Air Fryer Steak with Herb Lemon Butter

Name: Air Fryer Steak with Herb Lemon Butter
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Ingredients: 1/2 stick unsalted butter (at room temperature); 3 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped); 1 tsp thyme (chopped); 1/2 tsp lemon zest; salt; black pepper; 2 (8oz) steak; 2 tsp olive oil

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This recipe for Air Fryer Steak with Herb Lemon Butter is the perfect celebration meal. Suitable for Gluten-Free, Paleo, Low Carb and Keto dieters.

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Air Fryer Steak is so quick and easy to make, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try cooking steak in air fryer sooner!

Folks, I truly love my air fryer. I’ve made classic comfort food dishes like Air Fryer Whole Chicken and this Air Fryer Frozen Burrito and easy Air Fryer Green Beans healthier just by using my air fryer without sacrificing flavor or crispiness. And today I’m cooking steaks.

The perfect Steak is a celebration food in my house. It’s Freddy’s favorite and it makes an appearance when we celebrate a big promotion at work, his birthday or whatever else he can come up with so he can convince me we have to have steak that night.

And to be honest I looooooooooooooooove a juicy steak with that perfect sear on the outside. I was shocked when I saw scrolling through Instagram that I could make a steak in the air fryer. Yeap, tender steak dinner cooked like it was made on the grill in the air fryer. #onit

I knew Freddy would flip for joy if I told him the dinner plan, so I went about my business without letting on that I was making his favorite man food. He was soooooooo surprised I made steak but even more surprised at how perfect the sear was on the outside of the steak and juicy on the inside.

Don’t you need to make this LIKE NOW ?!

Ps be sure to check out these Air Fryer Steak Bites too. And season it with this Best Dang Steak Seasoning.

Why Make This Recipe

Peeps, being able to get a great sear and perfectly cooked juicy steak in the air fryer is pretty amazing. Let me tell you all the reasons why I love making air fryer steak:

Steak is cooked evenly because the heat temperature from the fan in the air fryer stays consistent. Every time you cook steak in air fryer it will come out exactly as you want it to. As long as you follow your time and settings, and make sure to flip halfway through.
It’s the perfect weeknight dinner. I season our steaks, put them in the air fryer and flip halfway through. With the stove top or the grill I need to watch, keep flipping back and forth and test for doneness. The air fryer is a perfect tool for those busy weeknights when you’re dealing with homework, setting the table and getting dinner ready for everyone.
The stove or grill might not be available. The air fryer won’t heat up my house like the stove does. Especially if I am finishing off our steaks in the oven. And the grill might not be an option due to cold weather or a wet storm.
It is so easy. If you’re a little nervous about getting the proper doneness on your steak, the air fryer will help you out. Having a meat thermometer handy will also help you prevent overcooking your juicy steak.
Leftovers – leftover steak is great for meal prep all week long.
It is great source of protein and iron.

Ingredient Notes

For the meat

Steak – this recipe calls for sirloin steaks that are about 1/2 pound each. You can use any type of steak you prefer.
Oil – for simplicity just use olive oil.
Simple seasoning – just need kosher salt and pepper for this

For the sauce

Soy sauce – use gluten free soy sauce of you prefer.
liquid smoke – adds great smoky extra flavor to this.
Optional Garlic – feel free to add some garlic paste or garlic powder.

Butter for second steak

Are you ready to make Air Fryer Sirloin Steak? Grab your ingredients and I’ll show you how………….

How to Cook Steak In Air Fryer

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

close of up of air fryer steak sliced on a plate with herb butter

To cook steak in air fryer:

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C.
Rub the olive oil on both side of the steaks and season them with salt and black pepper and add them to the air fryer basket (make sure they are not touching).
Air fry steaks for 12 minutes for medium doneness, making sure to flip halfway through.
When cooked to desired doneness, remove steak from the air fryer and rest for at least 5 minutes.
Pour the first steak with soy sauce, liquid smoke and garlic marinade before serving.
Put a piece of butter on the second hot steak and let it melt a little for serving.

making air fryer steak with herb butter collage

If You Prefer a Herb Butter

Mix together butter, parsley, thyme, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Transfer mixture to parchment paper and form into a log shape.
Roll the butter in the parchment to 1 1/2 inches in diameter, twisting the ends to close and refrigerate until later.

