Name: Air Fryer Spicy Salmon Bowls
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 salmon filets; Olive oil or cooking spray (for air fryer basket); 2 tablespoons sriracha; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup mayonnaise; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 ½ tablespoons sriracha; 2 cups cooked rice; 1 jalapeño ( sliced); 1 cucumber ( sliced); 1 cup carrots (shredded ); 1 mango (chopped); Green onion (for garnish); ½ tablespoon sesame seeds

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I’m obsessed with Spicy Salmon Bowls because they taste like something from a trendy restaurant but take hardly any effort. The salmon gets crispy edges with a sweet-spicy caramelized glaze. Fresh vegetables and mango add crunch and sweetness, while spicy mayo brings creamy heat. You’ll find yourself making these on repeat once you taste how good they are.

A bowl of rice topped with grilled salmon, sliced cucumber, julienned carrots, diced mango, jalapeño slices, and green onions, garnished with sesame seeds—these Spicy Salmon Bowls are bursting with fresh flavor and vibrant color. — Spicy Salmon Bowls. Photo Credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

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I make these for weeknight dinners, meal prep, and lunches when I want something fresh and flavorful that tastes restaurant-style at home. They’re healthy, easy to customize, and great for busy weeks since you can make them ahead and assemble right before serving. The salmon stays flavorful in the fridge for up to 3 days, or you can freeze it for up to 2 months.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Assorted ingredients for Spicy Salmon Bowls, including salmon fillets, rice, vegetables, mango, sauces, seasonings, and condiments, arranged on a white surface. — Spicy Salmon Bowls Ingredients. Photo Credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

How to Make Spicy Salmon Bowls with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

Let me walk you through making this bold and rich spicy salmon rice bowl recipe that is sure to become your new go-to favorite.

Make the Sriracha-Brown Sugar Glaze

In a small mixing bowl, combine the sriracha, brown sugar, and salt until you get a thick paste. The brown sugar will start to dissolve, and it’s fine if it stays a little grainy since that’s what creates the caramelized coating on the salmon.

Season the Salmon

Rub the paste all over the salmon fillets, making sure you coat both sides. Let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes so the flavors soak in and the fish comes closer to room temperature, helping it cook more evenly. I use a pastry brush like this one to spread the paste evenly over the salmon, so every bite gets coated with flavor without making a mess on my hands.

Preheat and Prep the Air Fryer

Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and lightly spray the basket with olive oil or cooking spray, just enough to keep the salmon from sticking. I like using this oil sprayer because it gives me an even, light coat of oil and avoids overdoing it with greasy sprays.

Air Fry the Salmon

Place the salmon fillets in the basket and air fry for 7 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness. You’ll know they’re done when the edges look crispy and caramelized, and the glaze forms a sweet-spicy crust that’s honestly the best part.

Two cooked salmon fillets with a glazed surface sit inside the basket of an air fryer, ready to be served in delicious Spicy Salmon Bowls, set against a white background. — Air fry the salmon for 7 to 10 minutes.

Make the Spicy Mayo

While the salmon is cooking, whisk together the mayonnaise, sriracha, and minced garlic in a small bowl. I use a silicone whisk for this step because it gets the garlic evenly distributed without clumps. Taste it and adjust the sriracha if you want more heat.

Once done, I place the spicy mayo inside a squeeze bottle like this one because it keeps things neat and lets me drizzle it evenly over the bowls without making a mess.

Assemble the Bowls

Divide the cooked rice between two bowls, using white rice for a soft, neutral base that soaks up the sauce, or swap in brown rice for extra fiber and a heartier bite, or cauliflower rice or quinoa for a lighter or higher-protein option.

Then layer the components of the bowl by placing the air-fried salmon on top and drizzling generously with spicy mayo in a zigzag pattern.

Place the shredded carrots at the top of the bowl, fan the cucumber slices along one/each side, spoon the chopped mango onto another section, and scatter the sliced jalapeño over the salmon and vegetables.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onion, and add cilantro if you like a fresh, herby finish that brightens each bite. Serve and enjoy!

A bowl of rice topped with sliced cucumber, shredded carrots, diced mango, sliced jalapeños, chopped green onions, and sesame seeds—perfect as a refreshing base for Spicy Salmon Bowls. — Divide the rice between bowls, top with the salmon and spicy mayo, then add the vegetables and mango, finish with sesame seeds and green onions, and serve.

