Old Bay Salmon

Name: Old Bay Salmon (Air-Fryer)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each); 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning; 2 tbsp garlic butter; 1/2 lemon, for juicing

Old Bay Salmon is a quick air-fryer recipe that delivers perfectly flaky salmon fillets coated with Dijon mustard and Old Bay seasoning, finished with garlic butter and fresh lemon juice for bright, savory depth.

⚡Air Fryer

🌍American 🏷️Salmon 🏷️Air fryer salmon 🏷️Old bay 🏷️Seafood Quick dinner

🏷️

🏷️Weeknight meal

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jackiehartlaubonTikTok

Total

20 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$13–$21

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by jackiehartlaub

-0:00

jackiehartlaubonTikTok

Ingredients

4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
2 tbsp garlic butter
1/2 lemon, for juicing

5 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Brush the salmon fillets with a light coating of Dijon mustard.
2
Season the fillets heavily on all sides with Old Bay seasoning.
3
Place the salmon in the air fryer basket. Cook for 5 minutes.
4
Flip the salmon fillets and cook for another 10 minutes, or until cooked through and flaky.
5
Remove the salmon from the air fryer. Top with slices of garlic butter and squeeze fresh lemon juice over them before serving.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pat salmon fillets dry before seasoning to help the Old Bay adhere and promote even cooking.
Apply Dijon mustard directly to the flesh side before sprinkling Old Bay; mustard acts as a binder and adds subtle depth.
Don't overcrowd the air-fryer basket—arrange fillets skin-side down in a single layer for consistent heat circulation.
Add garlic butter and lemon juice in the last minute of cooking or immediately after to preserve brightness and prevent butter from scorching.

Substitutions

Dijon mustard → whole grain mustard or spicy brown mustard (same amount, slightly different flavor profile)
Garlic butter → herb butter or compound butter with dill (maintains richness with different seasoning)
Old Bay seasoning → Cajun seasoning or blackening spice (same amount, bolder heat)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently in a 275°F oven for 5–8 minutes.

Equipment

air fryer

Common Questions

How do you know when air-fryer salmon is done?

Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches 145°F (63°C) at the thickest part. Cook times vary by air-fryer model and fillet thickness; start checking at 10 minutes.