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Get It NowAfter I made air fryer filet mignon, I was so pleased with the results that I had to try other cuts. I opted for air fryer sirloin steak this time, but this method actually works with any thick cut! Cooking steak in the air fryer is easier and more foolproof than other methods. And while the outside is pretty good, what really makes it stand out is how incredibly tender and juicy it is on the inside. It has become one of my favorite air fryer recipes. Make it with me for one of the juiciest steaks you’ve ever had!
Why You Need My Air Fryer Sirloin Steak Recipe
- Super tender, juicy steak – Cooking your steak in the air fryer gets you a more tender result than the stove or oven, thanks to the circulating hot air. No, you don’t get the same golden crust, but the inside more juicy than other methods!
- Foolproof, hands-off cooking – Unlike pan seared or grilled steak, my air fryer method is totally hands-off, and it’s harder to overcook or dry out. I even made a time chart to help you get the doneness you like.
- Super fast, easy dinner – With just a few minutes of prep, you can be enjoying an air fryer steak dinner in under 20 minutes. You do have to let it come to room temp before cooking, but I just do other things around the house or prep my side dish while I wait.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer steak recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Steaks – I used top sirloin, but any good cut — porterhouse (T-bone), New York strip, filet mignon, or ribeye — will make a great air fried steak. Just make sure it’s at least 1 to 1.5 inches thick.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – I keep it simple, but for even more flavor, omit both and use 1 tablespoon of my Montreal steak seasoning per pound.
- Compound Butter – Totally optional, for topping. My go-to mix has dill and parsley. Feel free to swap in rosemary, thyme, or chives!
How To Cook Steak In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Bring the steaks to room temperature. Remove them from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking — this will help them cook more evenly.
- Make the garlic herb butter. Just use my compound butter recipe, and refrigerate until ready to serve. Feel free to skip this step if you want to just use plain butter.
- Season liberally. Right before cooking, pat the steaks dry with paper towels, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer.
- Cook sirloin steak in the air fryer. Arrange the pieces in the basket (I have this air fryer and love the large basket). Give them enough space, so they don’t touch each other. Air fry steak until it reaches your desired doneness — see my time chart below!
- Top with butter and rest. Top your air fryer sirloin steak with compound butter. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice against the grain.
Cooking Time Chart
How long to cook steak in the air fryer will depend on how thick your steak is and how done you like it. I tested with 1.5-inch-thick steaks and made the time chart below to help you get the doneness you like. If your steaks are 1 inch thick, they’ll be done about 2 minutes faster.
The time can also vary a little depending on your air fryer, so if you have a probe thermometer (I use this one), insert it before air frying for the most perfect result. You can check with a regular meat thermometer as well, but a probe is more hands-off and doesn’t require opening the air fryer.
| Desired Doneness | Minutes To Air Fry | Internal Temperature * |
|---|---|---|
| Rare | 10-12 minutes | 120 degrees F |
| Medium-Rare | 11-13 minutes | 130 degrees F |
| Medium | 12-14 minutes | 140 degrees F |
| Medium-Well | 13-15 minutes | 150 degrees F |
| Well Done | 14-16 minutes | 160 degrees F |
*Note: These times and temperatures are when to stop cooking your air fryer steak. The internal temperature will rise another 5 degrees while it rests.
My Recipe Tips
- Don’t forget to preheat your air fryer. For some recipes it’s not a huge difference, but it matters a lot for steak! Adding the beef to the hot grate lets it sear on the outside right away. It’s not the same browning you get from a skillet or grill, but miles better than not preheating.
- For a better sear, leave the steaks uncovered in the fridge overnight. This is definitely not required and I usually don’t, but when I tried this, I did get a better crust.
- Season generously. I recommend 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of pepper per pound of beef.
- Do you need any oil? Nope! At least I didn’t find it necessary. But if you prefer, you can brush a thin layer of olive oil over the steaks before seasoning.
- Avoid crowding the air fryer basket. If your steaks don’t fit without touching each other, cook them in batches. Otherwise, they won’t cook evenly.
- Rest the steaks on a plate or cutting board, not the air fryer. I placed them back in the basket for some of my pictures, but you do want to remove them right away. They can overcook if you leave them in the hot basket.
Serving Ideas
I recently polled my Facebook page about whether you prefer air fryer meals paired with other air fried dishes or with something cooked another way, and the results were split! I myself do it both ways, so I have both options for side dishes to serve with your air fryer steak:
- Air Fryer Vegetables – Prep your veggies while you’ve got the sirloin steak in the air fryer, then cook them while the steak rests. Try my air fryer brussels sprouts or air fryer asparagus.
- Roasted Veggies – Start roasting them while you wait for the steak to come to room temp. I made roasted butternut squash and roasted green beans for my dinner shown above. You can also try roasted broccolini.