Recipe Tips

Pat your steak dry before rubbing on the olive oil. You’re going to want to remove any of that excess moisture from the steak before adding the olive oil. This step is the most crucial when it comes to cooking a steak.
Leave uncooked steak sit out for 20 minutes to come to room temperature. Add your salt to let some of the moisture of the steak get into that salt to help create the crust when cooked in the air fryer.
Let steaks rest after cooking. At least 5 minutes but rest longer if you have the time. Sometimes Freddy is so into having steak he will cut into it too soon and lose all of that delicious juice that just craves to be reabsorbed back into the meat.
Make sure steaks do not touch in the air fryer to allow for consistent hot air from the fan to circulate during the cooking process.
For best results Preheat Your Air Fryer before cooking these.
You don’t have to use the olive oil but it adds great flavor to your steaks.
Feel free to cook this in a skillet or grill if you don’t have an Air Fryer.
Try and make sure the steaks are at least 1 inch thick

Delicious Variations

Instead of plain butter you can serve these with a compound butter like garlic herb butter flavored with rosemary, basil or tarragon or garlic butter.
You can add any flavor or spices you’d like to season your steak. Try seasoning your steak with Cajun, Creole or BBQ rubs.

Storage

Prep Ahead – Allow the meat to come to room temperature for about 40 minutes. If making butter then prep ahead and keep for 24 hours in the fridge.
Store – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze – Freeze leftovers in a freezer safe air tight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

2 air fryer steaks on a plate with butter

FAQs

Degrees of Doneness

Degrees of doneness for steak is a gauge of how thoroughly cooked the meat is based on the color and internal temperature. And it is best to always use an instant read meat thermometer to check the temperature.

For air frying steak, common gradations include: rare, medium rare, medium, medium well and well done.

Rare: is a cool red center with an internal temperature of 52C (125F). When you hear someone say they like their steak mooing, this is it.
Medium Rare: a warm red center with an internal temperature of 57C (135F).
Medium: is a warm pink center with an internal temperature of 63C (145F).
Medium Well: will have a slightly pink center with an internal temperature of 66C (150F).
Well Done: steak that is well done will have very little to no pink with an internal temperature of 71C (160F).

Chef’s Tip: It’s important to note that you should always pull your steak when it’s 5° below the temperature you want it to reach. When you let your Airfryer Steak rest, it will continue to cook for a short time after you pull it because the steak will retain the heat from cooking.

How Long To Cook Steak In An Air Fryer?

Cooking steak in the air fryer might be a bit of a trial for you if you are not used to your machine. Here are my cook time recommendations for Air Fried Steak. Keep in mind you will be flipping halfway through.

Rare Steak: 6-8 mins
Medium Rare Steak: 8-10 mins
For Medium Steak: 12 mins
Steak that is Medium Well: 14 mins
Well Done Steak: 15 mins

Remember to adjust cook times for thickness of your cut of meat. For thinner steaks, decrease the overall cook time. And for a thicker steak increase the cook time.
And, always check the temperature of your steak using a meat thermometer.

How To Reheat Steak In Air Fryer

This is super easy to do. Just head on over to this How To Reheat Steak in Air Fryer post which is full of a lot of tips and tricks for the perfect treat.

What Kind of Steaks To Use?

Folks, so far we have loved every single cut of meat we’ve tested out in the air fryer. I’ve made delicious filet mignon, ribeye and skirt steak, and I’m looking to try New York Strip Steak next in the air fryer. Be sure to adjust cooking times and temperature to the cut, size and thickeness.

Flavour Variations

Air Fryer Steak and Potatoes

Cook steak in air fryer along with my perfect Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, and in just minutes you can serve up the classic steak and potatoes dinner. You will love how easy it is to make this restaurant quality meal at home!

Serving Suggestions

Pair your perfect air fryer steak with any of these gluten free sides for a delicious meal

Even More Air Fryer Recipes

horizontal image of sliced air fryer steak on a plate

AIR FRYER STEAK VIDEO

Best Equipment To Use

Thank you for reading my Air Fried Steak recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.

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5 from 2 votes