Get ready to sink your teeth into this mouth-watering, most perfect air fryer ribeye steak you’ll ever taste! If you’re a meat lover, this juicy ribeye air fryer recipe is for you. The combination of the tender, juicy air fryer ribeye cooked to perfection in the air fryer with the flavorful and savory roasted garlic compound butter is a match made in heaven.
I was skeptical about air frying my precious ribeye steaks but after doing it a few times, I was hooked. I am here to share some tips and tricks to elevate this seemingly simple dish and level it up. This juicy steak is to die for. Let’s make the perfect air fryer steak!
This perfect steak recipe was inspired by my Best Steak Sauce on this site and pairs well with this amazing Smashed Sweet Potatoes and Easy Asian Garlic Noodles.
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Why you will love this air fryer ribeye steak
- Flavorful and juicy: This perfect steak is incredibly flavorful and juicy, thanks to the high heat of the air fryer that seals in the moisture and flavor of the steak. Plus, with the option to add the delicious compound butter, you’re guaranteed a truly mouth-watering experience.
- Quick and easy: The best way to cook a steak in the air fryer is to be super quick. You don’t have to worry about preheating the oven, firing up the grill, or waiting for a pan to heat up on the stovetop. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a perfectly cooked steak that’s ready to serve.
- Versatile: I love my air fryer recipes, like most of them this easy recipe is versatile and can be customized to suit your taste preferences. You can switch up the seasoning, adjust the cooking time to your preferred level of doneness, and even make a kid-friendly version by omitting the compound butter. With so many options, you can make this dish your own and enjoy it in many different ways.
Ingredients
Ribeye steaks minimum 1 inch thick
Salt and pepper
This is optional but I made this with compound butter
Compound Butter with Roasted Garlic
Head of garlic
Salted butter
Chives
See recipe card for quantities.
How to cook steak in the air fryer
- *This is optional* Make your compound butter. Combine all the compound butter ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Rub grapeseed oil all over the ribeye steaks.
- Season your ribeye steaks with salt and pepper, or any other seasonings you prefer.
- Place the steak in the air fryer basket and cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches your desired level of doneness. For a medium-rare steak, aim for an internal temperature of your steak should be around 130°F. Always use a digital meat thermometer when cooking a steak in the air fryer. Every air fryer brand is different.
- Add compound butter at the last 3 minutes to let the butter melt into the steak.
- Once the steak is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer. For best results, let it rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Add as much compound butter as you wish.
Cooking Tips:
- To get a crispy sear on the outside, only air fry the steaks for 5 minutes on each side then sear them and finish cooking on cast iron. Basically, use the air fryer to reverse sear the steak. Here’s what reverse sear mean.
- If using a thinner steak, cut your cooking time in half. Thicker steak needs more time. Again, use an instant-read meat thermometer.
Substitutions
Ribeye Steaks:
- Beef sirloin steak
- Filet Mignon steak
- Beef tenderloin steak
- Beef strip steak
- Bison ribeye steak
- Lamb chops
- Venison steak
- Canola oil
- Vegetable oil
- Peanut oil
- Olive oil
- Sunflower oil
Substitutions for Compound Butter with Roasted Garlic:
- Regular butter or margarine
- Herb butter
- Garlic butter
- Blue cheese butter
- Honey butter
For the roasted garlic, you can use regular garlic cloves instead. Simply sauté them in a pan with some oil until fragrant and slightly browned.
For the chives, you can substitute them with other fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme.
For the salt and black pepper, you can use other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or cumin.
Variations
Kid-friendly:
- Use a milder cut of beef such as sirloin or tenderloin.
- Instead of seasoning with salt and pepper, use a kid-friendly seasoning blend such as garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Serve with a side of roasted vegetables or mashed potatoes for a more balanced meal.
Want it spicy?
- Add a teaspoon of chili powder or cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix for a kick of heat.
- Serve with a spicy dipping sauce such as Sriracha mayo or chipotle aioli.
- For a more intense heat, add diced jalapeño peppers or hot sauce to the compound butter.
Gluten-free and Dairy-free:
- Make the compound butter with a dairy-free butter substitute such as coconut oil or vegan butter.
- Serve with gluten-free side dishes such as roasted sweet potatoes or a quinoa salad.
