This Air Fryer Salmon recipe uses really simple pantry spices for a quick and easy dinnertime (or lunch) protein ready in about 10 minutes. Top with a spoonful of bright and flavourful Cilantro Herb Sauce for a satisfying and delicious meal!
Keep reading for this healthy, PCOS-friendly, no-sugar-added, air fryer recipe…
MAKING EATING FOR PCOS EASY AND DELICIOUS WITH EASY AIR FRYER SALMON WITH CILANTRO HERB SAUCE
Welcome to my new favourite weeknight dinner.
I cannot believe how good the air fryer makes salmon. Paired with a bright and herby cilantro sauce and it tastes like a Saturday night dinner out at home on a Tuesday (if you know what I mean).
It’s just so good and so easy. This is my new go-to way to make salmon. This recipe is all things juicy, flavourful, satisfying, quick, & of course PCOS-friendly.


Easy Air Fryer Salmon [with Cilantro Herb Sauce]
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2
Description
This Air Fryer Salmon recipe uses really simple pantry spices for a quick and easy dinnertime (or lunch) protein ready in about 10 minutes. Top with a spoonful of bright and flavourful Cilantro Herb Sauce for a satisfying and PCOS-Friendly meal!
Ingredients
12 oz Salmon Fillets (I use 2 large boneless, skinless fillets)
Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper (to taste)
¼ tsp Garlic Powder
¼ tsp Paprika
Avocado Oil Spray
Cilantro Herb Sauce or Lemon Wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel. Season generously with salt and pepper then the garlic powder and paprika.
- Add the tray to the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to ‘air fry’ and preheat to 375ºF.
- When preheated, place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket and spray with avocado oil spray until evenly coated. And push in the drawer. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes for thinner fillets or 10 to 12 minutes for thicker fillets or until they have reached an internal temperature of at least 145ºF (cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the fillets).
- Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately with cilantro herb sauce or fresh lemon wedges.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.
Notes
Serve with rice, quinoa or sweet potatoes with roasted or steamed vegetables or salad.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 10
Keywords: dinner, fish & seafood, salmon, air fryer salmon, salmon without skin, salmon with lemon, air fryer
HOW TO MAKE THIS PCOS-FRIENDLY AIR FRYER SALMON RECIPE…
It really is as easy as sprinkling some simple seasoning on the salmon, placing it on the rack inside of the air fryer drawer and then hitting start.
I used salt, pepper, garlic & paprika to season the salmon fillets here (basic while still tasting de-lish) but really any combination of herbs and spices or your favourite spice blend would work as well (garlic + onion + parsley; taco seasoning; are all alternatives).
I love the taste of the garlic + paprika combo with the Cilantro Lemon Sauce or with fresh lemon wedges.
This recipe was created and tested using an Instant Vortex Air Fryer. Results may vary with other air fryer brands and models.

HEALTHY AIR FRYER SALMON RECIPE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it healthy? Is it PCOS-Fruendly?
Yes and yes! Salmon is one of my favourite proteins for a PCOS friendly diet. It’s loaded with both protein AND healthy fats, both which are super important for managing your PCOS with nutrition. This recipe uses salmon fillets and simple pantry spices for a healthy and easy weeknight dinnner.
What to serve with air fryer salmon?
I of course love this salmon with a generous spoonful of cilantro lemon sauce. That sauce adds so much flavour and an extra helping of healthy fats as well. And beside that rice or quinoa is are my smart carbs of choice along with steamed or roasted veggies.
Can you use frozen salmon?
Yes! Salmon fillets are something I always have in my freezer. These make getting fish onto your plate weekly really easy. Use frozen or fresh fillets for this recipe (just make sure to thaw the frozen fillets fully before air frying).
MORE ABOUT THIS RECIPE FOR EASY AIR FRYER SALMON FILLETS
This is one of those dinners that tastes like it should have taken a lot more time and a lot more skill to make but it’s the perfect super quick and easy meal for any lunch or dinner of the week.
Easy really is the name of the game for me when it comes to meals lately.
In fact, the easier the better when it comes to getting dinner on the table (and I’m sure you can agree with me there).
I think one of the most important things I wish I could scream from the rooftops so that more women with PCOS would understand that eating for PCOS doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.
Yes, I really and truly believe that nutrition plays an enormous role in your PCOS presentation, especially those of us with insulin-resistant PCOS. And changing the way you approach eating to prioritize PCOS-friendly foods can be life-changing.
AND you can make changes to the way you eat without meals becoming overly complicated.
(And by complicated I mean recipes with ingredient lists that are 50 items long, tons of ingredients that are unfamiliar or super expensive, 25-step recipe instructions, hours and hours of meal prep or too much time in the kitchen cooking or worse doing the dishes afterwards…)
A quality protein, a smart carb, a healthy fat and some flavour on your plate at each meal is all you need to help to balance your blood sugar, get the nutrients your body needs and feel full and satisfied with dinner.
If you need help building easy PCOS-friendly meals, you have to download my PCOS-friendly foods cheat sheet or join the PCOS-Friendly Cooking Mini Course.
And this air fryer salmon recipe can add delicious protein (and healthy fats) to any dinner or lunch plate in 15 minutes or less.
YUM!
I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE AS MUCH AS I DO!
IF YOU GIVE THIS AIR FRYER SALMON RECIPE A TRY LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW AND BE SURE TO SHARE A PICTURE ON INSTAGRAM USING THE TAG @ALWAYSNOURISHED. I LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU’RE COOKING!
This Easy Air Fryer Salmon with Cilantro Herb Sauce recipe was originally published in March 2023. Thank you for supporting Always Nourished and making recipes like this one possible!
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