A bowl of rice topped with sliced grilled salmon, shredded carrots, cucumber, mango cubes, jalapeño slices, green onions, and sesame seeds—these Spicy Salmon Bowls are a fresh and flavorful meal.

Air Fryer Spicy Salmon Bowls

I love making Spicy Salmon Bowls when I need dinner that looks as good as it tastes without spending hours in the kitchen. The air fryer gives the salmon crispy, caramelized edges with a sweet-spicy glaze. I serve it over rice with fresh vegetables, mango, and creamy spicy mayo that ties everything together. They're perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, and lunches because the salmon stays flavorful in the fridge for up to 3 days, or you can freeze it for up to 2 months.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Servings

Calories 499 kcal

Ingredients

For the Salmon:

2 salmon filets
Olive oil or cooking spray for air fryer basket
2 tablespoons sriracha
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt

For the Spicy Mayo:

½ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 ½ tablespoons sriracha

For the Bowls:

2 cups cooked rice
1 jalapeño sliced
1 cucumber sliced
1 cup carrots shredded
1 mango chopped
Green onion for garnish
½ tablespoon sesame seeds

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons sriracha, brown sugar, and salt to form a paste.
2 tablespoons sriracha, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt
Rub this mixture evenly over the salmon fillets and let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2 salmon filets
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease the basket with olive oil or cooking spray.
Olive oil or cooking spray
Air fry the salmon for 7–10 minutes, or until fully cooked and slightly crispy on the edges.
While the salmon cooks, whisk together the mayonnaise, 1 ½ tablespoons sriracha, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Set aside.
½ cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 ½ tablespoons sriracha
Divide the cooked rice between two bowls. Top with the air-fried salmon, then arrange jalapeño, cucumber, carrots, and mango on the sides.
2 cups cooked rice, 1 jalapeño, 1 cucumber, 1 cup carrots, 1 mango
Drizzle the spicy mayo over the salmon, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and garnish with chopped green onion.
Green onion, ½ tablespoon sesame seeds
Serve immediately and enjoy the perfect blend of spicy, sweet, and fresh flavors!

Notes

Here are a few things that help these bowls turn out perfectly every time:

Customize the heat level: Add more or less sriracha to the glaze and mayo depending on your spice tolerance. The brown sugar balances the heat, so you can go pretty spicy without it being overwhelming.
Don’t skip the resting time: Letting the salmon sit for 15 minutes after you rub on the glaze helps the flavors soak in and brings the fish closer to room temperature, so it cooks more evenly in the air fryer.
Check your air fryer halfway through: Air fryer models vary, so check the salmon at the 7-minute mark. If the edges start to get too dark, lower the temperature to 375°F or remove the salmon early, making sure it flakes easily while staying moist inside.
Make the spicy mayo ahead: You can whisk together the mayo, sriracha, and garlic up to 3 days ahead and store it in the fridge. The garlic flavor gets even better after sitting for a day.
Keep components separate for meal prep: If you’re making these for the week, store the salmon, rice, and veggies in separate containers. Assemble the bowls right before eating so the cucumber and mango stay crisp and the rice doesn’t absorb the spicy mayo.
Flash freeze the salmon: If you’re freezing cooked salmon, place the fillets on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour before transferring to a container. It keeps them from sticking together and makes it easier to grab just one or two pieces when you need them.

Nutrition

Calories: 499kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 21gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 896mgPotassium: 780mgFiber: 3gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 6094IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Spicy Salmon Bowls

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How to Store Leftovers

I store the components separately in airtight containers with locking lids so everything stays fresh and doesn’t become soggy. The salmon keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheats well in the air fryer at 350°F for about 3 minutes. The veggies and rice stay fresh in separate containers for the same amount of time. Just assemble the bowls when you’re ready to eat so the cucumber and mango stay crisp.

If you want to freeze the cooked salmon, wrap the fillets tightly in this BPA-free plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the air fryer.

What to Serve With Spicy Salmon Bowls

The bowls are pretty filling on their own, but I sometimes add edamame or seaweed salad on the side for extra protein and crunch. If you want something lighter, a simple miso soup or a cold cucumber salad with rice vinegar works really well. Spring rolls or potstickers are also perfect if you’re feeding a crowd and want to make it feel more like a full spread.

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Air Fryer Spicy Salmon Bowls

Ingredients You’ll Need