmon recipe many times and I am so excited I am finally getting to share it! My family went crazy for it!
This bang bang salmon recipe cooks quickly. It is made by covering the salmon in bang bang sauce and then air-frying it to crispy perfection. It has become a go-to recipe for us, and it will be for you too! Plus, the salmon cooks in about 10 minutes!
What is bang bang sauce?
Bang bang sauce is a sweet and spicy mayo-based sauce traditionally used to coat cooked shrimp. It got its name from the Chinese word “bang,” which means sticky. You may be familiar with the bang bang shrimp from Bonefish Grill, which is AMAZING! It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this flavor-packed sauce!
What is in bang bang sauce?
- Mayo
- Sweet chili sauce
- Soy sauce
- Honey
- Siracha – if you like it a bit spicier
We used the same concept and made a homemade bang bang sauce, covering salmon filets with it instead of shrimp and air-frying the salmon until golden. Then we brushed the cooked salmon with more bang bang sauce and the results were so DELICIOUS! Let me tell you it is one of the easiest salmon recipes ever!
Jump to:
- What is bang bang sauce?
- What is in bang bang sauce?
- Ingredients And Substitutions
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- How To Make Bang Bang Salmon In The Air Fryer
- Bang Bang Salmon Recipe Variations
- Tips For Success
- Can I cook this salmon in the oven?
- Serving suggestions
- How To Store and Reheat
- FAQs
- More Healthy Salmon Recipes
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Salmon
Ingredients And Substitutions
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this amazing bang-bang salmon recipe. Here is what you’ll need:
- Salmon filets – 3-4 fresh salmon filets. You can use skin-on or skinless. I prefer skinless but either will work great!
- Mayo – I used regular mayo but any type of mayo will work.
- Salmon rub – I used the Trader Joe’s salmon rub because I love it but any salmon rub will work. To make your salmon rub – 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
- Sweet chili sauce – this is a key ingredient in the bang bang sauce. You can find it at almost any grocery store in the Asian food aisle.
- Soy sauce – I used gluten-free soy sauce that gives the sauce a nice salty tang.
- Honey – just a hint of honey for a bit of sweetness.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
- Mix bowls
- Rubber brush/rubber spatula
- Air fryer
- Kitchen tongs
How To Make Bang Bang Salmon In The Air Fryer
Here is a summary of the steps for how to make this incredible bang-bang salmon with step-by-step photos. You can get the complete list of recipe ingredients, instructions, and nutrition in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Pat the salmon dry and season it with the salmon rub.
Step 2: Mix up the bang bang sauce.
Step 3: Brush the salmon with the bang bang sauce.
Step 4: Air fry the salmon until golden and cooked through.
Step 5: Brush the cooked salmon with more bang bang sauce.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy!
Bang Bang Salmon Recipe Variations
- Cut the salmon into chunks and make air fryer salmon bites.
- Use any dry rub you love on salmon.
- Use a different sauce like this burger sauce or a store-bought yum yum sauce. It will have a different taste but will still be super delicious!
- To make the salmon crispy, coat it in sauce, then breadcrumbs, air fry it, and drizzle it with more sauce.
Tips For Success
- Use 4-5 ounce salmon filets. You want to use smaller salmon filets so they cook faster since the sauce can burn if it cooks for too long. I used 4-ounce salmon filets that I cooked for about 8 minutes, and they were perfect.
- Use air fryer liners – Since the salmon is covered in the sauce it can seep into the bottom of your air fryer as it cooks. My air fryer is very easy to clean so I didn’t need to line it but for easier cleanup, you can use an air fryer liner.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer – I was able to fit 2 4-ounce salmon filets in my smaller air fryer but some larger ones can fit 2-4. You want to make sure to space the salmon out about 2 inches apart so all the sides get nice and golden and crispy.
