Air Fryer Cube Steak looks great, tastes great, and is quick to make! With a quick marinade and even quicker air fry, you’ll be plating this juicy steak in no time.
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The air fryer has made it so easy to serve a protein with every meal – it requires almost no preparation and is easy to clean. It’s even great to prepare steak. And with a thin cut of meat like cube steak, it’s really quick!
A great way to save time with this homemade steak recipe is to mix the marinade and let the meat rest overnight. It makes the marinade more effective and allows you to throw it right in the air fryer when it’s time to make dinner!
Leftovers from this recipe will last in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them as-is to enjoy a delicious bite on the fly or use them in one of my favorite leftover steak recipes (there are 25 of them)!
How to Make Air Fryer Cube Steak
STEP ONE: Add the marinade ingredients (olive oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper) to a large Ziploc bag. Seal and shake to combine.
STEP TWO: Add the steaks to the bag, press the bag to release any air, and seal. Gently massage the marinade into the meat for just a minute or so. Refrigerate for at least one hour or up to 12 hours.
STEP THREE: When you’re ready to air fry, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
STEP FOUR: Remove the marinated meat from the bag and gently shake it to remove any excess liquid. Lay the steaks in the basket in a single layer.
STEP FIVE: Air fry for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the meat reaches a safe internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Cooking time varies depending on steak thickness, so it’s best to use a meat thermometer as your guide, rather than the exact timing, to prevent overcooking.
STEP SIX: Transfer the air fryer cubed steaks to a cutting board and let sit for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
What Is Cube Steak?
The name air fryer “cube steak” might leave you a bit confused – this isn’t cubed stewing meat or steak bites, but a pre-tenderized, thin steak.
Also known as bucket steak, this is a cut of top sirloin or round. It’s already been pounded with a meat mallet and so has tiny indents on its surface, hence the name “cube steak.”
How Do You Cook Cube Steak So It’s Not Tough?
- Marinating both tenderizes and flavors meats by helping the fibers gradually soak in the moisture and seasoning. However, marinating for too long actually degrades the meat and makes it tougher. Only marinate beef for up to 12 hours.
- Use an alarm thermometer to stick in the cube steak so you know exactly when it’s done
- This thin steak cooks quickly – after only 5 minutes or so. Keep an eye on the internal temperature of the steak and don’t let it cook past the safe internal temperature for beef (145 degrees F).
- Air fryer cubed steak needs to rest for at least 5 minutes before it’s cut into, or else the juices will escape and leave the meat completely dry.
Is It Good To Air Fry Steak?
Making cube steak in the air fryer is an excellent way to cook it quickly while maintaining a consistent temperature. With pan frying, you risk the skillet heating up much too quickly and burning the meat.
Air frying is also a healthy way to prepare anything, including steak, because very little oil is needed. We use the thinnest coating of cooking spray to prevent it from sticking and burning, but there are healthier oils one could choose – avocado oil, for example.
Can Make Frozen Cube Steak In The Air Fryer?
In order for the air fryer cubed steak marinade to work properly, you will need to freeze the steak along with the marinade. Otherwise, the marinade will not be able to penetrate the inner layers of the meat and will only be flavoring the outer layers. Even so, the meat will need to be thawed for the marinade to be effective.
If you have frozen steaks that you wish to use in this recipe, let the steaks dethaw in the Ziploc bag along with the marinade overnight. This will give the marinade some time to work.
Do You Need to Flip Cube Steak In an Air Fryer?
You don’t! An air fryer is a convection oven, which means the hot air is circulated throughout the fryer and cooks the meat from all sides.
And because cube steak is already so thin, you don’t need to worry about any of the meat being left uncooked.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Cube Steak
- Mushroom gravy is a thick, luxurious way to add moisture.
- Air fryer cube steak has no breading, so some roasted veggies such as asparagus, broccoli, or potatoes add great texture.
- Sauteed onions, perhaps alongside some gravy or in a pan sauce, is a classic!
More Air Fryer Steak Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
- Air Fryer Tri Tip
- Air Fryer Strip Steak
- Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Air Fryer Filet Mignon
- Air Fryer Chuck Roast
- Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- Air Fryer Skirt Steak
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Air Fryer Cube Steak
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1-1.5 pounds cube steak
Instructions
- In a large plastic zipper bag, combine the olive oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. Shake to combine.
- Add the steaks to the bag, press out the air, seal the zipper, and massage the marinade around the steaks gently. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, up to 12 hours.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Remove the cube steaks from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off the meat. Spray the inner basket with cooking oil spray and place the steaks in a single layer in the basket, working in batches as needed.
- Air fry for 4-6 minutes, depending on thickness, or until the steaks have reached an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Be sure not to overcook as the steak will get tough.
- Rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