- Potatoes – Cook my air fryer baked potatoes or air fried sweet potatoes first, then air fry steak. While the steak rests, air fry the potatoes for 1-2 more minutes to crisp up and heat.
- Salad – A steak dinner always pairs well with classic wedge salad.
- Pairings – Feeling fancy? Pair the steak with eggs for breakfast, or with air fryer lobster tail or crab legs for a surf and turf meal.
Air Fryer Sirloin Steak (Perfect Every Time)
Air fryer sirloin steak is one of the fastest, easiest ways to cook it to tender, juicy perfection! Just use my time and temperature chart.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Remove your steak from the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking. (This will ensure even cooking.)
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Meanwhile, make compound butter here, if you want to include it. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
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Pat the steaks dry with paper towels. Season both sides liberally with sea salt and black pepper.
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Arrange the steaks in the air fryer in a single layer, so the pieces are not touching or only minimally touching (cook in batches if needed; don’t crowd the basket). Air fry until the steaks reach your desired doneness — use a probe thermometer for best results.
For 1.5-inch thick steaks, that’s about 10-12 minutes for rare, 11-13 minutes for medium rare, 12-14 minutes for medium, 13-15 minutes for medium well, or 14-16 minutes for well done.
Use your thermometer to check for the right temperature – 120 degrees F (52 degrees C) for rare, 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) for medium rare, 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) for medium, 150 degrees F (66 degrees C) for medium well, or 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) for well done.
The temperature will rise by another 5 degrees F while resting (see next step).
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Transfer the steaks to a plate and top each with 1 tablespoon (14g) of compound butter. Let them rest for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain.
Did You Make My Recipe?
Leave a rating to help other readers, tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram (I’d love to see!), or save the recipe to your email.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 8-oz sirloin steak
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!
- Air frying tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you cook steaks that are perfectly seasoned, evenly cooked, and juicy every time!
- Getting the perfect doneness: I have a cooking time chart above to get exactly the doneness you like.
- Store: Leftover steak (if you manage to have any!) keeps in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. I love tossing it into a steak salad.
- Reheat: Pop the steak in the air fryer again, this time at 350 degrees F. For reheating, I don’t preheat it and set it to 1-2 minutes.
- Freeze: Steaks freeze best raw, but you can freeze cooked leftovers for 3-4 months.
- Note on nutrition info: The optional compound butter is not included.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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22 Comments
Esteebaliz Guerrero
0Thank you!!
Wholesome Yum D
0You’re very welcome, Esteebaliz!
Kathy Hornick
0I am really surprised! I have the combo oven/air fryer, and took a chance. I just can’t believe how juicy and tender it is!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Kathy! I was surprised too the first time I tried it and so glad I did. Enjoy!
Dannis Moon
0I’m so glad to read this was in an oven fryer!! I have one too! I can’t wait to make it!! Any advice I need.
Thank you!
Debi
0Delightful and easy to follow recipe.
Rita
0Steak was good. Steak was over done based on your times, but I think it more my air fryer than your recipe
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Rita, Sorry to hear that! How thick were your steaks? My cook times are based on 1.5-inch-thick steaks, so if yours were thinner, the air frying time would need to be less. You can check on them a few minutes earlier next time and check with a meat thermometer, or just insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part before air frying.
Oxygen1991
0Great recipe nonetheless! 10/10!
Tammy
0I have to be honest, I was skeptical. But it was raining and I didn’t want to grill in the rain. After trying this recipe, I will be using the air fryer to make steaks even when the sun is shining.
Heidi S
0Another reason to love the air fryer! This came out PERFECT!! Thank you.
Sharina
0This is a perfect dish for our date night this Vday! It’s super tender and extra juicy! So satisfying. Highly recommended!
margaret
0Very quick and easy to make. Steaks were excellent!
Elyce
0No air fryer with basket… are there oven instructions?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Elyce, You can follow my oven sirloin steak recipe instead of the air fryer option.
Andie
0HOW??? My mind is blown! Such an easy recipe, definitely will be making it again.
Matt
0This air fryer steak recipe is awesome! I love using my air fryer and I love eating steak, so this is perfect for me. I love how you listed the chart for cooking times for desired doneness.
Jennifer
0I love making steak in the air fryer especially when it’s too cold outside to grill outside!
Elena
0Great recipe. Easy to follow and absolutely delicious.
Journa Liz Ramirez
0This is so good! My family loved it so much. It’s so tender, juicy, and delicious! Thanks, for this mouth-watering recipe. We’ll surely have this again.
Gloria
0A great way to make a nice steak dinner any night of the week. Looks cooked to perfection.
Lisa
0We loved how easy it was to make perfect steaks in the air fryer. This will be our preferred method when cooking them indoors.