- Add the dry rub and then the sauce – we tested this recipe by rubbing the dry rub on the salmon and then brushing on the sauce and this method had the best results. You can stir the dry rub into the sauce to reduce the steps but we felt the salmon was not as flavorful using that method.
- Brush extra sauce on the salmon after it cooks. To get that bang bang sauce flavor and creamy texture, you want to brush more sauce onto the cooked salmon before serving it. This step adds an incredible layer of flavor that is epic.
Can I cook this salmon in the oven?
Yes, you can easily cook this salmon in the oven. Just prepare the salmon as noted in the recipe instructions and bake it on a lined baking sheet at 425°F for 12-15 minutes until the salmon is flakey and easily pulls apart. Brush more bang bang sauce on top and serve.
Serving suggestions
Bang bang salmon is best served right away over rice. You can add some steamed veggies like green beans, or broccoli for added nutrition and it is a perfect meal! Here are some other great sides to serve it with:
- Cucumber Salad
- Jennifer Aniston Salad
- Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice
- Kale Quinoa Salad
- Air fryer Carrots
- Air Fryer Asparagus
How To Store and Reheat
To store: As mentioned this salmon with bang bang sauce is best if enjoyed right away. If you do have leftovers then let it cool and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat: To reheat, place the salmon into the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes until warmed through. Then drizzle it with more bang bang sauce if you have some leftovers. You can also easily whip more sauce in less than 5 minutes. Note: avoid reheating salmon in the microwave since it can dry out pretty easily.
FAQs
Salmon skin is safe to eat but it is fine to cook it with the skin on or off. For this recipe, I chose to use skinless salmon filets since we coated it in a dry rub and the bang bang sauce but it is really up to personal preference.
I prefer not to flip the salmon since it tends to get crispy on other sides. It also can break easily so I choose not to flip it when cooking it in the air fryer. With that being said, flip it if you wish.
To start, always choose the freshest, highest-quality salmon. Look for fillets that are plump, vibrant pink, and free from any strong, overly fishy odors.
To check for doneness, the salmon should feel firm to the touch and reach an internal temperature of about 145°F in its thickest part when measured with a meat thermometer. If you prefer it slightly less well-done, 135-140°F is acceptable, as long as you’re using high-quality salmon from a trusted source. You can also check by cutting into the fillet—if it’s firm, slightly flaky, and no longer raw in the center, it’s ready to enjoy.
More Healthy Salmon Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Did you try this bang bang salmon recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!
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Air Fryer Bang Bang Salmon
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This bang bang salmon is crazy crispy, creamy and flavorful. You can make it in the air fryer or the oven and it comes out perfectly succulent and delicious every time! Drizzle it with more bang bang sauce and serve it over rice for a quick, healthy dinner everyone will love!
Ingredients
- 3–4 salmon filets – about 4 ounces each
- 1 Tablespoon Trader Joe’s salmon rub – or any salmon rub
- ¼ cup mayo
- 2.5 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F if your air fryer has a preheat option. If not then just set the air fryer to 400°F.
- Pat the salmon dry using a clean paper towel.
- Rub the salmon rub all over each salmon filet.
- Mix up the mayo, chili sauce, soy sauce and honey in a small bowl.
- Brush some of the bang bang sauce onto each piece of salmon. I just brushed it on the top and sides of each filet.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the coated salmon filets into the air fryer in an even layer (cook in batches if you are using a smaller air fryer). Cook the salmon for 10-12 minutes until golden and cooked through. You want the internal temperature to be 130-135°F for medium-done salmon and about 145°F for well-done salmon. Note: use a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the salmon to check for doneness).
- Once the salmon is done, brush it with more bang bang sauce, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use 4-5-ounce even-size salmon filets so they all cook at the same time.
- You can leave the skin on or off the salmon, it’s up to you.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat portions in the air fryer or oven until heated through. Save leftover bang bang sauce to drizzle on the salmon before serving.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Healthy Main Dishes
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Asian
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