Tender barbecue salmon bites paired with crispy roasted broccoli and a simple two-ingredient sauce.

If you’re always looking for quick dinner ideas that still feel fresh and flavorful, this Air Fryer Salmon & Broccoli recipe is such a great one to keep in your rotation. It’s fast, easy, packed with protein, and comes together right in the Deluxe Air Fryer & Oven. 

And honestly? The crispy “burnt broccoli” might steal the whole show.

Today we’re pairing salmon bites with broccoli roasted until crispy around the edges, plus a super simple barbecue dipping sauce that doubles as the salmon marinade.

This is exactly the kind of dinner I love on busy weeknights.

What You’ll Need

For the Broccoli

* Fresh broccoli florets

* Olive oil or avocado oil

* Garlic powder

* Salt

For the Salmon

* Salmon bites or cubed salmon

* Mayonnaise

* Barbecue sauce

* Smoky BBQ Rub or Smoky Applewood Rub

Optional sides:

* Jasmine rice

* Extra dipping sauce

What Is “Burnt Broccoli”?

Okay… it’s not actually burned.

“Burnt broccoli” is what we call broccoli that gets roasted until the edges become dark, crispy, and caramelized. 

If you’ve never tried broccoli this way before, it completely changes the flavor and texture. It becomes:

* crispy

* savory

* slightly sweet

* and kind of addictive

I could seriously eat a whole tray myself!

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Season the broccoli.

Add broccoli florets to a bowl and drizzle with:

* 1 tablespoon oil

Then season with:

* garlic powder

* salt

Toss everything together until lightly coated. 

You can easily change up the seasoning depending on your family’s preferences:

* lemon pepper

* Parmesan

* Cajun seasoning

* Italian seasoning

all work beautifully too.

2. Arrange in a single layer.

Spread the broccoli onto the air fryer rack in a:

* single layer

That’s important because overcrowding causes vegetables to steam instead of crisp. 

And if you love extra crispy broccoli like I do, don’t be afraid to let those edges get dark and caramelized.

3. Make the simple sauce.

The sauce couldn’t be easier.

Combine:

* ¼ cup mayonnaise

* ¼ cup barbecue sauce

That’s it!

Part of the sauce gets mixed with the salmon and the rest becomes a drizzle or dipping sauce later. 

This sauce would also be amazing with:

* homemade fries

* chicken

* burgers

* roasted potatoes

4. Season the salmon.

Add about:

* 1 tablespoon barbecue seasoning

to the salmon along with:

* about 1 tablespoon of the sauce mixture

I used Smoky Applewood seasoning, but any barbecue rub you enjoy would work well here. 

The salmon becomes beautifully saucy and flavorful.

5. Prep the salmon rack.

Line the second rack with parchment paper for easier cleanup.

You can absolutely skip the parchment paper if preferred, but if you do:

* spray the rack lightly first

Then arrange the salmon in:

* a single layer

so the pieces roast evenly on all sides. 

6. Air fry everything together.

Set the Deluxe Air Fryer & Oven to:

* Heat & Crisp

* 375°F

* 12 minutes

Place:

* broccoli on one rack

* salmon on the other

Halfway through cooking:

* rotate the racks

Because the fan sits on the right side, rotating helps everything cook evenly. 

Why the Temperature Changes During Cooking

One cool feature of the Heat & Crisp setting:

The temperature actually increases during cooking to help create crisp texture. 

You may also notice extra steam escaping during cooking — that’s completely normal.

Want Extra Crispy Broccoli?

After cooking, I decided I wanted my broccoli even crispier.

So I switched the air fryer to:

* Air Fry

* about 3 additional minutes

Since the oven was already hot, I bypassed the preheat cycle and started immediately. 

Perfect crispy edges every time.

Serving Suggestions

I served everything with:

* jasmine rice

* extra barbecue sauce drizzled over the top

The salmon stays tender while the broccoli gets crispy and flavorful. Such a good combination.

And the whole meal comes together surprisingly fast for something that tastes this good.

Why I Love This Recipe

* Quick weeknight dinner

* Protein-packed

* Crispy flavorful vegetables

* Easy cleanup

* Family-friendly

* Great air fryer recipe

* Ready in about 15 minutes

This is one of those recipes that feels simple enough for a busy Tuesday night but delicious enough that you’ll want to make it again and again.

Want to browse the Pampered Chef tools I used in this recipe? Check them out here!

Would your family go for the crispy broccoli… or the barbecue salmon first?