• Fish, but make it fun. The nugget shape does all the heavy lifting here. Kids who won’t touch a salmon fillet will happily dunk these in ketchup and ask for more.
• Hidden carrots, zero suspicion. The mashed carrot melts right into the salmon so all they see is a crunchy golden nugget, and all you see is a veggie win.
• Real food, simple ingredients. Salmon, carrots, oats, an egg and a few pantry spices. That’s it! No mystery fillers like the ones in the freezer aisle.
• Air fryer easy. Golden and crispy in about 10 minutes with just a spritz of oil, no deep frying and no splattered stovetop.
• Freezer friendly. Freeze them before or after cooking and cook straight from frozen. Future you will want to send present you flowers.
• Baby friendly from 9 months. No added salt, a soft texture inside and an easy shape for little hands to grab.
• A genius way to use leftover salmon. Made salmon for the grown-ups last night? Flake the leftovers and you’re halfway there.

If your crew loves sneaky veggies, you’ll also want to try my hidden veggie mac and cheese and my cheesy carrot waffles!

Ingredients for Healthy Salmon Nuggets

Here’s a quick look at what goes into these nuggets and why (the full measurements are in the recipe card below):

• Salmon: The star of the show! Use fresh salmon you cook yourself, leftover cooked salmon, or even canned salmon if you want to skip a step. Salmon is packed with omega-3s, protein and vitamin D, and it’s one of the lowest mercury fish around, which makes it a great pick for little ones.
• Carrots: Cooked until super soft and mashed, they add natural sweetness, moisture and a sneaky serving of veggies. Baby carrots totally work here (12 to 15 of them is about the same as 2 medium carrots) and there’s no peeling involved, which is my favorite kind of veggie prep.
• Egg: The glue that holds everything together.
• Oat flour: This is just rolled oats blended until they’re fine and powdery like flour! It binds the mix and soaks up any extra moisture from the carrots. No need to buy a special bag.
• Garlic powder and onion powder: Loads of flavor without any added salt.
• Lemon zest: A little bit of brightness that makes salmon taste extra fresh (and a lot less fishy, which is a big deal for suspicious toddlers).
• Rolled oats (for the crumb): Pulsed just a few times so they stay coarse and crunchy. This is our healthy swap for breadcrumbs!
• Ground flaxseed: Adds even more omega-3s and fiber to the coating and helps it get golden.
• Parmesan (optional): For a little cheesy, savory crunch.
• Smoked paprika: Gives the nuggets a gorgeous golden color and a mild, toddler-friendly flavor. Don’t worry, it’s not spicy!

How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Nuggets

1. Cook the salmon. Air fry your salmon at 390°F for 8 to 10 minutes or bake it at 400°F for 12 to 15 minutes until it flakes easily. Let it cool slightly, then flake it with a fork, pull off the skin and run your fingers through it to check for any sneaky bones.

2. Cook the carrots. While the salmon cooks, steam or boil your carrots for 10 to 12 minutes until they’re super soft. Medium carrots get peeled and sliced first, baby carrots can go in just as they are. Mash them until smooth and let them cool down.

3. Make the oat crumb and oat flour. Pulse ¾ cup of rolled oats in your blender or food processor a few times until coarse and crumbly, then tip them into a shallow bowl and mix in the flaxseed, Parmesan and paprika. Now add ½ cup of rolled oats to the blender and blend for 30 to 60 seconds until fine like flour, then measure out ⅓ cup. One blender, two jobs, very few dishes!

4. Mix it all together. Add the flaked salmon, mashed carrot, egg, oat flour, garlic powder, onion powder and lemon zest to a bowl and mix until combined. The mixture should hold together when you press it. If it feels too sticky, add a little more oat flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.

5. Chill. Pop the bowl in the fridge for 15 minutes. This firms everything up and makes shaping so much easier (perfect time to wipe a face or find a missing shoe).

6. Shape and coat. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture, shape it into a little nugget and press it into the oat crumb until coated all over.

7. Air fry. Arrange the nuggets in a single layer in your air fryer basket, give them a light spray of oil and air fry at 390°F for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and set. Let them cool for a few minutes and watch them disappear!

Tips for the Best Salmon Nuggets

Cook the carrots until they’re really soft. You want them mashing like butter so there are no chunks for eagle-eyed toddlers to spot and pick out.

Let everything cool before mixing. Hot salmon and carrots can start cooking the egg before the nuggets even hit the air fryer, so give them a few minutes.

Don’t skip the chill. I know, I know, nobody has 15 spare minutes. But it really does make the mix so much easier to shape and helps the nuggets hold together.

Wet hands are your friend. Dampen your hands a little while shaping and the mixture won’t stick to your fingers.

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Give the nuggets a little space so the hot air can get all the way around them. Cook in batches if you need to, crowded nuggets steam instead of crisp.

Spray, don’t pour. A light mist of oil is all you need for that golden crunch.