Jamaican Jerk Salmon in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Jamaican Jerk Salmon and Veggies with Mango Salsa
How to Make Jerk Salmon in the Air Fryer with Asparagus & Potatoes
This Jamaican jerk salmon recipe is one of my all-time favorite weeknight dinners! And, it’s one of the tastiest methods for cooking salmon in the air fryer that I’ve tried yet. Tons of flavor, my salmon and veggies get cooked together at the same time, and all in just 15 minutes!
Serve this Jamaican jerk salmon with mango salsa on top, and you’ve got an easy, breezy Caribbean dinner you’ll want to enjoy again and again. When that bright, zesty heat of the jerk seasoning meets the cook sweetness of the mango salsa, it’s a combo that can’t be beat!
Plus, cooking this Jamaican jerk salmon in the air fryer keeps things quick and CRISPY. Not only is the salmon perfectly moist and flavorful, but those veggies are genuinely irresistible. Deliciously tender asparagus with just enough crunch left in it, and unbelievably creamy baby potatoes with a salty, crisp skin. I could eat air fried baby potatoes all day every day!
Put it all together, and this air fryer jerk salmon and veggies dinner is a MUST try. Healthy and light, oh-so-quick and simple, yet full of fun, complex flavors. Plus, loads of anti-inflammatory super-nutrients thanks to the salmon’s omega-3s! I’ll show you how to make jerk salmon in the air fryer WITH your veggies at the same time, along with my super simple mango salsa recipe to serve on top.
Jamaican Jerk Salmon Air Fryer Components
This air fryer jerk salmon recipe has 2 main components—3 total components if you’re going for maximum flavor and Caribbean flare.
First, there are the veggies, which need to go into the air fryer first since they’ll take a bit longer to cook than the salmon. I’m going with asparagus and baby potatoes because they pair nicely with salmon AND they’re just plain delicious cooked in the air fryer. But, feel free to choose any vegetables you like.
Then, there’s the Jamaican jerk salmon which I’m rubbing with my DIY jerk seasoning. Again, use any seasoning blend you like, come up with your own spice rub, or give mine a try!
The specific cuts of salmon I’m using are courtesy of MOWI salmon—a clean, sustainable farm raised salmon option that always tastes incredible, no matter how I cook it. And it’s super convenient because I can order it through Amazon! (Check out my Wild Caught Salmon vs Farm Raised blog post to learn more about the differences between salmon options.)
And last but not least, that cool, sweet, refreshing mango salsa. I like to add a bit of jalapeño for some heat, but you can seed your jalapeño if you prefer JUST the flavor without the heat. I’ve included the full recipe for you just below my air fryer Jamaican jerk salmon recipe.
DIY Jerk Seasoning
Here’s a recipe card with my simple DIY jerk seasoning recipe! I like to measure all of these spices into a small mason jar, then just cover and shake to mix it all together. I only need about 1 Tbsp for this air fryer jerk salmon recipe, so I just keep the rest stored in the jar until the next time I make it.
How to Make Jerk Salmon in the Air Fryer with Veggies
With our jerk seasoning at the ready, we can get started with the air fryer, preheated to 380°F (195°C). Since the Jamaican jerk salmon will only take a few minutes to cook, it’s best to start with the veggies—longer-cooking veggies going in first. For me, the entire process of cooking this jerk salmon in the air fryer will take just 15 minutes, adding each component in stages:
- First, add potatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
- Then, add in asparagus and cook for 4 more minutes.
- Finally, add Jamaican jerk salmon, place lemon slices on top, and cook for another 6 minutes.
So, to prep my veggies for the air fryer, I add the asparagus spears and baby potatoes into separate bowls, drizzle with oil, and toss with salt and pepper. I LOVE baby potatoes because I can cook them whole, so they turn out extra crispy on the outside! And asparagus is always delicious with salmon and so simple to prepare—just trim to fit the size of your air fryer basket.
As always, you’re welcome to pair your Jamaican jerk salmon with different veggies if you have other favorites! Just keep in mind that different veggies will require different amounts of time to cook, so stagger your cooking times appropriately.
To prep the salmon, simply brush each filet with a bit of oil, or you can skip the oil if you prefer a dry rub. What’s most important is sprinkling on that jerk seasoning, enough to coat each filet well! I use about 1 Tbsp or so between 2 filets. With all of my components seasoned, I just follow the stages outlined above, and dinner is ready in 15 minutes!
15 MINUTE Salmon Dinner Recipes – 3 Quick Dinner Ideas
Air Fryer Jamaican Jerk Salmon and Veggies
Ingredients
Air Fryer Jerk Salmon
- 2 salmon filets
- 2 Tbsp DIY jerk seasoning, below
- drizzle of oil
- 2 lemons, sliced
DIY Jerk Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp cayenne, to taste
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp coconut sugar
Air Fryer Veggies
- 1½ cups baby potatoes, whole
- 15 asparagus spears, cut to fit air fryer basket
- drizzle of oil
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl or jar, combine all jerk seasonings and mix well to integrate. (Store in a jar to keep DIY spice rub for later use!)
- Brush each salmon filet with oil (optional). Sprinkle jerk seasoning onto each filet.
- To prepare veggies, add baby potatoes and asparagus spears into separate bowls. Drizzle each with oil and toss with seasonings to coat.
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F (195°C).
- Once preheated, add potatoes into air fryer and cook for 5 minutes.
- Next, add asparagus into air fryer and cook for 4 more minutes.
- Finally, place salmon into air fryer on top of asparagus, layering a few lemon slices on top of each filet. Cook for 6 more minutes. (If desired, you can turn down the heat slightly when cooking your salmon, depending on how you like it cooked.)
- While salmon cooks, prepare mango salsa. (See next recipe below.)
- Serve jerk salmon and veggies on a plate, top with mango salsa, and enjoy!
Notes
305 calories | 14g fat | 5g carbs | 3g fiber | 2g sugar | 37g protein Nutrition provided below for entire meal: jerk salmon filet + half of veggies.
Serve with Mango Salsa and Enjoy!
While everything is cooking, you’ve got a window of time to make your mango salsa! Of course, you don’t have to serve your Jamaican jerk salmon with mango salsa if it doesn’t interest you, but I highly recommend it…
It’s just peeled and diced mango, mixed with chopped bell pepper, red onion, a bit of jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. You can store it in the fridge to use with other meals throughout the week, to enjoy with tacos or with chips, or just for a snack all on its own! You can find the full recipe below the recipe for Jamaican jerk salmon in the air fryer.
It adds the perfect sweetness to this zesty air fryer jerk salmon recipe, loads of beautiful color, and it’s really simple to make! Give it a whirl if you’re able, especially if it’s summer because mangoes are in peak season.
Mango Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 mangos, peeled & diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 2 jalapeños, seeded/diced
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add all chopped components into a large bowl with herbs, lime juice, and salt. Toss well to combine.
- Serve on top of air fryer jerk salmon and enjoy!
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Yields ~4-5 cups salsa.
2 Comments on “Jamaican Jerk Salmon in the Air Fryer”
Very quick and easy. Beautiful color and flavor! I made the mistake in putting oil in the skillet first then putting the salmon in. Next time I will do the opposite for less grease.
Glad you enjoyed! And in the future, you actually don’t need to put any oil in the air fryer at all 🙂