Create a juicy, flavorful, perfectly cooked steak in under 20 minutes with this easy Air Fryer Steak recipe. With a simple seasoning and no need to fire up the grill, it’s a fast way to enjoy tender, restaurant-style steak any night of the week. Serve with your favorite sides for a quick, delicious meal.
Why you’ll love this recipe
If you don’t have a grill or a heavy skillet on hand, an air fryer is an excellent alternative for cooking steak. It gives reliable results with minimal effort and cleanup.
If you want a quick, easy, and mess-free method for restaurant-quality steak at home, this is it. Here’s why it’s so popular:
- Speed: Steaks can be cooked in under 15 minutes with very little prep.
- Consistency: The air fryer circulates hot air around the steak, producing a nicely browned exterior while keeping the interior juicy.
- Convenience: Ideal for busy weeknights—buy steaks on your way home and have dinner on the table quickly.
- Year-round cooking: Rain or shine, you can cook steaks indoors with dependable results.
Ingredients
Below are the ingredients that make this air fryer steak simple and delicious, plus substitution notes. For the exact measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Steaks – Use ribeye, sirloin, filet mignon, or New York strip. Bone-in or boneless both work. Adjust cook time for thickness. The steaks pictured are 16-ounce boneless ribeyes.
- Olive oil – A light coating helps seasonings stick and promotes browning.
- Worcestershire sauce (optional) – Adds deep umami flavor but can be omitted if you prefer just oil and seasoning.
- Steak seasoning – Coarse kosher salt, cracked black pepper, dried onion, and garlic make a bold, textured rub. Use a pre-made steak seasoning or mix your own in advance.
Instructions
This section includes clear step-by-step directions to make a perfect air fryer steak. Photos below illustrate the process.
- Season the steaks. Remove steaks from the refrigerator and pat dry. If possible, pull them out 30 minutes before cooking so they reach room temperature for more even cooking. Rub olive oil and optional Worcestershire sauce on all sides, then coat evenly with steak seasoning. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F while seasoning.
- Air fry the steaks. Place steaks in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket—do not overlap. Preheating is important so the meat sears on contact. For a 1-inch thick steak, air fry at 400°F for 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 130°F; the steak will rise another 5–10°F as it rests.
- Rest the steaks. Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let them rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing. Resting lets juices redistribute and ensures a tender result.
Air fryer steak time and temperature chart
Cook steaks according to thickness rather than cut. Measure steaks before cooking to avoid overcooking. Always confirm doneness with an instant-read thermometer—the chart is a guide.
- 1 inch thick steak
- 4 minutes per side for medium-rare (about 130°F internal).
- 5 minutes per side for medium (about 140°F internal).
- 6 minutes per side for medium-well (about 150°F internal).
- 1 ½ inch thick steak
- 5 minutes per side for medium-rare (130°F).
- 6 minutes per side for medium (140°F).
- 7 minutes per side for medium-well (150°F).
- 1 ¾ inch thick steak (the ribeye pictured)
- 6 minutes per side for medium-rare (130°F).
- 7 minutes per side for medium (140°F).
- 8 minutes per side for medium-well (150°F).
Note: Steaks thinner than 1 inch can overcook before they brown; these are not recommended for air frying.
What to serve with it
Top your steaks with a compound butter made with fresh herbs right after they come out of the air fryer. The butter melts into the meat and adds rich flavor. If you don’t have compound butter, a thin slice of butter with flaky sea salt and chopped parsley works beautifully.
Side dishes that pair well include roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, or quick air fryer sides prepared while the steaks rest. Try air fryer fries, air fryer baked potatoes, or air fryer zucchini for a cohesive meal.
Other great accompaniments: blue cheese salad, broccoli salad, roasted asparagus, garlic lemon green beans, or steamed broccoli.
More air fryer recipes
After trying this air fryer steak, consider adding other popular air fryer recipes to your weekly rotation. Here are a few favorites:
Air Fryer Steak
This air fryer steak is tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection in under 15 minutes. With a simple seasoning and quick cook time, it’s an easy way to enjoy restaurant-quality steak any night. Air fry, rest, slice, and serve.
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Author: Whitney Bond
Ingredients
- 2 ribeye steaks (see notes)
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 2 tablespoons steak seasoning (coarse salt, black pepper, dried onion and garlic)
Instructions
- Remove the steaks from the refrigerator and pat them dry.
- Preheat an air fryer to 400°F.
- Coat the steaks with olive oil and Worcestershire sauce, rubbing on all sides. Sprinkle steak seasoning evenly to fully coat.
- Place the steaks in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer.
- For medium-rare: air fry a 1-inch thick steak for 4 minutes per side at 400°F. For 1½-inch steaks add 1 minute per side. Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the thickest part reaches 130°F.
- Remove steaks and let rest on a cutting board for 5–10 minutes before slicing. The internal temperature will rise 5–10°F while resting.
- Optional: Top with compound butter while the steaks rest for extra flavor.
Notes
- In a 6-quart air fryer you can fit two large steaks (12–16 oz each) or four standard steaks (6–8 oz each).
- Any cut of steak works; cook time varies with thickness—refer to the time and temperature chart above.
- Store leftover cooked steak in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Nutritional information below is for four servings (about 8 oz each) of ribeye cooked in the air fryer.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
- Calories: 495 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Fat: 34 g (Saturated Fat: 15 g)
- Cholesterol: 138 mg
- Sodium: 146 mg
- Potassium: 639 mg