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The air fryer is practically magical for so many things including steak!
Air Fryer steaks are so easy and with just a bit of oil, butter and seasoning, they come out very tender and juicy!
Simply season, place in the basket and let the air fryer do the work. Top with a pat of steak butter or garlic butter for the perfect bite!
My air fryer is my most used appliance these days. It cooks things quickly, evenly, and nice and crisp without heaps of oil. Cooking a steak in the air fryer is easy and comes out tender and juicy!
A Perfect Steak Every Time!
Air fryers just might be the best kitchen appliance ever invented (I have this one here)! Everything is so much easier it’s prepared in an air fryer! Make fried food without the fat in about half of the time in the oven without sacrificing flavor!
Air fryers work by evenly circulating heat all around the steaks. With just a few basic seasonings, air fryer steaks are practically foolproof! Even inexpensive cuts of meat become mouthwatering and tender! When the outdoor grill isn’t available, air frying steak is the way to get great results every time.
Ingredients/Variations
The best air fryer steak recipe is easy and truly fuss-free. We keep it simple with a bit of oil and melted butter for flavor. Add in a quick sprinkle of steak seasonings and place in the air fryer basket. That’s all there is to it!
Steaks for Air Frying
While nothing quite compares to a perfectly grilled steak, an air fryer is a simple alternative.
Various cuts of steak will cook well in the air fryer (ribeye, sirloin, or New York) but the real key is making sure you have a thicker steak (at least 3/4″ but I prefer 1″). Thinner steaks don’t get the nice crisp on the outside without overcooking the inside.
If you’d like, you can marinate steaks by placing them in a zippered bag or an airtight container with some Italian seasoning, olive oil and a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. In about an hour or two, the steaks will be tenderized and ready to cook!
How to Cook Steak in an Air Fryer
Fry steaks with an air fryer, it’s as easy as 1-2-3!
- Let the steaks sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Preheat the air fryer.
- Oil and season them according to the recipe below
- Air fry between 8 and 12 minutes (per recipe below).
How Long to Air Fry Steaks
Refer to your owner’s guide for precise cooking information that goes with the appliance. But here’s a general guideline for a 1″ steak. (Thinner steaks need less time, thicker will need more).
- For rare steaks, cook about 6 to 8 minutes
- Medium steaks should be cooked for about 8 to 10 minutes
- Well-done steaks take a good 12 to 15 minutes.
Ultimately, the best way to know how your steak is cooked is with a meat thermometer. They’re fairly inexpensive (as low as $10) and will ensure that all of your meats are cooked to perfection, a worthwhile investment!
The FDA recommends a minimum temperature of 145°F with a 3-minute rest. I take the steak out about 5° before it reaches my desired temperature.
Rare: 125°F
Medium-Rare: 135°F
Medium: 145°F
Medium Well: 155°F
Well: 160°F
Leftovers
Leftover air fryer steak can be reheated in the air fryer again. Just brush on a little melted butter to make it juicy again. Reheat, re-season, and serve! Or, slice it thin and add it to a beef stir fry or even serve as a cheesesteak for a whole new meal!
Tips for Perfect Steak Every Time
- Preheat the air fryer and use room temp steaks for the best results!
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer so the air can circulate evenly around the steaks.
- Once the steak is cooked, remove it from the basket as the heat from the basket will continue cooking it.
- Allowing the steaks to rest after cooking helps seal in the juices before serving.
More Air Fryer Favorites
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts – so juicy, about 17 min
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders – family favorite
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes – perfect side dish
- Air Fryer Pork Chops – tender and fast!
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken – personal favorite
- Air Fryer Fish & Chips – better than take out
Did you try these Air Fryer Steaks? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Air Fryer Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 steaks 1" thick , ribeye, sirloin or striploin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salted butter melted
- steak seasoning to taste
- 2 tablespoons steak butter or garlic herb butter, optional, below
Instructions
- Remove steaks from the fridge at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Rub the steaks with olive oil and melted butter. Generously season on each side.
- Add the steaks to the air fryer basket and cook 8-12 minutes (flipping after 4 minutes) or until steaks reach desired doneness.
- Remove steaks from the air fryer and transfer to a plate. Rest at least 5 minutes before serving.
- Top with additional butter if desired and serve.
Notes
- Medium Rare: Cook the steak 8-9 minutes flipping after 4 minutes.
- Medium: Cook the steak 9-11 minutes flipping after 4 minutes.
- Medium Well: Cook the steak 11-12 minutes flipping after 4 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Would this recipe work in air fryer toaster combo? I’ve made the air fryer hamburger recipe and the burgers require extra time but they come out delicious. Thanks for all your wonderful recipes.
I think it would. I would love to hear how it turns out for you!
I did make it tonight for dinner. My husband enjoyed it. I used sirloin steak with Montreal steak seasoning. It took a few extra minutes in the toaster air fryer combo. Thanks for such a great recipe. I will make this again
Nadine, I am happy to hear that it was a hit with your husband.
Best and easiest steak recipe ever!
Sue, I am glad you enjoyed the steak recipe.
how long does it take to pre heat my air fryer?
My Air Fryer takes about 5 minutes (I have a Cosori 5.8QT).
My air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting… how should I manage this?
Turn the air fryer on to the desired temperature and let it run for about 5 minutes to preheat.
Just made this and they came out perfect. Thank you for sharing the recipe. We will be making this regularly
Thanks for the comment, Julie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Will a t bone also work with this recipe
I haven’t tried a T-bone, but I think it would work just fine. I would still look for one that has a minimum 1 inch thickness. If you try it, I would love to hear how it turns out!
Made this for my steak loving husband last night and was super impressed! It’s the best steak I’ve ever made. Followed all the directions, didn’t even need steak sauce!
So glad you guys loved it as much as we do!
The temp to cook the actual steak at would have been a nice addition. There are those who think cooking temperature is important. :)
The temperature is listed in step 2.
The finished temperatures are listed in the post.
Rare: 125°F
Medium-Rare: 135°F
Medium: 145°F
Medium Well: 155°F
Well: 160°F
When you say air fry do you mean to put it on the air fry setting or the bake setting or the roast setting? I’m always confused by this.
This recipe is made using an air fryer. Find out more about What an Air Fryer is here Ashley.
If your air fryer has various settings, select the “air fry” setting for this recipe. Hope that helps!
What time of air fryer do you have?
We personally use a Cosori XL 5.8QT. But check our air fryer guide for other recommendations on ones we like!
Looking forward to trying new recipes.
Enjoy Janet!
new recipes
Welcome Pat! To receive emails with new recipes, you can click here to sign up to receive emails. Look forward to sending you recipes!
Looking forward to trying your recipies
Can’t wait to see what you cook up Mary. Enjoy!
Best steak I ever ate! Topped Steakhouse steaks for me. I made medium rare, and it was absolutely delicious. Extremely melt in your mouth tender.
I could not believe how tender my steak turned out, I’m new to this and trying out things. This was awesome.
So glad you loved this Jules!
I make my steak med. rare from frozen in my airfryer and it so delicious. I add melted butter and garlic as well and sometimes Bleu Cheese.
So glad you loved it, your toppings sound delicious!
Just curious how long did you air fry your steaks and at what temp? We have frozen steaks that we want to air fry tonight and just got our airfryer.