Air Fryer Miso-Glazed Salmon

When life is pure chaos, this Air Fryer Miso-Glazed Salmon saves the day as the ultimate lazy dinner in under 30 minutes! Packed with so much flavor, you’ll forget you’re eating healthy - with minimal dishes left behind.

This easy Miso Ginger Salmon is one of my most used Healthy Recipes in our home because of how simple and quick it is to make. The marinated salmon is an umami-bomb and turns out incredibly juicy and tender.

I usually serve up this simple Air Fryer Miso Glazed Salmon with a quick spicy Garlic Edamame for a fiery kick and it goes well in salad or with rice. But life is about balance right?? 

I love serving it up with noodles like my Vegetarian Yaki Udon packed with fresh veggies, 10-minute spicy Peanut Butter Noodles made with pantry staples, or my irresistible Garlic Noodles if I’m feeling indulgent. As my husband always reminds me, if we want to keep enjoying delicious food, we have to take care of ourselves. But don't let that fool you, healthy food doesn't mean we have to eat bland food!

Salmon helps with inflammation and lowers blood pressure because it's loaded with protein and omega-3 fatty acids. The white miso paste in the marinade not only adds insane umami flavor but also has probiotics and vitamins to boost your immune system and support gut health.

🥘 Ingredients

• Low-Sodium White Miso Paste: This adds a ton of salty umami flavor! You can easily find it at your local Asian market in the refridgerated section. I get mine from my local Ranch 99.
• Mirin: Mirin is a Japanese sweet cooking rice wine that helps tenderize protein and helps make a flavorful marinade. You can also find it at local Asian markets or Amazon.
• Light Soy Sauce: Light soy sauce is less salty compared to regular soy sauce. Since miso is already salty, light soy sauce is highly recommended to avoid making an overly salty marinade.
• Sesame Oil: A little goes a long way for a deep nutty flavor.

See recipe card for quantities.

Selecting High-Quality Salmon

• Fresh Salmon at a Glance: Fresh salmon is vibrant in color. It shouldn't be pale, have bruising, or look dried out. Avoid fish with labels noting "color added".
• The Smell Test: Fish shouldn't have a fishy scent. If it does, the fish isn't fresh.
• Still unsure? You can always ask the fishmonger at the grocery store for tips on fresh salmon available that day.

📖 Variations & Substitutions

• Can’t Find Mirin? Sake is a quick and easy alternative if you can't find mirin. Both are accessible at local Asian markets.
• Freezer-Friendly Version: This Miso-Glazed Salmon recipe is super easy to make ahead for easy meal prep - no defrosting needed! Make the marinade, slather it on top of the salmon fillets, then place salmon in individual Ziplocks for easy cooking later. Once you're ready to make them, preheat air fryer to 360 degrees F, then once hot, line tray with foil then add 1-2 miso salmon fillets skin-side down - do not overcrowd! Spray with oil then cook for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the fillet. The marinade caramelizes easily, so keep an eye on it.
• Chicken Version: This marinade transforms chicken into a super juicy & flavorful meal with minimal effort. Follow the recipe instructions except swap the salmon for chicken and cook it in the air fryer for 8 - 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat. 
• Oven Version: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Place the marinated salmon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook for about 10 - 12 minutes or until golden and caramelized. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes to keep it juicy before enjoying!

🔪 Instructions

This is, hands down, the easiest marinated salmon recipe you'll ever make!

Step 1: Make the marinade by combing low-sodium miso, low-sodium soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, minced garlic, & grated ginger.

Step 2: Slather salmon filets in the marinade & allow it to marinate for 15-20 minutes to fully absorb.

Step 3: Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F. Lightly brush the air fryer rack with oil or line with foil, then place fish skin-side down & cook for 8 minutes, or until the salmon is golden & cooked through.

Step 4: Remove from the air fryer & allow to rest for about 5 minutes to keep the fish juicy, then enjoy!

👩🏽‍🍳 Key Tips

• Prep for Less Dishes: Reduce dishes by tossing the marinade ingredients and salmon into a ziplock bag while marinating. Then toss the bag when you're all done. You can also line the air fryer tray with foil and toss it when the fish is done cooking. BOOM - a quick meal with even less dishes!
• Avoid a Watered Down Marinade: Make sure your fish is fully defrosted and pat dry before marinating. This helps with even cooking and keeps the marinade concentrated, instead of being watered down.
• Knowing When Salmon is Done: Check the thickest part of the fish for doneness since that'll take the longest to cook. Use a fork or knife to make a small cut in the thickest part of the miso marinated salmon. You're looking for a pink center instead of red and it should be easy to flake apart. Once it's done, remove the miso ginger salmon from the air fryer immediately so it doesn't dry out.
• Keep Your Salmon Juicy: Cooking with skin-on salmon is a great way to keep moisture in the fish! The extra fat acts as a barrier from the heat to help prevent the marinated salmon from over-drying. Then, after the miso-glazed salmon is done cooking, it’s important to let any protein rest for a few minutes. I know, it's excruciating to wait, but TOTALLY worth it because the juices will stay in the salmon, instead of it spilling all over your plate. 

💭 Recipe FAQs