By If you have just 20 minutes, this bang bang salmon recipe is perfect for easy meal prep or a quick weeknight dinner. With fresh veggies and a homemade high protein bang bang sauce, it packs in tons of protein with 47 grams per serving!
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Salmon is my go-to option when I need a quick high-protein dinner. Not only does it cook quickly, but it's also super versatile and works well in lots of recipes like salmon with mango salsa, smoked salmon bowls, and Instant pot salmon and rice.
They're all great, but I wanted something even faster. So, I tested this cajun bang bang salmon bites recipe in the air fryer, and it couldn't have turned out any better! Once cooked to perfection, I paired the air fryer salmon bites with Instant Pot basmati rice, fresh veggies, and sauce for a delicious combination the whole family loved.
Jump to:
- better than take-out salmon with bang-bang sauce
- ingredient notes & substitutions
- high protein ingredient spotlight: Greek yogurt
- here's how to make bang bang salmon bowls (with photos & video)
- expert tips
- making bang bang salmon in the oven
- common questions
- troubleshooting & testing notes
- how to store & meal prep it
- let's give leftover salmon bites a second life
- Recipe
- To Do (remove this when done)
better than take-out salmon with bang-bang sauce
- Quick and easy: With no need to turn on the oven, this entire recipe can be on the table in 20 minutes or less and always turns out perfect.
- Healthy: Unlike most varieties, my bang bang salmon sauce is high in protein and free from refined sugar while remaining sweet, spicy, and deliciously creamy.
- Versatile: I love to serve cajun bang bang salmon bites as part of a rice bowl, but you can use them in a variety of recipes and even mix and match different toppings and sauces.
ingredient notes & substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Salmon: I used frozen salmon filets that we thawed for this recipe and removed the skin before cooking. Salmon populations are quickly dwindling, so we always aim to buy farm-raised salmon that is certified to be sustainably raised. Or, if preferred, use shrimp to make bang-bang shrimp bowls instead.
- Cajun seasoning: Feel free to substitute any Japanese BBQ-style seasoning or blackening seasoning you like best.
- Pantry staples: Gather your olive oil (or avocado oil), honey, sriracha, and rice vinegar (or white vinegar).
- Fresh ingredients: You'll need shredded carrots, shelled edamame, and cucumbers.
- White rice: I prefer to use basmati rice, but protein rice with cilantro & lime will also work.
- Greek yogurt: I use non-fat plain Greek yogurt in place of mayo, but you can use any fat percentage you have on hand. Check out our post for more dinner ideas that use Greek yogurt.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
high protein ingredient spotlight: Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt is often used as a substitute for tangy condiments like sour cream and mayonnaise, because it adds more protein (up to 20 grams per cup) and cuts down on fat, especially if you use low-fat yogurt. It works particularly well in sauces like flamethrower sauce and high protein special sauce.
Believed to have been consumed since ancient times, Greek yogurt is a dairy product by fermenting yogurt and then straining the whey and other liquids to create a thick consistency. As a result, Greek yogurt is full of nutrients such as probiotics, protein, calcium, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and selenium.
here's how to make bang bang salmon bowls (with photos & video)
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full salmon with bang bang sauce recipe!
- Cut the salmon fillets into cubes and toss them with oil and spices.
- Air fry in batches.
- Combine the Bang Bang sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
- Assemble your bowls.
expert tips
- Cut the salmon into equal-sized cubes: Dice or cut the salmon filet into equal-sized pieces roughly 1.5 inches in size to help them cook quickly and evenly.
- Air fry in batches: Work in batches, arranging the salmon pieces in an even layer to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. This helps all the salmon pieces cook at the same rate and avoids over or undercooking.
- Prepare ahead: For meal prep, you can prepare the salmon, rice, and sauce a day ahead. Just heat the rice and salmon before serving, and assemble the bowls as usual.
- Make a double batch of the sauce: It's so tasty that you'll want to keep it on hand to use with all your meals!
making bang bang salmon in the oven
You can make this salmon in the oven by simply following the directions. Just arrange the salmon skin side down in an even layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Then, cook the salmon bites at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Remove the skin, and assemble your bowls as usual. The time it takes to make these in the oven is almost the same as the air fryer except you have to wait for the oven to preheat.
common questions
You'll know your salmon is finished cooking when it's pink all the way through and easily flakes with a fork. It should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees when measured with a meat thermometer.
