Easily make a perfect air fryer steak coated in an amazing garlic herb butter. It’s quick and easy, seasoned perfectly, seared with a delicious crust on the outside, and juicy on the inside. This recipe will quickly become a family favorite. Be sure to serve it with this amazing creamy horseradish sauce for the full steakhouse experience!
Air Fryer Steak
These air fryer steaks are the most tender, juicy, flavorful, and perfectly browned steaks ever! Plus, they’re so quick and easy to make and you’ll get perfect results every single time.
First they’re coated in seasoned oil and allowed to rest for just a bit, then they’re air fried to absolute perfection, and finally they’re slathered with the most delicious garlic herb butter.
These steaks will literally melt in your mouth and everyone will be asking for seconds. My favorite part is dipping a bite of steak into the rich melted herb butter on my plate, it’s seriously so good!
Cooking steak in the air fryer is a game-changer. It delivers a well-done crust with a medium-rare center, just like the best steakhouse in town. Whether you’re using a ribeye, sirloin, or a strip steak, this recipe is perfect. Trust me, once you’ve tried cooking steak in the air fryer, you’ll wonder why you ever did it any other way. This recipe really makes the best air fryer steak!
Ingredients
Steaks: Ribeye or sirloin steaks are perfect because they’re both tender and flavorful cuts. When selecting your steak, look for ones with good color and a good amount of marbling, which adds to the juiciness and flavor when cooked.
Olive Oil: Olive oil is used to coat the steak and helps the seasoning to stick to the meat. It also helps it brown and crisp up in the air fryer.
Unsalted Butter: This is the base ingredient for our herb and garlic butter. It adds a creamy, rich flavor to the steak. I like to use unsalted butter because you can control the amount of salt in the butter so that it won’t overpower the other flavors.
Fresh Rosemary & Thyme: These herbs infuse the butter with fresh, aromatic flavors that complement the steak perfectly. When choosing fresh herbs, go for bright, vibrant leaves without any signs of wilting or browning.
Garlic Powder & Onion Powder: These spices add a ton of flavor to our steak. They add a subtle, yet noticeable, savory depth of flavor with a hint of sweetness.
Salt & Pepper: Essential for any steak dish, these enhance the natural flavors of the steak and the herb and garlic butter. Freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt typically offer the best flavor and help tenderize the meat.
How To Make Air Fryer Steak
Prepare the herb and garlic butter: Begin by combining the softened butter with rosemary, thyme, garlic salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Make sure everything is well mixed and then set it aside for later. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Prepare the steaks: Next, take your steaks out of the refrigerator. Use paper towels to pat them dry and remove any excess moisture. In a separate bowl, create a mixture with olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Use a spoon to spread this mixture over the steaks, making sure it’s evenly coated on all sides.
Let the steaks rest: Once all the steaks are coated with the mixture, leave them on the counter to rest for a bit. This step allows them to take this chill off, which helps ensure even cooking in the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer: While your steaks are resting, preheat your air fryer.
Air fry the steaks: After the air fryer has preheated, place the steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not touching so that they can cook evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the steaks in batches.
Cook and flip: Let the steaks cook for a bit before flipping them carefully to make sure they brown evenly.
Check the steaks: Once they’re finished cooking, check the internal temperature of the steaks with an instant read meat thermometer to make sure they are cooked to your desired level of doneness.
Finish and serve: Once your steaks are cooked to your liking, transfer them to a clean plate. Top each steak with a generous dollop of the herb and garlic butter you prepared earlier, allowing it to melt over the hot steak. Let the steaks rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Preheat Your Airfryer: Preheating before adding the steak is important because it helps the steaks brown and crisp up on the outside. If you don’t preheat the air fryer, the temperature inside the air fryer will rise slowly while the steaks are inside, so you won’t get a blast of high heat that creates a delicious crust on your steaks.
- Don’t Overcrowd The Basket: Spread out the steaks in a single layer and make sure they’re not touching. This makes sure that there’s enough space for proper air circulation, which helps with browning and even cooking.
- Flip Halfway: Flipping the steaks halfway through cooking helps them brown evenly.
- Rest After Cooking: Let your steaks rest after cooking. This allows the juices to redistribute, making your steak moist and juicy.
How Long Do You Cook Steak In The Air Fryer?
Depending on how thick your steaks are and how well done you want it. It takes roughly 8-10 minutes to cook a 1 inch medium rare steak in the air fryer. The best way to make sure it’s the perfect doneness is to use a meat thermometer, keeping in mind that the temperature will continue to rise a bit as it rests due to carryover cooking.
