Easy Air Fryer Pesto Salmon

Wanna know a secret? I used to hate seafood. Pre-marriage, I wouldn’t touch the stuff. But once I got married the hubbie slowly walked me into the wonderful world of seafood. And I gotta say, I’m not mad about it.

One of my favorite things to make is salmon. The nutritional components alone are great for you. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, a great source of protein, and high in vitamin B. It’s also super delicious and very versatile, because you can change up the flavor however you’d like.

Today we are really going to brighten up this tender, flaky salmon with a fresh, vibrant basil pesto, made with parmesan cheese, pecans, and lemon zest. It is seriously unreal!

And finally, if you’re looking for more easy salmon dinner ideas, check out this honey garlic air fryer salmon or this maple dijon air fryer salmon.

Why You’ll Love This Pesto Salmon Recipe

Let’s talk a little more about why this pesto salmon absolutely rocks! Here’s why I suggest you try it ASAP:

Flavor, flavor, flavor. This basil pesto is a combination of tangy lemon zest, fragrant garlic, nutty parmesan cheese, crunchy pecans, and more. It’ll give your tender salmon a serious flavor boost!
Great texture. I don’t know what it is, but making salmon in the air fryer is seriously my favorite! The air fryer gives the salmon a beautiful crust on top and adds a flaky texture component that will make you fall even more in love with salmon. Trust me. My kids request it now!
Super quick and easy. As a mom, I usually have a 3 year old tugging at my leg around dinner time. I need a recipe that comes together FAST. This recipe is exactly that! And if you use store bought pesto, it comes together even quicker!
Pesto and salmon: the perfect pair. Salmon is more of a “fatty” fish. I don’t like adding things like butter or mayo to it because it doesn’t need more fat. The fresh, bright pesto cuts through all that fat and livens up the dish. They are two peas in a pod!

What You’ll Need

This recipe comes together so fast! I like to make my own homemade pesto for it, but if you want to shorten the ingredient list you could definitely buy a store-bought pesto. Here are the ingredients you’ll need (you can find exact amounts in the recipe card below):

Salmon – You can buy pre-portioned filets or cut them yourself. Just make sure you buy skin on.
Basil – Fresh is best. Dry basil is not an option here.
Pecans – I know that typically pesto is made with pine nuts. But, I’m not a huge pine nut fan and I really like the texture and flavor pecans add to pesto.
Lemon zest – Fresh lemon zest brightens up the flavors in the pesto.
Olive oil – A good cold pressed extra virgin olive oil is key here.
Garlic – You can’t have pesto without garlic! And, again, fresh is best.
Parmesan cheese – Grated parmesan cheese gives this pesto the saltiness it needs. Make sure you fold it in at the end, don’t add it to the blender.
Spices – You don’t need a lot, just some simple salt and pepper will do.

How to Make Pesto Salmon in the Air Fryer

This recipe comes together in 20 minutes, or even less if you use store-bought pesto. No judgement over here if you do. I just love making my own because I know exactly what’s in it!

A lot of pesto salmon recipes out there have you put the pesto on while the salmon is baking or cooking. I like to add it at the end because the color stays a vibrant green and the flavor is fresher, too! Here’s how to make air fryer pesto salmon (scroll down to the recipe card for the full set of directions):

Make the pesto. To a food processor, add basil, pecans, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon zest. Blend until the basil is roughly chopped up. Slowly add the olive oil till smooth. Once completely blended, pour the mixture into a bowl and stir in the parmesan cheese. Set aside.
Prep the air fryer. Heat the air fryer to 400°F and let it preheat for 2-3 minutes.
Season the salmon. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel. Brush avocado oil on the flesh side of the salmon, and season it with salt and pepper.
Air fry the salmon. Using tongs, gently place the salmon skin side down in air fryer basket and air fry for 9-10 minutes (depending on the thickness of your salmon). Check for desired doneness. The best way to do this is to gently flake the salmon with a fork.
Top the salmon with pesto. Remove the salmon from the air fryer and top it with pesto. Enjoy!

Can I Bake This Salmon in the Oven?

Yes, you can absolutely make this in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer, or don’t want to use the air fryer. To bake this salmon in the oven, heat it to 400°F. Place the seasoned salmon on a tin foil lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove it from the oven and top with pesto.

pesto being spread on salmon in air fryer

Tips for Success

This salmon with pesto is pretty easy to make, but I do have a few more tips and tricks to share with you:

Use high quality salmon. Use fresh sustainable salmon to start with. I like to buy mine from the fish market so I can choose the piece I want. I always smell it beforehand to make sure it doesn’t smell like fish. If it does, don’t buy it. It’s gone bad.
Don’t overcook it. Cook times always vary. The piece I have may be thicker or thinner than the piece you have. So always keep an eye on any protein while you’re cooking it. Salmon should be 140°F-145°F when done. As long as you stay in that range your salmon will come out tender and flaky.
Use fresh pesto. In my opinion, fresh pesto is best because it adds a bright vibrant note that you’re not going to get from store-bought. However, if you need an easy button, store-bought will do.

salmon filets on a plate topped with basil pesto

What Goes With Air Fryer Pesto Salmon?

Not sure what to serve with your pesto salmon? I’ve got you covered!

Potatoes. Baked potatoes and mashed potatoes go super well with salmon, and so do instant pot sweet potatoes or fries!
Pasta. Simple buttered noodles or your favorite pasta salad would be perfect!
Veggies. There are so many options! Healthy air fryer zucchini fries would be great, as would grilled asparagus with lemon zest.
Salad. You could make an everyday healthy salad if you need something light and quick, or you can dial up the flavors with something like this Mediterranean orzo salad!

air fryer pesto salmon on top of rice with tomatoes

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Want to save some of your pesto salmon for later? No problem! Here’s how to do that:

To store. Keep your salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
To reheat. The easiest way to reheat this salmon is to put it back in the air fryer (at 300-350 degrees F) and cook it for a few minutes until it is warmed through.

Can I Freeze This Pesto Salmon?

Sure! For the best results, though, if you plan to freeze this salmon ahead of time, let it cool before topping it with the pesto, and then freeze it in an airtight container for 2-3 months. Then, after thawing and reheating the salmon, you can add some fresh pesto later.

More Salmon Recipes

On the lookout for more easy salmon recipes? Don’t miss out on these ones!

Air Fryer Pesto Salmon