This air fryer steak recipe gets your main dish on the table in a sinch with little effort and time. The flavor is enhanced by jerk seasoning and compound butter, while cook time and temperature produces nearly perfect texture for the steak.
The combination of crusty texture and tender center is hard to achieve with steak no matter how you typically cook steak. Though the crust isn't the same as you'd get with a cast-iron skillet per se, is still pretty darn good. Air fryer wins because it's easy to consistently get a good crust without overcooking the steak. You get that nice brown color without all the hassle.
Admittedly I was suspect on putting a nice cut of beef such as this ribeye into an air fryer. I'm sure you had similar thoughts as righteous minds think alike. But the reality is an air fryer is essentially a countertop convection oven which I've used in the past many times for reverse searing. The key to cooking steak in the air fryer is pre-heating it to ensure the steak is cooked at high heat levels from the start to the finish.
Steak Ingredients
Everything is simple about this recipe as it should be with steak. Ingredients are steak, jerk spices, compound butter which I made ahead.
How to cook jerk steak in an air fryer (step by step)
Step 1: Prepare steak
Season steak with jerk spice and marinate 1-2 hours in the refrigerator. Remove steak from fridge and let steak reach room temperature
Step 2: Pre-heat Air Fryer to 400 degrees F
Step 3: Cook the steak
Brush the steak with olive oil and fry 10-14 minutes flipping halfway. Cook time will depend on steak type and thickness. You can use thermometer to check for doneness
Serving Suggestions
Top the steaks with your favorite compound butter or plain butter. I used this jerk compound butter I made a few days earlier. Pair the steak with any of these:
Roasted Whole Broccoli w/ Jerk Seasoning
Steak Cooking Tips
- PRE-HEAT PRE-HEAT PRE-HEAT!
- The jerk flavor in this recipe is great! However, use your preferred steak seasoning and/or compound butter. I typically am just a kosher salt and coarse black pepper guy, which works extremely well.
- Make your compound butter ahead of time
- If cooking two steaks make sure there is no overlap. Otherwise cook them separately
- Cooking time will vary depending on thickness. This ribeye was pretty thick and with the bone-in you'll need the full amount of time (14 minutes)
- If you need something beyond the eye and feel test for doneness use a meat thermometer. If you're targeting medium-rare your internal temp should be somewhere between 130-135.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an air fryer?
It's a new small kitchen appliance that's basically a convection oven that sits on your countertop. Though "fryer" is in the name, it operates very differently than a deep fryer. Rather than use oils to deep fry, air fryers actually circulate hot air around the food.
What is the best air fryer?
I personally use the Nuwave. It's got plenty of cooking space relative to most and has a removable tray which makes cleaning much simpler.
What is the best cut of steak for air frying?
Boneless are easiest first off. But as you consider cuts go for your more flavorful ones like ribeye, NY strip, and hanger. Hanger is my favorite, but it's just less available.
For similar recipes you might like, try one of these:
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts w/ Citrus-Fish Sauce Glaze
If you make this Air Fryer Steak recipe or any other from the site, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz ribeye steak
- ½ tablespoon jerk spice
- 1 tablespoon compound butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Brush steak with olive oil. Rub steak with jerk seasoning
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Add steak and fry for 10-14 minutes, flipping halfway
- Remove steak and let rest 5-10 minutes. Top with butter. Serve
Notes
- PRE-HEAT PRE-HEAT PRE-HEAT!
- The jerk flavor in this recipe is great! However, use your preferred steak seasoning and/or compound butter. I typically am just a kosher salt and coarse black pepper guy, which works extremely well.
- Make your compound butter ahead of time
- If cooking two steaks make sure there is no overlap. Otherwise cook them separately
- Cooking time will vary depending on thickness. This ribeye was pretty thick and with the bone-in you'll need the full amount of time (14 minutes)
- If you need something beyond the eye and feel test for doneness use a meat thermometer. If you're targeting medium-rare your internal temp should be somewhere between 130-135.
Jacque Hastert
Monday 4th of May 2020
I need to pull out my air fryer just to make this! I can only imagine the flavor that this steak comes with.
Natalie
Monday 4th of May 2020
You can prepare steak in air fryer? I didn't know that. Oh, I see I have still much to learn about air frying. (I'm so new in air frying, just got it few months back). I will definitely give this a try. Your steak turned out perfect. I love it!
Jessica (swanky recipes)
Sunday 3rd of May 2020
This steak is nice and juicy and would be perfect with a salad. I need to get an air fryer because, by the looks of it, I'm missing out on some seriously delicious looking recipes. It's next on my list to get.
Bernice Hill
Sunday 3rd of May 2020
What?!! A steak in the air fryer...who knew? Well done for giving it a try. That steak looks perfectly cooked too.
Sophie
Sunday 3rd of May 2020
Wow, love the idea of compound butter. It sure adds another level of flavor and texture.