Is it possible to cook steak in the air fryer? Yes! Our Air Fryer Ribeye Steak recipe is juicy, tender, and cooked just to your liking in under 20 minutes. Pair it with our homemade french fries and roasted garlic butter, and you'll have an unforgettable - but totally easy - dinner.
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Air Frying Ribeye Steak
You might be skeptical about the quality of air fryer steak if you've never made it before - we were too, at first. But it is possible to cook a perfect steak with just the right amount of sear all in the air fryer, no other appliances required. Air frying steak can be just as delicious as cooking it on the grill - all you need is an air fryer rack (we'll explain why)!
Ingredients
- Ribeye Steak: Pick out a boneless ribeye steak about 1½ to 2-inches thick. See our guide on shopping for steak below to pick out the perfect steak to use for this recipe!
- Cooking Oil: You'll need a high smoke point oil for this recipe, such as avocado oil (this is what we're using) or light olive oil. See our guide to air frying oils for more options.
- Kosher Salt: Definitely use kosher salt or sea salt with this recipe. Table salt will not do.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper works best in this dish.
- Garlic Butter (optional): While optional, you won't believe the flavor garlic butter adds to a juicy air fryer steak. See our garlic butter dipping sauce or roasted garlic butter for options. Both are equally delicious, and we recommend them over using seasoning like garlic powder in the case of this ribeye steak.
Shopping for the Perfect Steak to Air Fry
Look for rib-eye steaks between 1½ to 2-inches thick with plenty of marbling. This is the key to a perfect steak! Marbling is the white lines of fat running through the steak; as the steak cooks, this fat melts into the meat, resulting in a juicier, more buttery steak. Needless to say, the more marbling, the better!
We recommend you avoid select cuts; they'll have the least amount of marbling and are generally not as good as USDA choice or prime. However, there's no need to dish out on prime steak for a good steak dinner! We're using USDA choice ribeye steaks from ALDI, and they are delicious and tender.
How to Air Fry Ribeye Steak
1: Prepare the Air Fryer
Place a rack in the air fryer basket below the crisper tray. Don't skip this step; the rack lifts the steak closer to the air fryer's heating element, allowing for a proper sear. Then, preheat the air fryer on air broil to 400°F.
2: Pat the Steak Dry
Pat your steak dry with a paper towel. This is important to achieving a good sear on your steak.
3: Season the Steak
Spray steak with oil on both sides and season liberally with salt and pepper.
4: Place Steak in Air Fryer
Once the air fryer is preheated, use tongs to carefully place your steak on the rack in the air fryer basket. Close the basket.
5: Air Fry Ribeye Steak
Air fry for 12 minutes. Halfway through the cook time, turn the steak over.
6: Check the Temperature
For medium-rare, air fry until the internal temperature reaches 125-130°F.
Temperature is much more important than exact timing, so use a meat thermometer to be certain your steak has reached 125-130°F internally. For other degrees of doneness, see our helpful chart below!
7: Rest the Steak
Rest steak for 5-10 minutes to lock in the juices and flavor. While you can tent it with aluminum foil to rest, this is not necessary. When slicing, slice against the grain for the most tender cuts. Serve with garlic butter if desired, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Using a rack brings the steak closer to the heating element in order to get a nice sear on the steak. This is necessary for getting a nice sear, so we recommend you don't skip it.
- We use the air broil setting for a slightly better sear. Air broil allows for hotter air from the top to sear the food better on one side. Always flip halfway through to ensure both sides of steak get seared. A good sear is important for maximum flavor. If you don’t have the air broil setting, no worries! This recipe still works well on the air fry setting.
- If you prefer a harder sear on your steak, we recommend using a kitchen torch to sear the steak after air frying. We did not feel it was necessary as in our extensive testing of air frying steak, we were always able to get a nice sear.
- This recipe is for a mid-rare steak. To maximize flavor and tenderness for the perfect juicy steak, we recommend cooking to mid-rare.
