Want a perfectly cooked steak in just 20 minutes? Your air fryer is the secret weapon for achieving steakhouse-worthy results right at home. This method delivers a juicy, tender cut with a beautiful crust – all while keeping prep work minimal.
With only 2 minutes of preparation and 8 minutes of cooking time, you’ll have a protein-packed dinner that boasts 46g of protein per serving. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes, and you’ll be rewarded with a restaurant-quality meal that’s both convenient and delicious.
Ingredients Section
- Steaks: 2 pieces (rib-eye, strip steak, or T-bone) at 1-inch thickness for perfect cooking
- Seasonings: Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- Garlic Herb Butter:
- 2 tablespoons room temperature salted butter
- 1 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary
- 1 minced garlic clove
Instructions Section
- Preparation: Let steaks rest at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper
- Butter Preparation: Mix room temperature butter with chopped rosemary and minced garlic. Store in refrigerator until needed
- Air Fryer Setup: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray
- Cooking Process: Place steaks in the air fryer basket (cook one at a time if needed). Cook for 4 minutes, flip, then continue for 3-5 minutes
- Temperature Check: Use meat thermometer for perfect doneness – 130-135°F for medium-rare, 135-140°F for medium
- Final Rest: Cover steaks with foil and let rest for 5-10 minutes. Top each with prepared herb butter before serving
Cooking Techniques
Getting the perfect steak in an air fryer is easier than you might think! The key is bringing your steaks to room temperature before cooking – this helps them cook more evenly.
When you season your steaks, don’t be shy with the salt and pepper – they create that beautiful crust we all love. A meat thermometer is your best friend here. It takes the guesswork out of cooking and helps you nail that perfect doneness every time.
Temperature Guide
Here’s a simple guide to help you get your perfect steak:
- Rare: 125°F (bright red center)
- Medium-rare: 130-135°F (warm red center)
- Medium: 135-140°F (warm pink center)
- Medium-well: 140-150°F (slightly pink center)
- Well-done: 150°F+ (little to no pink)
Serving Suggestions
This air fryer steak with herb butter is ready to shine on your dinner table! Try pairing it with a crisp garden salad or roasted potatoes. Want to make it extra special? Add some sautéed mushrooms on top, or serve it with grilled asparagus. The garlic herb butter makes an amazing sauce for your sides too!
Storage Tips
If you have leftover steak (though that’s rare!), wrap it tightly in foil or store it in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm it gently in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. The herb butter can be stored separately in the fridge for up to a week – it’s great on other dishes too!
Air Fryer Steak
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- meat thermometer
Ingredients
For the Steak
- 2 steaks (rib-eye, strip steak or T-bone) 1 inch thick
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
Garlic herb butter
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter at room temperature
- 1 teaspoons fresh rosemary chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
Instructions
- Remove steaks from fridge 20-30 minutes before cooking, to bring them to room temperature. Season steaks on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Make herb butter by combining the ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Air Fry: Grease the air fryer basket or pan with non-stick cooking spray, and add steaks. (Cook steaks one at a time if they fit too closely together). Cook for 4 minutes, then flip, and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, until desired doneness. Use a meat thermometer for best results: 130-135 degrees F for medium rare, 135-140 for medium.
- Rest: Remove steaks to a plate and cover with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes. Add a spoonful of herb butter on top of each warm steak, before serving.