Feel free to use any ingredients you have on hand. If you're looking for inspiration, green onions, hot sauces, Thai sweet chili sauce, pickled red onions, bean sprouts, and mango all taste great.
Yup! Simply leave out the rice, reduce it, or use cauliflower rice for less carbs.
troubleshooting & testing notes
Perfectly seasoned
I've tested this recipe with a variety of seasonings and found I like the bold flavors of Cajun seasoning best. However, you can easily mix and match whatever you have on hand.
Sweet, spicy, and balanced
Don't worry if you're not a huge fan of spice. Because we're making homemade bang bang sauce, you can easily adjust the ingredient amounts to suit your preferences. Add more honey or reduce the amount of sriracha to reduce the heat. Or, include a dash of hot sauce or extra sriracha sauce to amp up the heat.
how to store & meal prep it
When making this dish, there are rarely any leftovers. So, I highly recommend making extras to keep on hand for quick meals throughout the week.
- Fridge: Store the rice in a small airtight container in the refrigerator. Store the salmon in a separate container and the sauce in a third.
- Reheating: The best way to reheat salmon is in a skillet over low heat. The microwave works but tends to make it a little rubbery. Serve this over leftover rice and cold sauce with any fresh produce.
let's give leftover salmon bites a second life
Here are our favorite pairings and ways to use leftovers.
- In crispy salmon bowls, obviously!
- In a burrito or wrap: Wrap the fish and all the fixings with a tortilla or lettuce leaves
- As a salad: Instead of rice, I use a bed of lettuce (or both!)
- In tacos: You can arrange all the ingredients in hard or soft taco shells to make salmon tacos.
- Roasted Veggies: For an easy low-calorie side dish, toss some red bell pepper or broccoli in oil with salt and black pepper. Bake this on another baking sheet alongside the salmon, and then both will be done simultaneously!
Recipe
bang bang salmon bowls
Ingredients
- 4 salmon filets (thawed (approx. 16 oz total))
- 4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (any Japanese BBQ style seasoning or blackened seasoning will work)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (or avocado oil)
- 1 ½ cup shredded carrots
- 1 ½ cup Edamame (shelled)
- 1 ½ cup cucumbers (diced)
- 1 ⅓ cup white rice (cooked)
Homemade Bang Bang Sauce (high-protein)
- ½ cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar (white vinegar will work too)
Before you start!
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Instructions
- Line your air fryer with foil as needed (more for the toaster style and not the basket style). Dice the 4 salmon filets into 1.5" cubes. Combine the salmon cubes with the 1 teaspoon olive oil and 4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning in a large bowl. Work in batches as needed to air fry the salmon for 7 minutes at 400 degrees. You'll know it's done when it's flakey and the internal temp of the salmon reaches 145 degrees.
- Meanwhile, combine the ½ cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon sriracha, and 1 teaspoon rice vinegar in a bowl and set aside. Make your rice as needed. I like to use microwave rice to keep this quick!
- Assemble your bowl with rice, edamame, cucumbers, shredded carrots, and bang bang sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cut the salmon into equal-sized cubes: Dice, or cut, the salmon filet into equal-sized square pieces roughly 1.5 inches in size to help them cook quickly and evenly.
- Air fry in batches: Work in batches, arranging the salmon pieces in an even layer to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. This helps all the salmon pieces cook at the same rate and avoids over or undercooking.
- Prepare ahead: For meal prep, you can prepare the salmon, rice, and sauce a day ahead. Just heat the rice and salmon before serving, and assemble the bowls as usual.
- Make a double batch of the sauce: It's so tasty that you'll want to keep it on hand to use with all your meals!
- Fridge: Store the rice in a small airtight container in the refrigerator. Store the salmon in a separate container, and the sauce in a third.
- Reheating: The best way to reheat salmon is in a skillet over low heat. The microwave works but tends to make it a little rubbery. Serve this over leftover rice and cold sauce with any fresh produce you have left.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
Nutrition
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Easy to make and sooo tasty!
That's so great to hear!
Easy and yummy!
Thank you!