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 paired well with this amazing Smashed Sweet Potatoes and Easy Asian Garlic Noodles.
Jump to:
- Why you will love this air fryer ribeye steak
- Ingredients
- How to cook ribeye steak in air fryer
- How long to cook ribeye steak in air fryer
- Air Fryer Ribeye Cooking times
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- 9 Kitchen Essentials
- How long to reheat steak in air fryer
- Top 3 Tips for Success
- FAQs for ribeye air fryer
- Related
- Pairing
- Don't miss out!
- The Best Air Fryer Ribeye Steak Recipe with Garlic Butter
Why you will love this air fryer ribeye steak
- Healthier: Less oil, reduced smoke and grease
- Even Cooking: Hot air circulation ensures even doneness
- Juicy and Tender: Retains moisture, creating a tender steak
- Convenient: Easy to use with preset options
- Energy-Efficient: Uses less energy than ovens or grills
- Easy Cleanup: Non-stick, dishwasher-safe baskets
- Flavorful: Creates a crispy, flavorful exterior
Ingredients
- Ribeye steaks minimum 1 ½ inch thick - minimum
- Avocado oil
- Salt
Compound Butter (optional)
- Head of garlic
- Salted butter
- Chives
See recipe card for quantities.
How to cook ribeye steak in 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 on BROIL or 400°F (200°C).
- Rub avocado oil all over the 1 ½ inch ribeye steaks.
- Season your ribeye steaks with salt 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 1 minute of cooking 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 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
How long to cook ribeye steak in air fryer
It is very important to preheat the air fryer on BROIL. Broil the ribeye steaks for 6 minutes on each side. I like to use the BROIL method when I flip the steaks to get that crispy outside crust.
Cooking Tips:
- To get a crispy sear on the outside, 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.
Air Fryer Ribeye Cooking times
Use an instant-read thermometer!
Rare — steaks out at 130°F
Medium — steaks out at 140°F
Medium-well — steaks out at 150°F
Well done — steaks out at 160°F
Substitutions
Ribeye Steaks:
- Beef sirloin steak
- Filet Mignon steak
- Beef tenderloin steak
- Beef strip steak
- Bison ribeye steak
- Lamb chops or rack of lamb
- Venison steak
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
- Air fryer
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Bowls
check out my list...
9 Kitchen Essentials
life-changing tools that will make your time easier in the kitchen!
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:
- Reheat in the air fryer for 2 minutes on BROIL
- To reheat the compound butter, microwave it for 10-15 seconds or until soft enough to spread over the steak.
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: An instant-read 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 6-8 minutes for medium-rare, or 9-10 minutes for medium. The exact time may vary depending on the thickness of the steaks and the air fryer model.
Yes, marinating enhances flavor, but pat the steak dry before cooking to avoid excess moisture.
Yes, preheating ensures even cooking and a better sear on the steak.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with the Air Fryer Ribeye recipe:
Don't miss out!
The Best Air Fryer Ribeye Steak Recipe with Garlic Butter
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.
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 2 steaks 1x
Ingredients
2 ribeye steaks minimum 1 ½ inch thick
2 tablespoon neutral oil (I used avocado oil)
Salt
Optional:
You can use regular salted butter (1 tablespoon per steak)
*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
- *This is optional* Make your compound butter. Combine all the compound butter ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Preheat your air fryer on BROIL or 400°F (200°C).
- Rub avocado oil all over the 1 ½ inch ribeye steaks.
- Season your ribeye steaks with salt 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 at 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 1 minute of cooking 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 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- 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: An instant-read 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.
RIBEYE STEAK COOKING TIME:
Rare — pull steaks out at 130°F
Medium — pull steaks out at 140°F
Medium-well — pull steaks out at 150°F
Well done — pull steaks out at 160°F
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Category: mains
- Method: air fry
Hunes
Love it! juicy and tender steak with the best butter compound.
Frances L
Highly reco!
Mart
EASY.JUICY.
Judd
I was kind of scared to try it in the air fryer since steak is pretty expensive here, but it turns out so juicy and tender! 🥰
Alas Witts
Have to make it with the butter! It was one of the best steaks I've ever had, my whole family loved it. ