The Best Air Fryer Steaks recipe delivers tender, juicy steaks with a crisp, flavorful crust and a perfectly cooked center.
Prefer to skip the extras? Use the skip-to-recipe button at the top or the table of contents below to jump straight to the recipe.
Here at Sweet C’s I include practical tips in every recipe because I’m a home cook, not formally trained, and I want cooks of all skill levels to feel confident in the kitchen. Understanding why a method works helps you get consistently great results.
Table of contents
- Air Fryer New York Strip Steak
- How to Air Fry Steak
- Tips and Tricks to Perfect Air Fryer Steaks & FAQs
- Recipe FAQ’s
- What To Serve With Air Fried Steaks
- The Best Air Fryer Steaks Recipe
Air Fryer New York Strip Steak
Cooking great steak at home can be tricky: pans and oven broilers create smoke and strong odors. Using an air fryer or a pressure cooker with a broil/crisping lid makes it easy to reach high temperatures for a steakhouse-style crust while reducing smoke.
This method works with most air fryers and pressure cookers that include a broil or air fry function, such as Instant Pot models with a Crisp or Broil lid and the Ninja Foodi.
Choose steaks of similar size and thickness so they cook evenly. If some eaters prefer less pink, select slightly thinner cuts for them.
Good choices for this method include New York strip, ribeye, porterhouse, T-bone (note larger cuts take more space), filet mignon, and sirloin.
How to Air Fry Steak
- Steaks (choose your preferred cut)
- Avocado oil or another high-smoke-point oil
- Steak seasoning or rub
- Air fryer, Instant Pot with broiler lid, or Ninja Foodi
- Digital meat thermometer
- Long-handled tongs
Overview of the method:
Tips and Tricks to Perfect Air Fryer Steaks & FAQs
This technique produces a crisp, caramelized crust and a juicy interior. Follow these tips for the best results:
Cook hot and fast. High heat creates a deep crust and steaks that taste like they came from a steakhouse. Use the highest temperature your air fryer supports.
Bring steaks to room temperature. Allow steaks to rest on the counter for 20–30 minutes before cooking. This helps them brown quickly and promotes even cooking.
Pat steaks dry. Excess moisture prevents proper browning and can make meat steam instead of sear. Thoroughly pat steaks dry with paper towels before seasoning.
Use a little oil. A light drizzle of high-smoke-point oil helps seasonings adhere and promotes a crisp exterior. Steaks should only glisten, not be drenched.
Season well. Use your favorite steak seasoning, Montreal seasoning, or a simple rub. Season generously right before cooking.
Don’t crowd the basket. Air circulation is essential. Leave space between steaks so hot air can circulate and create an even crust.
Allow carryover cooking in the closed machine. For steaks beyond rare, keep the air fryer closed for several minutes after the timer stops. The residual heat inside the machine will continue cooking the steaks—about 5 minutes for medium-rare and longer for higher doneness.
Let steaks rest. After removing from the machine, let steaks rest for 5 minutes before slicing to let the juices redistribute.
Ninja Foodi guidance. Use the air fryer basket and broil setting at 450°F when available. The larger broiler in the Ninja typically allows higher broil temperatures.
Instant Pot guidance. If using an Instant Pot broiler lid, set it to 400°F (Instant Pot models often top out lower than some air fryers). Increase broil time slightly to reach your desired doneness.
Recipe FAQ’s
This method works well with New York strip, ribeye, filet mignon, sirloin, and similar cuts.
Any air fryer or pressure cooker with a broil/air fry function will work. Adjust time and temperature for your model.
Use the highest heat your device supports—for many units 450°F is ideal; some models may use 400°F.
For medium-rare, 12 minutes total (6 minutes per side) at high heat, then allow 5 minutes of carryover cooking inside the closed machine. Adjust time for larger or thicker cuts.
Rare: 120°F; Medium-rare: 130°F; Medium: 140°F; Medium-well: 150°F; Well: 160°F+
What To Serve With Air Fried Steaks
This steak pairs beautifully with many air fryer sides. Popular choices include air-fried french fries, crispy Brussels sprouts, roasted mushrooms, or air-fried broccoli. For a lighter option, serve with a pear and goat cheese salad or roasted acorn squash rings. For a surf-and-turf twist, add broiled lobster tail.
Try the following side recipe ideas from our collection: grilled potatoes, charro beans, grilled corn on the cob, Mediterranean barley salad, whole roasted cauliflower, scalloped corn casserole, garlic and chive potatoes, or vegan charro bean and rice soup.
Grilled Potatoes
Charro Beans
Best Grilled Corn on the Cob (3 Methods) — Ready in 20 Min
Mediterranean Barley Salad
Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Easy + Crispy)
Scalloped Corn Casserole Recipe
Garlic and Chive Potatoes
Vegan Charro Bean and Rice Soup
The Best Air Fryer Steaks Recipe
If you enjoy this recipe, please rate it and consider sharing. Your feedback helps others find recipes that work.
Short on time? Sign up for 30-minute dinner plans delivered to your inbox.
The Best Air Fryer Steaks Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 New York strip, filet mignon, ribeye, or similar steaks
- 2 tbsp avocado or other high-smoke-point oil
- 1 tbsp steak rub or seasoning
Instructions
- Let steaks come to room temperature (20–30 minutes).
- Pat steaks completely dry with paper towels.
- Drizzle each steak with oil so they just glisten.
- Season steaks generously with your steak rub or seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer/broiler to its highest setting for 5–10 minutes so the machine is piping hot.
- Set the timer to 12 minutes at top temp for medium-rare (adjust longer for more well-done). Place steaks in the basket without crowding.
- Cook 6 minutes, flip, then cook another 6 minutes.
- Close the machine and allow carryover cooking inside for about 5 minutes before opening. Use a thermometer to check doneness (130–135°F for medium-rare).
- If steaks need more time, return to the air fryer briefly. When done, remove and let rest on a plate for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 449 kcal
Carbohydrates: 1 g
Protein: 37 g
Fat: 32 g
Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guideline.