The Bang Bang Salmon Bites recipe features air-fried salmon cubes coated in a creamy, sweet, and tangy sauce inspired by Bonefish Grill. It delivers the perfect balance of heat and sweetness—all in under 25 minutes.
After tasting the famous Bang Bang Shrimp at Bonefish Grill, I fell in love with their spicy, creamy sauce and wanted to infuse the flavors with our beloved salmon.
After experimenting many times, I’ve perfected this simple yet incredibly flavorful recipe. The air-fried salmon is beautifully coated in a rich, finger-licking sauce(like this boom boom sauce) with all the Bang Bang's goodness.
What's even better? You can enjoy this as an appetizer, use it as a sandwich layer, or even turn it into tacos.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️It’s the irresistible combination of flavors and textures!
⭐️It’s also quick and easy to prep, making it perfect for any occasion.
⭐️You can customize the heat level to suit your taste.
Ingredients
- Salmon: I have opted for wild skinless salmon from Costco. You can use fresh or frozen salmon, but if you're using frozen, ensure it is fully thawed to room temperature. If the salmon has skin, you can remove it with a sharp knife.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder enhances the flavor, but you can substitute it with freshly minced garlic.
- Smoked Paprika: Smoked paprika adds a rich, deep flavor.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise is the base for the sauce, but you can swap it for Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Thai Sweet Chili Sauce: This is a must-have ingredient, providing the perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors. You can find this in the international aisle at local grocery stores.
- Sriracha: Sriracha adds a bold punch with a hint of tanginess.
- Honey: Honey is optional, but it helps bring all the flavors together and makes the sauce stick better to the salmon. You can substitute it with maple syrup if needed.
How To Make Bang Bang Salmon Bites
- Pat the salmon cubes dry with a paper towel. In a bowl, toss them with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Arrange the seasoned salmon bites in a single layer, (lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil if needed), leaving space between them. Air fry at 400°F for 7 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
- While the salmon cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey in a small bowl.
- Drizzle the Bang Bang sauce over the salmon bites and garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds. Enjoy!
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
These Bang Bang Salmon Bites are creamy and delicious, with a bold kick of heat. The Thai sweet chili sauce and Sriracha sauce add heat to this recipe.
If you prefer a milder version, you can reduce the amount of Sriracha or substitute it with a milder hot sauce. You can also decrease the quantity of Thai sweet chili sauce to tone down the heat.
For those who love an extra spicy kick, you can use more Sriracha and reduce the Thai sweet chili sauce. Additionally, swapping smoked paprika with cayenne pepper will add a richer, bolder heat.
The Leftovers
- Freshly made Bang Bang Salmon Bites are always better when served fresh. They have the best taste and texture right after cooking.
- However, proper storage and reheating make it taste great as freshly made. You can store leftover Bang Bang Salmon Bites in a salad, make fish tacos, or enjoy them in a sandwich the next day.
- You can refrigerate the leftovers for up to two days or freeze them for up to three months. To defrost, place them in the refrigerator overnight.
- To reheat, use an air fryer at 325°F(without overheating) for about three minutes for the best results. For the most creamy and delicious coating, whip up the new Bang Bang sauce and drizzle it over the reheated salmon.
FAQ
Bang Bang sauce is a popular dipping sauce from Bonefish Grill. It is a delicious blend of Thai sweet chili sauce and Sriracha.
You can use any type of salmon fillet, fresh or frozen, such as sockeye or king salmon. Skin-on or skinless salmon is a personal preference, but removing the skin can help the sauce coat the salmon better.
You can customize it by adjusting the amount of Sriracha for more or less heat. For a lighter version, you can substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt(like this Greek yogurt Sriracha sauce).
Salmon is fully cooked when its internal temperature reaches 145°F. Another way to check is by looking at the center—if it’s no longer pink and appears opaque, it’s done.
Yes! You can prep the salmon bites by tossing them with spices ahead of time. In fact, this allows the flavors to infuse better, enhancing the overall taste.
More Seafood Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Bang Bang Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon fillet skin removed, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon honey optional, for sweetness
Instructions
- Pat the salmon cubes dry with a paper towel.
- Toss the salmon cubes with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a bowl until evenly coated.
- If needed, lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. Arrange the seasoned salmon bites in a single layer, leaving space between them.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway through, until the salmon is golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 145°F).
- While the salmon cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey in a small bowl.
- Drizzle the Bang Bang sauce over the salmon bites, and garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds. Enjoy it as a side or as a dip.
Notes
- Customizable Heat Level: Adjust the spice by reducing Sriracha for a milder version or increasing it for extra heat. Swap smoked paprika with cayenne for a bolder kick.
- Storage: Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: You can reheat in the air fryer at 325°F for 3 minutes, but drizzle with a fresh batch of Bang Bang sauce for the best flavor!
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