Salmon is often celebrated for its heart health benefits, making it a perfect choice for a nutritious meal. I wanted to create a quick and simple recipe that brings this delicious fish to your table in less than 20 minutes. With minimal ingredients and maximum flavor, this air fryer stuffed salmon recipe is sure to become a favorite.
This recipe looks impressive, is full of flavor, has a perfect texture and only needs five ingredients. Give it a try and enjoy a heart-healthy dish that’s as easy to make as it is delicious!
Full disclosure, even though this article was not sponsored by Ninja, I did receive the Ninja SL401 DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer as a gift. Rest assured my opinions are my own.
This post also contains clearly identified affiliate links. If you click on these links and choose to make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my page 🙂
Watch How Easily It Comes Together
Why Use An Air Fryer?
Using an air fryer for heart-healthy eating offers several benefits. My favorite reason includes reduced oil consumption since air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food. This significantly reduces the fat content and calorie content in meals.
I know many of you can relate to the need for quick and easy meals, and that’s why air fryers are perfect – they cook food quickly, and cleanup is a breeze. This convenience encourages more frequent home cooking, which is often healthier than dining out. With this air fryer stuffed salmon recipe, you can have dinner on the table in 20 minutes or less.
Why Choose the Ninja DoubleStack XL Air Fryer?
Not all air fryers are made the same, that’s why I was super impressed with the Ninja DoubleStack air fryer because of its compact design. I don’t know about you, but my husband hates appliances because he loves a clean countertop.
However, he doesn’t cook, and I know that I can cook healthier meals in an air fryer so I wanted to make sure this air fryer would pass his “clean counter” test – and it did! It has a sleek design that fits neatly on your countertop. I absolutely love that it has 2 baskets, which means you can cook two different temperatures, and it has a divider, so you can technically cook 4 different foods at once.
I also appreciate the minimal clean up. It’s easy-to-clean baskets makes it a breeze to use and maintain. No baking pans are needed; just plop the food in the basket and hit start.
Benefits of Salmon For Heart Health
Omega 3 fatty acids are an essential nutrient, which means we need to consume them through food, and both Pacific and Atlantic Salmon are great options for meeting your omega 3 fatty acid recommendations.
Omega 3 fatty acids are not only great for reducing your risk of heart disease and maintaining heart health but also for managing inflammation and improving brain health (1).
Additionally, 200 g of Atlantic salmon also provides a whopping 11.9 mcg of Vitamin D. This covers up to 80% of an adult’s recommended Vitamin D intake. vitamin D is essential in maintaining strong, healthy bones and a strong heart. Studies have shown that Vitamin D plays a role in helping to manage blood pressure too (2).
Other Ingredients
The four other ingredients in this recipe are spinach, feta cheese, parsley and lemon juice. Stuffing a salmon requires cheese, and feta is actually a lower fat cheese which helps keep you within your saturated fat budget for the day, ultimately controlling your blood cholesterol levels. I prefer using real cheese here instead of cream cheese for the beneficial protein and calcium content.
I chose spinach here as it is a food that can lower blood pressure and unclog arteries. It also is a food that is full of antioxidants and nutrients like vitamin K and magnesium.
Since feta cheese is higher in sodium, I didn’t add any salt to the recipe and decided to flavor it using fresh parsley and lemon juice. Let me tell you – this is an excellent combination! The stuffing is flavorful, tender and once cooked it is crispy on the outside.
How To Make The Air Fryer Stuffed Salmon
Just a few steps are needed to execute this recipe!
- First, you need to prepare the stuffing. I used frozen spinach here because it’s more convenient and just as nutritious as fresh. Combine the thawed spinach, crumbled feta cheese, minced parsley, and lemon juice.
- Then make a slit in the middle of the salmon filet to create a pocket for the stuffing.
- Then you bake it. Another perk of the air fryer is that it preheats in minutes (not like my old oven, which takes forrrrrrrrever!).
I baked mine at 375°F for 14 minutes, but the exact cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the salmon filet. I recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the salmon reaches 145°F (63°C).
One thing you want to remember is you don’t want to overfill the pockets, as this can cause the stuffing to spill out during cooking.
Other Salmon Recipes
Pesto Butter Salmon With Beans And Spinach
What To Serve It With?
Beet And Broccoli Salad (Heart Healthy, Sweet & Salty)
Kale Apple Slaw With Creamy Dressing
Fresh And Crunchy Edamame And Broccoli Salad Recipe
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t tried an air fryer, consider this your sign to start and prepare delicious and nutritious meals like this Air Fryer Stuffed Salmon. With its versatility and ease of use, it’s a must-have for anyone looking to eat healthier without sacrificing flavor or convenience.
Give this delicious, heart healthy and FAST recipe a try, and let me know how it turns out.
Easy Air Fryer Stuffed Salmon Recipe (5 Ingredients)
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillet
- 1 cup frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dried
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 2 tbsp parsley chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the thawed and squeezed spinach, crumbled feta cheese, fresh parsley, and lemon juice. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Make a slit in the side of each fillet to create a pocket for the stuffing. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
- Spoon the spinach, feta, and parsley mixture into the pockets of each salmon fillet.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
- Place the stuffed salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching to allow for even cooking. Air fry the salmon for 12-14 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets.
- Remove the salmon from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with lemon slices or additional parsley if desired.