Equipment
How long to reheat steak in air fryer
Here are some tips for storing and reheating steak in the air fryer:
How to Store leftover steak:
- Allow the cooked steak to cool to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container or a ziplock bag.
- Store the steak in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Keep the compound butter separately in a small container and refrigerate.
How to Reheat:
- To reheat the steak, bring it to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before reheating.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add some oil.
- Sear the steak on both sides for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
- Alternatively, you can reheat the steak in the air fryer for 3 minutes at 400 degrees.
- To reheat the compound butter, microwave it for 10-15 seconds or until soft enough to spread over the steak.
Note: It is important to reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure they are safe to eat.
Top 3 Tips for Success
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket: When cooking meat, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket or air fryer tray as this can lower the temperature and result in uneven cooking. If needed, cook in batches to ensure everything is cooked evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer: A meat thermometer is a great tool to ensure that your meat is cooked to the proper temperature and safe to eat. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat for an accurate reading.
- Let the meat rest: After cooking the ribeye steak, let it rest for a few minutes before cutting into it. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender steak. A general rule of thumb is to let the meat rest for about 5 minutes for every inch of thickness.
FAQs for ribeye air fryer
Cook ribeye steaks in the air fryer at 400°F for 7-9 minutes for medium-rare, or 10-12 minutes for medium. The exact time may vary depending on the thickness of the steaks and the air fryer model.
Air fried ribeye steaks can be good as they come out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. However, the results may vary depending on the air fryer model and the cooking technique used. TIP: To get a crispy sear on the outside, only air fry the steaks for 5 minutes on each side then sear them and finish cooking on a cast iron.
For a 1 inch thick ribeye steak cooked in a skillet, cook for about 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness, or 5-6 minutes per side for medium doneness. The exact time may vary depending on the heat of your stove, the thickness of the steak, and your desired level of doneness. Remember to use a meat thermometer to ensure that the steak has reached your desired internal temperature before serving.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Air Fryer Ribeye recipe:
The Best Air Fryer Ribeye Steak Recipe with Garlic Butter
If you’re a meat lover, this juicy air fryer ribeye steak recipe is for you. The combination of the tender, juicy air fryer ribeye cooked to perfection in the air fryer with the flavorful and savory roasted garlic compound butter is a match made in heaven.
- Total Time: 14 minutes
- Yield: 2 steaks 1x
Ingredients
2 ribeye steaks minimum 1 inch thick
2 tablespoon grapeseed oil
Salt and pepper for seasoning the steaks
Optional:
Compound Butter with Roasted Garlic (makes 1 cup)
1 head of roasted garlic (roasted in foil at 350 degrees for 45 minutes)
1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
¼ cup fresh chives, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- *Make your compound butter. Combine all the compound butter ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Rub grapeseed oil all over the ribeye steaks.
- Season your ribeye steaks with salt and pepper, or any other seasonings you prefer.
- Place the steak in the air fryer basket and cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches your desired level of doneness. For a medium-rare steak, aim for an internal temperature of your steak should be around 130°F. Always use a digital meat thermometer when cooking a steak in the air fryer. Every air fryer brand is different.
- Add compound butter at the last 3 minutes to let the butter melt into the steak.
- Once the steak is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer. For best results, let it rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Add as much compound butter as you wish.
Notes
Cooking Tips:
- To get a crispy sear on the outside, only air fry the steaks for 5 minutes on each side then sear them and finish cooking on cast iron.
- If using a thinner steak, cut your cooking time in half. Thicker steak needs more time. Again, use an instant-read meat thermometer.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: mains
- Method: air fry
Keywords: air fryer ribeye, ribeye air fryer, rib eye steak in air fryer
Fran Hill
Whoa is this amazing!!!! Who knew you could air fry a steak and it would come out so well… Cant say enough good things about this recipe, thanks Carmen 🙂
Carmen
That is so good to hear
Kirsten
Cook in the airfryer and finished in a cast iron pan to get my crust and it was crazy good. Never had air fried a steak and I was skeptical, but it’s a real game changer. SO juicy and way less mess than cooking in the pan the whole time. 10/10
Carmen
That is so good to hear
Patricia Sargent
Look very good will have to try
Carmen
Thank you so much!
Patricia Thomas
Sounds delishous. Will try this recipe real soon. Just bought my Air Fryer.
Carmen
I am so excited for you!