Served over fluffy rice, this garlicky salmon bowl with a sweet-and-savory marinade and refreshing cucumber is a hearty, Asian-inspired dinner. Perfectly spicy and topped with herby cilantro, it’ll be your favorite 30-minute meal.
Quick & Healthy Honey Salmon Bowl Recipe
Marinated in a whisked honey-soy sauce, this spicy salmon bowl with nutty Basmati rice is an easy weeknight dinner that requires little clean-up. Cooked in the air fryer and ready in half and hour, it’s a healthy take-out style meal you’ll love.
Brightened up with a little lime juice, the 4-ingredient sauce turns into a sweet, sticky glaze that caramelizes on every juicy salmon bite. Packed with garlic for fragrance and chili flakes for heat, the flavors are perfectly balanced with a burst of freshness from sliced cucumbers. You can even use leftover fried rice for an extra savory bowl.
Prepped ahead or freshly made, this is a dreamy high-protein salmon bowl you won’t want to miss out on. Topped with cilantro and peanuts for crunch, this is the only recipe you’ll be making from now on.
Why You’ll Love This Salmon Rice Bowl
This simple salmon bowl will become part of your regular meal rotation in no time.
- Quick. You only need 5 easy steps and half an hour to put this bowl together. It’s perfect for hectic weeknights.
- Healthy. Marinated in a homemade sauce, there are no funny ingredients in your meal.
- Versatile. Add more garnishes, swap the grains, or add more veggies. This bowl never gets boring!
- Less clean-up. Cooked in the air fryer, you won’t need to wash lots of pans and pots for this recipe.
What You’ll Need
The secret to this bowl’s flavor is in the homemade honey-soy sauce marinade. Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.
- Honey – Don’t swap this for maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Soy sauce – Regular or low-sodium soy sauce work.
- Lime juice – Feel free to use lemon juice.
- Garlic – You can also use garlic powder.
- Chili flakes
- Salmon fillets – Make sure they’re skinless.
- Basmati rice – Jasmine rice is a good swap.
- Cucumber – I prefer Persian cucumbers.
- Fresh cilantro
Fresh vs Frozen Salmon
Here are a couple of things to consider depending on whether you use fresh or frozen salmon.
- Fresh: Check the color. It should look glossy and bright orange or pink, not opaque or beige. If the color resembles the light pink of cooked salmon, avoid it. You can also ask the fish-monger to remove the skin on the fillets.
- Frozen: Buy skinless salmon and then make sure to thaw it properly. Pop it into a bowl of cold water and transfer it to the fridge a day before cooking. Never cook salmon straight out of the freezer, even if you’re using the air fryer. It needs to be thawed for the best texture and proper cooking.
How to Make a Air Fryer Honey Salmon Bowl
These 30 minute bowls require 5 steps and a quick marinade for an authentic but simple meal. Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for more detailed instructions.
- Whisk the sauce. Mix the honey, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, and chili flakes in a large bowl until well combined.
- Marinate it. Add the salmon and stir to combine. Pop it into the fridge and let it marinate for 15 minutes.
- Prepare the rice. Cook it according to package instructions and set it aside.
- Air fry it. Preheat the air fryer to 400F. Place the salmon in the air fryer basket. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes. Shake the basket and let the salmon cook for another 3-4 minutes or until cooked through.
- Serve. Divide the rice among the bowls. Add salmon and cucumber. Top with cilantro and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
Even if you cut a few corners or make a few swaps, this salmon bowl can easily be taken to the next level.
- Great for leftovers. Feel free to add leftover veggies like carrots, baby spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers etc to pack more vitamins into every bite.
- Use the stove. If you don’t have an air fryer, cook the salmon in a large pan over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side or until opaque and flaky.
- Use fried rice. Swapping steamed white rice for leftover fried rice is a flavorful alternative.
- Add more garnishes. Toasted sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, or crispy tempura pearls will add lots of texture to your meal.
- Make a teriyaki bowl. Swap the homemade sauce for store-bought teriyaki sauce for another sweet-and-savory version of this recipe.
- Change the grains. You can use quinoa, couscous, brown rice, or cauliflower rice as your “grain” base for the bowls.
Serving Suggestions
This salmon rice bowl can be paired with other Asian-inspired dishes like Beef Pho Noodle Soup or Soba Noodle Salad with Shrimp. As a swap for the cucumber, you can also use steamed veggies, grilled corn, or a leftover veggie stir-fry. For extra protein, you can also add diced tofu.
Can Salmon Rice Bowls Be Prepared in Advance?
This salmon bowl recipe can be made up to 3 days in advance. Serve the bowls directly in airtight containers without the cucumber to meal-prep for the week. Reheat them directly in the containers and then add fresh cucumber.
How to Store Leftovers
Once fully cooled, refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Keep it away from direct heat or sunlight when on the counter for reheating or serving. Store the cucumber separately. To reheat the bowls, pop them into the microwave for up to a minute or until warm.
More Easy Salmon Recipes
- Cajun Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
- Apricot Glazed Salmon Recipe
- Salmon Cakes with Arugula Salad
- Spicy Salmon Burgers {Gluten Free}
- Asian Glazed Salmon {gluten free + paleo}
Air Fryer Honey Salmon Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsps Raw Honey
- 2 tbsps Soy Sauce
- ½ Lime juiced
- 2 Garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp Chili Flakes
- 12 ozs Salmon Fillet skinless, cut into large cubes
- 1/2 cup Basmati Rice dry
- ½ Cucumber sliced
- 1 tbsp Cilantro chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, and chili flakes. Add the salmon, stir, and let it sit in the marinade for about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the package directions and set aside.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF (205ºC).
- Transfer the salmon bites to the air fryer basket and bake for seven to eight minutes or until cooked through, shaking halfway through.
- Divide the rice, salmon, and cucumber evenly between bowls. Top with cilantro and enjoy!
