Baked salmon bites are one of my favorite ways to make salmon feel easy for dinner. They cook quickly, are simple to serve, marinate while you help with homework and cook while you find the missing sock. Super versatile salmon recipe that comes out perfect every time.
My salmon bites are about keeping things low-stress. The salmon gets tossed with a flavorful sauce and baked until tender, which makes them easy to add to rice bowls, toss with these cold sesame noodles, or serve alongside veggies when you just need dinner in a hurry. It's the recipe I turn to when everyone needs to have dinner at a different time, but I still want something delish.
TL;DR - Baked Salmon Bites
- ⏱️ Timing: Marinate for 15-30 minutes, then bake for about 10 minutes.
- 🔥 Cooking method: Marinate → then bake. No breading, no frying.
- 🥣 How to serve: Serve them alongside just-like-takeout veggie lo mein when you want something comforting without ordering in. On nights when effort is low, I'll make my simple roast broccoli and add miso butter corn and call it done.
- ⭐ Why you'll make them again: They're quick, flexible, and easy to to make as part of your meal prep for the week. I like to eat them cold in this Crunchy Asian Cabbage Salad or add them to a wrap with some spicy slaw and crunchy green veggies for lunch.
- 🐟 More go to salmon recipes: My kids are in love with this 2-ingredient BBQ Salmon, that you could totally make into bites. Want to make a whole piece of salmon instead, try this Lemon Butter Baked Salmon instead.
- 🔄️ Switch up the flavor: The best part is that once you learn the method, easily swap in any sauce you like for endless flavor combinations. Try my sesame ginger salmon marinade, your favorite Thai sweet chili sauce or even a dry rub for salmon that you love.
Jump to:
Ingredients you'll need
- Salmon: Skinless salmon is the way to go here. No need to wrestle with taking the skin off the salmon before you cut it into cubes. Cut the salmon into 1-inch pieces so everything cooks evenly and stays tender. I like to use my kitchen shears to make the job easier. You can substitute with steelhead trout for a more budget friendly option.
- Marinade: I use Soy Vey (or the Trader Joes version, Soyaki) which is the same sauce I use in my Teriyaki Green Beans and Baked Salmon Teriyaki. That said, you can easily substitute any store-bought teriyaki-style sauce you like.
Simple Ways to Turn Salmon Bites Into Dinner
One of my favorite things about salmon bites is how easy they are to use once they're cooked. The small bites make it easy to add them to tons of recipes.
We love them in a rice bowl with rice, teriyaki green beans, avocado, crunch sliced cukes, shaved carrots and some pickled ginger. They're also great tossed with sesame noodles for a quick dinner that feels elevated but is actually super easy.
And if you're cooking for kids, the bite-sized pieces really help. Smaller food is fun and these are easy to pick up, dip, or stack on skewers. Sometimes I'll even set everything out and let everyone DIY their own bowl, which makes everyone happy at dinner!
💡My tips for perfectly cooked salmon
- Leave space on the pan. Spread the salmon bites out so they're not touching. Crowding the pan traps steam and keeps them from cooking evenly. I've even tried raising the bites slightly on the pan (a trick I picked up from RecipeTinEats), which helps hot air circulate and cook them more evenly.
- Line the pan (always). Sauces like Soyaki have sugar, which means they love to stick.
- Pull them out of the oven early rather than late. Salmon bites cook fast. Take them out as soon as they're opaque and flaky or they will get dried out.
How to Make Baked Salmon Bites
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 1: Cut the salmon into 1-inch pieces so everything cooks evenly.
Step 2: Place the cut salmon into a glass bowl and pour the sauce over the salmon and gently toss to coat. Let it marinate for 15-30 minutes.
Step 3: Spread the salmon bites on the prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cooked through.
Step 4: Serve over rice, with pasta, or eat them straight off the pan.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Air fryer instructions are included in the recipe card for a quick alternative cooking method.
Don't overbake them. Salmon bites cook quickly, so pull them as soon as they're opaque and flaky.
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📖 Recipe
Baked Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds Salmon (cut into 1½-inch pieces)
- ¾ cup Soyaki or teriyaki-style sauce (or any other sauce you like)
Instructions
- Cut the salmon into bite-sized pieces and place them in a glass bowl. Pour the sauce over the salmon and gently toss to coat. Marinate for 15-30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the salmon bites out on the baking sheet in a single layer, leaving space between pieces. Bake for about 10 minutes, until the salmon is just cooked through and flakes easily.
Notes
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent the salmon from sticking.
- Avoid broiling, you don't want the sauce to burn under the high heat.
- Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Add the leftover salmon bites to salads, tacos, rice bowls or wraps for quick and easy lunches.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Marinate the salmon as directed.
- Arrange the marinated salmon bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket. I like to use a parchment liner for easy cleanup.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes until the salmon is cooked through. When it's done, let it sit a minute before removing from the basket. It will help it keep it from sticking.
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