If you want to make the juiciest, most tender steak in the air fryer, there’s one pre-cooking step you should never skip. It’s even easier than you might think, but you won’t believe what a difference it makes.
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You will love this Steak Air Fryer Recipe
Making juicy, tender, perfectly-cooked sirloin steak in the air fryer is foolproof when you know this one simple trick!
All you have to do is let the steak sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before air frying. Yep, that’s it! It seems so simple, but this step allows the steak to cook more evenly.
That means you’ll get juicy steak cooked perfectly from edge to edge every single time. And thanks to the air fryer, you’ll also get that crusty exterior that makes every bite oh-so-satisfying!
Combine this trick with the easy garlic-herb butter you’ll add before serving, and this might be the tastiest meal you’ve ever had. Best of all, even after letting the steak sit at room temperature and resting it before slicing, you’ll still be ready to eat in under an hour!
What this post will teach you about Cooking Steak in Air Fryer
- How to cook the best sirloin steak in the air fryer
- How long to cook steak depending on your desired level of doneness
- Why we always let steak rest before slicing
- What to serve with air fryer steak
- How to reheat steak in the air fryer
Whether you’re entertaining dinner guests, prepping a nice family dinner, or just want to treat yourself to some red meat, making steak in the air fryer is a fantastic option.
Especially when the recipe is so easy! The simple garlic herb butter on top really takes the entire dish to the next level.
Sirloin Steak Air Fryer ingredients
- Sirloin steaks — 8-10 ounces, ¾-1 inch thick
- Salt and pepper
- Butter
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Garlic
How to Cook Steak in Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Allow the steak to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
STEP TWO: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Season the steak on both sides with a generous pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper.
STEP THREE: Place the steak in the air fryer in the center of the basket and cook for 8-15 minutes until it reaches your desired level of doneness.
STEP FOUR: Transfer the steak to a cutting board and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Meanwhile, mash together the butter, parsley, chives, garlic, and rosemary in a small bowl until well-combined. You can use some crushed red pepper to add some heat if you would like too!
STEP SIX: Slice the steak against the grain into ¼-inch-thick pieces. Top with the garlic-herb butter and serve.
How long to cook Steak in Air Fryer?
This depends on how you like your steak cooked.
Medium rare, which is cooked to an internal temperature of 135 degrees, will take 8-10 minutes in the air fryer.
For medium, between 140 and 150 degrees, cook the steak for 10-12 minutes.
If you prefer your steak medium-well to well-done, cook it for 15 minutes until it reaches 160 degrees F.
I recommend using an Instant Read Thermometer for the most accurate cooking time.
Also, keep in mind that the internal temperature will continue rising a bit once you take it out of the air fryer, so if your perfect steak is cooked to 140 degrees F, take it out at 135 degrees F.
What to serve with this Air Fry Steak Recipe
- 4-Ingredient Potato Soup
- 5-Ingredient Squash Casserole
- Green Beans Almondine
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Garlic
- Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese
How to store Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
If you have leftover air fryer steak, let it fully cool to room temperature. Next, transfer the steak to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
How to reheat Sirloin Steak in Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Place the leftover steak in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until heated through.
You can read about some tips on reheating steak in the air fryer here.
I also recommend checking out this list of the best 25 Leftover Steak Recipes if you need a little inspiration!
Air Fryer Sirloin Steak FAQs
Top sirloin is part of the overall sirloin section. So while all top sirloins are considered a sirloin steak, not all sirloin steak is a top sirloin cut.
Sirloin, which can also be called rump steak, runs along the back of the animal between the ribs and the rump.Â
Top sirloin is the most prized section of the sirloin and is what you’ll most often see served in steak houses. Bottom sirloin tends to be a bit tougher.
Resting is one of the most important parts of cooking a steak. You definitely don’t want to skip this step, or you’ll risk losing all those wonderful juices!
Under heat, the muscle fibers in meat contract and release their juices, so you’ll lose them if you cut into the steak immediately.Â
As the meat rests, however, it will begin to reabsorb and redistribute the juices, giving you a much more tender steak. Just ten minutes makes a big difference!
You do not need to flip your steak in the air fryer.
Leaving the air fryer closed maintains the temperature, helping the steak cook more evenly. This gives you a better result than flipping the steak halfway through the cooking time.
Cooking steak in the air fryer after letting it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes means it will cook all the way through faster, so there’s less chance of the meat drying out.
If you skip this step, the center will cook more slowly than the edges. You risk drying out the steak to cook it all the way through.
Other Air Fryer Steak Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Flank Steak
- Air Fryer Beef Jerky
- Air Fryer Tri Tip
- Air Fryer Skirt Steak
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Filet Mignon in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Cube Steak
- Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Air Fryer Frozen Steak
- Ribeye Steak in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer T Bone Steak
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Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
Ingredients
- 2 8-10 ounce sirloin steaks, ¾-1 inch thick
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley minced
- ½ tablespoon fresh rosemary minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
Instructions
- Allow the steak to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Season the steak on both sides with a generous pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper.Â
- Place the steak in the center of the air fryer basket and cook until desired doneness, about 8-10 minutes for medium-rare, 10-12 minutes for medium and 12-15 minutes for medium-well to well-done. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and allow to rest, about 10 minutes.Â
- Meanwhile, mash together the butter, parsley, chives, garlic, and rosemary in a small bowl until well combined. You can use some crushed red pepper to add some heat if you would like too! Slice the steak against the grain into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. Top with the garlic-herb butter.
The ingredients include “fresh rosemary”, then the instructions replace it with “crushed red pepper”.
Which is correct or preferred?
Hi John, thank you for mentioning that. It is rosemary, but you can add some red pepper flakes for some heat. I have updated it in the recipe.
Great
Do you flip the steaks half way through cooking?
I have flipped it halfway and not flipped it and it turns out well both times.
i made them tonight and they turned out great , thank you
I should have just cooked these mediocre steaks for 8 minutes, 10 minutes was just a bit too long still edible but not perfect. I appreciate all your AF recipes. Thank you!