Bang Bang Salmon Bites are one of many easy, delicious salmon recipes that you'll make on repeat! Crispy, flavorful, and quick to make for a family-friendly weeknight dinner.
These salmon bowls come in a small bowl filled with white rice, tender chunks of salmon that is marinated in a savory-sweet glaze, and then drizzled with a creamy, spicy bang bang sauce that’s so addictive. It is my favorite way to eat salmon!
Whether you serve them over white rice, tuck them into lettuce cups, or snack on them straight from the tray with Thai sweet chili sauce, this bang bang salmon bites recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
What is Bang Bang Salmon Bites?
Bang bang salmon bites are tender, bite-sized pieces of salmon that are first marinated for flavor, then air-fried until golden, and finally topped with a creamy bang bang sauce made with Japanese mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey. The result? Crispy, creamy, spicy, sweet — all in one perfect bite.
While bang bang sauce originally made its name paired with shrimp, using it with salmon makes for an unexpected and super flavorful twist.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Bang Bang Salmon Bites Recipe
- Quick and easy to make: The marinade and sauce come together fast, and the salmon only needs a few minutes in the air fryer.
- Incredible flavor: This easy recipe has smoky, sweet, spicy, and umami-rich notes — every bite is loaded with taste.
- Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside: The air fryer gets the salmon just right without drying it out.
- Super versatile: Serve them over white rice, salad, noodles, or even in tacos or wraps. This small bowl is a great source of protein and nutrients, perfect for healthy dinner.
- Simple ingredients: You just need simple ingredients to make this healthy and filling bowl for dinner.
Ingredients
For the Salmon:
- Salmon: This protein is buttery, full of fatty acids, and perfect for absorbing the bold marinade flavors. Use whole filets of salmon and cut into 1-inch cubes to get more flavor for each surface area.
- Salt: A simple seasoning that enhances the flavor of the salmon. You can add a dash of black pepper with the salt as well!
- Smoked Paprika: Adds a deep smoky flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweet and spicy sauce.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic brings sharpness and depth to the marinade.
- Soy Sauce: Adds savory umami and a little saltiness to balance the sweet ingredients.
- Brown Sugar: Gives the salmon a subtle caramelized glaze when cooked.
- Sriracha Sauce: Brings a gentle heat and tang to the marinade.
- Olive Oil: Helps the salmon cook evenly and keeps it from sticking.
Bang Bang Sauce:
- Japanese Mayo: The creamy base of the bang bang sauce with a slight tang and richness.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds sweetness and mild spice to the bang bang sauce.
- Sriracha Sauce: Adds heat to the sauce.
- Honey: Balances the spice with just a touch of floral sweetness.
- Rice Vinegar: Brings a hint of acidity to brighten up the sauce.
- Salt: Rounds out and enhances all the flavors in the sauce.
Garnish:
- Sesame Seeds: Adds crunch and a nutty finish.
- Green Onions: A fresh garnish that adds brightness and color.
Customizations
- Make it spicier: Add extra sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce if you like more heat.
- Serve it your way: These salmon bites are great in rice bowls, lettuce wraps, tacos, or even on skewers for party apps.
- Swap the rice: Use cauliflower rice or brown rice instead of white rice for a healthier option!
How to Make Bang Bang Salmon Bites
Marinate the salmon
In a large bowl, add the cubed salmon along with salt, smoked paprika, minced garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, sriracha, and olive oil.
Gently mix everything until the salmon is evenly coated. Let it sit for about 15 minutes to soak in all the flavor while you prep the sauce.
Make the bang bang sauce
In a separate bowl, whisk together Japanese mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, and salt. Stir until smooth and creamy.
You can keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Air fry the salmon
Add the marinated salmon cubes to your air fryer basket in a single layer — don’t overcrowd (work in batches if needed). Cook at 400°F for 7–9 minutes until golden brown, caramelized, and cooked through.
Assemble and garnish
Serve your bang bang salmon bites over rice, salad, noodles, or in wraps. Drizzle generously with the bang bang sauce and finish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
Can I Make Bang Bang Salmon Bites Without an Air Fryer?
Yes! If you don’t have an air fryer, no worries, I got you.
To pan-fry: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the salmon for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
To bake: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place salmon cubes on a parchment-lined sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes until cooked and slightly caramelized.
Storage
These bang bang salmon bites are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Tips
- Don’t skip the marinade: Even a short 15-minute soak makes a big difference in flavor for these bang bang salmon bites. For best results, marinate for at least a few hours!
- Cook in batches: If using the air fryer, avoid overcrowding to ensure even browning and crisping.
Other Salmon Recipes You'll Love
Bang Bang Salmon Bites (Air Fryer, Oven, Pan-Fry)
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Salmon
- 1 pound salmon filets skinless, boneless, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
Bang Bang Sauce
- ⅓ cup Japanese mayo
- 2 tablespoon sweet chili sauce use code HERMAN15 for 15% off!
- 2 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- chopped green onions
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the cubed salmon with salt, smoked paprika, minced garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, sriracha, and oil. Gently toss until the salmon is evenly coated. Let it marinate for 15 mins while you make the bang bang sauce.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together Japanese mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, and salt. Mix until smooth and creamy. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.
- Add salmon cubes to an air fryer (don’t overcrowd and cook in batches if needed) and cook at 400F for 7-9 mins until browned and cooked through. If you prefer to pan-fry or bake the salmon, see alternate cooking methods in the recipe notes below.
- Serve the salmon over a bed of rice or salad and drizzle the bang bang sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
Notes
- Pan-Fry Method: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated salmon cubes in a single layer. Sear for 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, turning gently to avoid breaking the pieces. Remove from heat.
- Oven-Baked Method: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Spread the salmon cubes on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until cooked through and lightly caramelized at the edges.
Jordan says
This Bang Bang Salmon is a perfect addition to our weekly dinners! Top notch recipe with powerful flavors, all while being so simple to make!
Herman says
Thank you Jordan! so glad you liked it and it's definitely on my weekly dinner rotation too 🙂
Nik says
Made this for dinner tonight. Marinated the salmon for about 30 minutes. It was very tasty.My family loves Sriracha so this went down with a bang! 😁
Herman says
So glad you and the family loved it! Thanks for the review and I'll keep sharing easy and delicious recipes 🙂
Larissa M. says
Great recipe, instructions were easy to follow and both sauces were so tasty.
Herman says
Thanks so much for trying my recipe!