- Always cook to your preferred internal temperature and allow to rest before slicing. See chart below to find your preferred level of doneness!
- If you allow your steak to come to room temperature before cooking, they will cook more evenly.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer model. As always, use the cook time as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
Make sure to follow proper safety precautions when cooking juicy meats like this air-fried ribeye; starting with a clean air fryer is key. We have a guide to Air Fryer Safety Precautions that covers everything you need to know. Additionally, you can see our guide on How to Clean an Air Fryer, How Often, and Why for more info.
Watch the Video
Side Dishes for Air Fryer Ribeye
Degrees of Doneness
When measuring steak temperature, make sure to use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the steak. While there are other methods for checking doneness, a meat thermometer is the most accurate, easiest way to get a perfect reading, eliminating the guesswork.
Please note that the USDA recommends cooking steak to a temperature of 145°F (medium). We advise cooking steak to medium-rare, however, as it tends to have a better flavor. Cook to your personal preference.
| Desired Degree of Doneness | Steak Temperature |
|---|---|
| Rare | 120°F-130°F |
| Medium-rare | 130°F-140°F |
| Medium | 140°F-150°F |
| Medium-well | 150°F-160°F |
| Well-done | 160°F |
How to Store Leftover Ribeye Steak
- Store leftover steak in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, air fry for about 3-5 minutes or until heated through.
FAQ
For a classic, try our recipe for Air Fryer Homemade Fries. These crispy fries are delicious with a juicy steak. Or use frozen french fries in the air fryer for convenience. We also recommend pairing steak with compound butter, especially with fresh herbs like parsley mixed in. Herb butter is delicious! Our roasted garlic butter is the perfect complement to steak.
Yes! Try air frying your favorite cuts, like New York Strip or Chuck Steak. Keep in mind that the thickness of the steak, and whether it is bone-in or boneless, will impact the cook time, so adjust as necessary.
Yes, air fryer ribeye steak is low carb! Ribeye steak has 0g carbs, so it's a great choice if you're on a low carb meal plan. Just make sure to keep your side dishes low carb, too, like our air fryer roasted cauliflower. See: Is Steak Keto? for more info.
Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich
- Air Fryer Shake and Bake Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Air Fryer Steak Tips
- See all of our air fryer dinner recipes!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Ribeye Steak
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb ribeye steak boneless, 1 ½ to 2 inches thick
- Oil, such as avocado oil or other high smoke point oil
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper or to taste
- Garlic butter optional
Instructions
- Place rack in air fryer basket below the crisper tray.
- Preheat air fryer on air broil to 400 degrees F.
- Pat steak dry with paper towel.
- Spray steak with oil on both sides and season liberally with salt and pepper.
- When air fryer is preheated, use tongs to carefully place steak on rack in air fryer basket and close basket.
- Air fry 12 minutes, turning over halfway through air frying.
- For mid-rare, air fry until internal temperature is 125-130 degrees F.
- Rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Drizzle with garlic butter and enjoy!
Notes
- Using a rack brings the steak closer to the heating element. This is necessary for getting a nice sear, so don't skip it.
- We use the air broil setting for a slightly better sear. Air broil allows for hotter air from the top to sear the food better on one side. Always flip halfway through to ensure both sides of steak get seared. If you don’t have the air broil setting that's fine!
- If you prefer a harder sear on your steak, we recommend using a kitchen torch to sear the steak after air frying. We did not feel it was necessary as in our extensive testing of air frying steak, we were always able to get a nice sear by raising it closer to the heating element.
- This recipe is for a mid-rare steak. To maximize flavor and tenderness for the perfect juicy steak, we recommend cooking to mid-rare. See the post above for a degrees of doneness chart.
- Always cook to your preferred internal temperature and allow to rest before slicing.
- If you allow your steak to come to room temperature before cooking, they will cook more evenly.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer model. As always, use the cook time as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
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