Cooking steak has never been easier than this air fryer steak recipe. Juicy, tender steak with amazing flavors, cooked to your preferred doneness within minutes.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.
If cooking steak at home intimidates you, this recipe is sure to change your mind forever. It's super easy to cook steak in your air fryer, regardless of which type of steak you use.
If you enjoy this recipe, you should check out my collection of air fryer beef recipes, or discover other favorites like air fryer hamburgers, air fryer meatballs or Air Fryer Roast Beef.
Choosing your cut of steak
A good steak is all about selecting a nice cut, and using good produce. Whether you prefer rib eye, sirloin, rump steak or other cuts will come down to your personal preference.
In this recipe I use rib eye, which contains a fair amount of fat. This means that no extra fat, such as butter or oil, is required to make the steak juicy.
If you choose a lean cut of steak, you will want to marinate the meat in a steak marinade, or coat it in melted butter or olive oil, before adding it to your air fryer. This will prevent the meat from drying out, and is the best method to ensure that lean beef stays juicy and tender.
Seasoning alternatives
I like to use a simple combination of salt and coarse ground black pepper on my steak. It's a classic combination that works really well with steak, and allows you to be more creative with your side dishes, sauces and other accompaniments.
However, if you're looking for something more flavorful, here are some excellent seasoning alternatives I think you would love:
- BBQ rub or premade steak seasoning - use your favorite seasoning blend.
- A Mediterranean herb marinade with olive oil, rosemary, thyme and salt - Perfect for lean cuts of steak with little fat.
- Garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper - A smoky BBQ type spice blend with a little heat.
- Lemon juice, garlic cloves and melted butter - Simple, but delicious; and perfect for lean cuts.
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 400 °F / 200 °C.
Meanwhile, season your steaks generously with salt and coarse ground black pepper. If your steaks have little or no fat on them, you will also want to marinate them beforehand.
Place the steaks in your air fryer basket. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket; you might have to cook the steaks one at a time, depending on size.
Air fry for about 6-10 minutes, flipping the steaks halfway through cooking.
Insert a meat thermometer into the side of the steak, not touching any bone or fat. The temperature of the meat will determine whether it's done or not. Remove the steaks when they are 5 °F / 3 °C colder than the desired doneness.
Leave the steaks to rest off the heat for at least a few minutes before serving them. This will allow them to finish cooking, and the liquids will retract into the meat. This step is key to a juicy, tender steak!
Rare: 125 °F / 52 °C
Medium rare: 135 °F / 57 °C
Medium: 145 °F / 63 °C
Medium well: 150 °F / 66 °C
Well done: 170 °F / 71 °C
Top tips
Here is my best advice on how you can successfully make the perfect steak:
- Make sure to buy a nice cut of steak. This makes a massive difference to the end product.
- Always use a meat thermometer when cooking beef - this way, you'll ensure a perfect, juicy result every time.
- Season the meat well. You only need salt and pepper, but you want to use quite a lot of it.
Serving suggestions
Everyone has a favorite way to serve steak. Whether you're a "meat and potatoes" kind of person, or a little more experimental, here are some excellent side dishes that I think you would love to serve with your steak:
Potatoes: It's really common to serve your steak with potatoes, whether it's air fryer potatoes, honey roasted potatoes, or crispy roasted potatoes with rosemary.
Vegetables: Vegetables like air fryer broccoli, Mediterranean roast vegetables or roasted carrots and green beans are simple, but delicious.
Sauce: Serve your steak with classic sauces such as béarnaise, peppercorn sauce, or red wine sauce, or try something a little different like yogurt dill sauce.
Leftovers
Leftover steak can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can reheat the steaks in a microwave, air fryer or skillet, however keep in mind that they tend to be slightly drier after warming them a second time.
Alternatively, you can slice or dice the steaks, and use them in other dishes, such as sandwiches, salads, casseroles and more.
Frequently asked questions
Technically, yes, but the result will be a very dry steak. If you have frozen steaks, I highly recommend defrosting them before cooking, as they will generally taste much better.
Because of how the air fryer works, it's difficult to get a nice rare steak, particularly from thin cuts of beef. This method is best suited for medium, medium well, or well done steaks.
Recipe
Air Fryer Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 steaks
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons coarse black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 °F / 200 °C.
- Meanwhile, season your steaks generously with salt and coarse ground black pepper. If your steaks have little or no fat on them, you will also want to marinate them beforehand.
- Place the steaks in your air fryer basket. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket; you might have to cook the steaks one at a time, depending on size.
- Air fry for about 6-10 minutes, flipping the steaks halfway through cooking.
- Insert a meat thermometer into the side of the steak, not touching any bone or fat. The temperature of the meat will determine whether it’s done or not. Remove the steaks when they are 5 °F / 3 °C colder than the desired doneness.
- Rare: 125 °F / 52 °CMedium rare: 135 °F / 57 °CMedium: 145 °F / 63 °CMedium well: 150 °F / 66 °CWell done: 170 °F / 71 °C
- Leave the steaks to rest off the heat for at least a few minutes before serving them. This will allow them to finish cooking, and the liquids will retract into the meat. This step is key to a juicy, tender steak!
Notes
- Make sure to buy a nice cut of steak. This makes a massive difference to the end product.
- Always use a meat thermometer when cooking beef – this way, you’ll ensure a perfect, juicy result every time.
- Season the meat well. You only need salt and pepper, but you want to use quite a lot of it.
- Leftover steak can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can reheat the steaks in a microwave, air fryer or skillet, however keep in mind that they tend to be slightly drier after warming them a second time. Alternatively, you can slice or dice the steaks, and use them in other dishes, such as sandwiches, salads, casseroles and more.
Aleisha
Thank you.