Why this fits a family on a budget
Salmon in the air fryer is ready in under 30 minutes and brings some variety to the week; at $18.85 it's the priciest night, but the rest of the week leaves plenty of room in the $150 budget to cover it.
1. Start the rice first. Combine 2 cups rice and 4 cups water in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low, cover, and cook for 18 minutes.
2. While the rice cooks, mince the garlic. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
3. Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel — this helps them get a better sear. Season both sides with black pepper.
4. Cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets. Toss them in 1 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt in a bowl until evenly coated.
5. Place the broccoli florets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the edges are crispy and lightly charred.
6. While the broccoli cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering.
7. Place the salmon fillets skin-side up in the skillet. Cook for 3–4 minutes without moving them, until the flesh is golden brown halfway up the side.
8. Flip the salmon carefully with a spatula. Pour the honey garlic sauce over the fillets.
9. Cook for another 3–4 minutes, spooning the sauce over the fish every minute, until the sauce thickens and glazes the salmon and the fish flakes easily when pressed with a fork.
10. Squeeze the lemon juice over the salmon right before serving.
11. Serve each plate with a scoop of rice, a piece of glazed salmon, and a pile of crispy broccoli.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.