Should You Flip A Steak In An Air Fryer?
Yes, flipping the steak halfway through the cooking process in the air fryer is a good idea. This makes sure that both sides of the steak are exposed to the heat and will cook evenly, giving you that perfect, browned, juicy steak.
What Setting Is Best For Steak In The Air Fryer?
The best setting for steak in an air fryer is typically around 400F for a shorter time. This helps cook steak with a well-seared outside and juicy inside. You should always preheat your air fryer before air frying steaks.
Do You Need To Put Oil On Steak In An Air Fryer?
Yes, a light coating of oil on the steak helps the seasoning to stick better and helps the steak with browning.
Do Steaks Brown In The Air Fryer?
Absolutely! The hot air circulating in the air fryer helps to brown the steak, giving it a nice, crispy exterior while keeping the inside perfectly cooked and juicy.
What To Season Steak With
I like seasoning steak with salt and pepper. I’m also using garlic powder and onion powder to add more flavor in this recipe. Thyme and rosemary are also other popular options for seasoning steak.
How Do You Cook A Steak In An Air Fryer Without It Drying Out?
The trick to keeping your steak juicy in the air fryer is not to overcook it. Allowing the steak to rest after cooking also helps to redistribute the juices, keeping your steak moist and flavorful.
Why Is My Steak Too Tough In The Air Fryer?
If your steak comes out tough, it’s because it was overcooked. When you overcook you lose moisture, making the steak tougher. It’s best to keep a close eye on your steak while it’s in the air fryer and use a meat thermometer to make sure it doesn’t overcook, which can happen quickly.
Can I Use Frozen Steak?
Yes, you can, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time because frozen steaks will take longer to cook. I’d start with 20 minutes in a preheated 400F air fryer for 1” thick steak. After it’s done cooking, let the steak rest in the air fryer for 5 minutes without opening it. Check it with a meat thermometer, and continue cooking if needed to reach your desired doneness.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover steak in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for about 3-4 days.
How To Reheat Steak In The Air Fryer
Set your air fryer to a lower temperature or use the reheat button if your appliance has one. Heat the steak for a few minutes. This will warm the steak without overcooking it, keeping it deliciously juicy and tender.
Are Steaks Better In An Air Fryer Or On A Grill?
Air frying is a great option for quick, easy, and less messy cooking. It gives you a juicy, well-cooked steak in less time. Grilling adds a unique, smoky flavor that is hard to replicate. So, it really depends on your taste preference and how much time you have.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Beef Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other beef recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Boneless Prime Rib
- Air Fryer Prime Rib
- Bottom Round Roast
- Top Round Roast
- Cajun Butter Steak Bites
- Chili Lime Steak Fajitas
- Instant Pot Beef Tips Recipe
- Beef Tips and Rice
BEST Air Fryer Steak Recipe (with Garlic Herb Butter)
Perfect air fryer steak coated in garlic herb butter that’s quick, easy, seared with a delicious crust, and juicy on the inside.
Ingredients
Steaks:
- 2 pounds steaks, about 1-inch thick (preferably ribeye or sirloin, anywhere from 8-16 ounce steaks works well)
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Herb and Garlic Butter:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 Tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1/2 Tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the herb and garlic butter. In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, rosemary, thyme, garlic salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Cover the butter mixture and set aside.
- Next, remove the steaks from the refrigerator. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. In a separate bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Spoon this over the steaks and rub it evenly over all sides of the steaks.
- Allow the seasoned steaks to rest on the countertop for about 30 minutes to take the chill off.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. Once preheated, place the steaks in the basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the steaks in batches.
- Cook the steaks for 8-10 minutes, flipping them after 4 minutes and checking the internal temperature after a total of 8 minutes to achieve a doneness between medium-rare and medium. Adjust the time slightly if you prefer your steak more or less done. I cooked my steaks to an internal temperature of between 127-130F and it raised to 135F after resting.
- After the steaks are done, transfer them to a clean plate. Immediately top each steak with a generous dollop of the herb and garlic butter you prepared earlier, allowing it to melt over the hot steak, then loosely tent them with aluminum foil. Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes with the butter on top under the tented foil. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Remember to always check the steak's internal temperature with an instant read meat thermometer to achieve your desired doneness.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 516Total Fat: 26.8gCarbohydrates: 1.4gFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.1gProtein: 68.2g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Happy cooking! I hope you enjoy this delicious, juicy air fryer steak recipe with your loved ones!
