Air Fryer Copycat Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon — Applebee’s honey grilled salmon is one of the most popular dishes. Making your own at home is not only easy and healthier than ordering out. You can make them as spicy or sweet as you like. This Air Fryer Copycat Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon recipe will show you how to do it!

Air Fryer Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon
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Nothing is better in the air fryer than a piece of perfectly air-fried salmon. I prepared my husband’s favorite dish at Applebees and created an air fryer version–Air Fryer Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon.

If you have never made salmon in the air fryer, it comes out perfect, and it is a great dinner. Air Fryer Salmon is perfect; it comes out crispy on the outside, tender and juicy inside, and flakes perfectly. Best of all, it is done in less than 15 minutes, from start to finish. So it’s a great mid-week meal.

The sauce in the Applebee’s version is honey-based, sweet, and tangy, and it goes perfectly with the salmon, but my kids love dipping their chicken fingers into it. It is made with a few ingredients, most of all of which are probably in your pantry. You can also make a double batch of this sauce and keep it in the refrigerator.

This copycat Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon is an easy meal to make in your Air Fryer.

Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon

Have you ever wanted to eat Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon, but you don’t want to go out? Well, now you can make it at home with an Air Fryer! This copycat recipe is so easy and tastes just like the real thing. All you need are a few ingredients and your Air Fryer.

If salmon isn’t your favorite fish yet, this is the perfect opportunity for you to try it because I promise that after trying this dish once….you’ll be hooked!

There is nothing better than Air Fryer Salmon!

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon
  • Salmon Filets
  • Honey
  • Soy Sauce
  • Brown Sugar
  • Pineapple Juice
  • Lemon Juice
  • White Vinegar
  • Olive Oil
  • Black Pepper
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Paprika
  • Garlic Powder

How To Make Air Fryer Copycat Applebee Salmon Sauce

How To Make Air Fryer Copycat Applebee Salmon Sauce

Make the sauce in a small saucepan: add the honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, lemon juice, white vinegar, olive oil, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, until thickened, constantly stirring. Remove from heat when thickened.

How To Make Air Fryer Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon

Air Fryer Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon

Start by preheating your air fryer for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees F, air fryer setting. Then spray your basket with olive oil. Rub olive oil over the salmon, and then season with salt and black pepper. Place the salmon fillets into the air fryer basket for 8 to 10 minutes. Check if they are flaking before removing them from the air fryer basket. When the salmon is done, spoon some sauce over the fillet.

Air Fryer Salmon

The trick to air frying salmon is to preheat your air fryer. If you do not have a preheat button or function, run the air fryer at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Then add your salmon.

Spray your basket with olive oil spray; remember never to use aerosol sprays in your air fryer because it will cause it to peel over time. If you have an air fryer basket, I hope you seasoned it, which will help your air fryer last for years.

Then, lightly rub olive oil over your salmon. This will help it stay moist during the air frying. I usually add some salt and pepper.

Then, air fry for 8 to 10 minutes.

Then, pour the sauce over the cooked salmon for this recipe. Serve with a side of rice, risotto, or asparagus.

Air Fryer Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon

What Temperature Should Salmon Be Cooked?

The chart from the USDA recommends an internal temperature for salmon to be 145 degrees F. However, at 145 degrees F, I find that the salmon is a bit dried out. So, depending on how you like your salmon, I cook it to about 120 degrees F.

One of the best cooking tools with the air fryer is an (affiliate link) meat thermometer. As you get to know your machine, your food is perfectly cooked. I recommend that every cook owns one.

How Can You Tell When Salmon Is Done?

I usually test my salmon at around 7 to 8 minutes. This will depend on a few factors, mostly what air fryer you are using and how thick are the salmon fillets. The perfect salmon will flake when you use your fork. The minute it starts to flake, remove the salmon. It is done cooking.

How To Thaw Frozen Salmon

While you can air fry frozen salmon, I think it’s easy to thaw salmon and then air fry it. I find that the texture is much better.

There are two ways to thaw salmon. One is to take the package of salmon from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.

The second way to quickly thaw salmon, take the salmon out of the freezer. Place it in an ice-cold bath for about 30 minutes.

Suppose you cook this salmon dinner from frozen; double the time for the air frying. It will probably take you about 15 to 20 minutes to air fry a piece of frozen salmon.

How Long Does Raw Salmon Last In The Refrigerator?

Salmon does not last long in the refrigerator; therefore, do not buy or take it out of the freezer if you do not use it within two days.

How Long Does Cooked Salmon Last In The Refrigerator?

Cooked salmon lasts about 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can store the leftovers in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag.

More Air Fryer Recipes:

Air Fryer Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon

Air Fryer Copycat Applebee’s Honey Grilled Salmon

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Description

Air Fryer Copycat Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon — Applebee's honey grilled salmon is one of the most popular dishes on their menu. Making your own at home is not only easy and healthier than ordering out. You can make them as spicy or sweet as you like. This recipe for Air Fryer Copycat Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon will show you how to do it!

Ingredients 

Sauce:

  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup pineapple juice
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Salmon:

  • 2-4 salmon fillets, (I used thawed, and they were about 6 ounces)

Instructions

Sauce Instructions:

  • Make the sauce in a small saucepan: add the honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, lemon juice, white vinegar, olive oil, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
  • Simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, until thickened, constantly stirring.
  • Remove from heat when thickened.

Salmon Instructions:

  • Start by preheating your air fryer for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees F, air fryer setting.
  • Then spray your basket with olive oil.
  • Rub olive oil over the salmon, and then season with salt and black pepper.
  • .Place the salmon fillets into the air fryer basket for 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Check to see if they are flaking before removing them from the air fryer basket. When the salmon is done, spoon some sauce over the fillet.Plate, serve, and enjoy!

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 19gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 1125mgPotassium: 553mgFiber: 1gSugar: 68gVitamin A: 161IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 2mg

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Air Fryer Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon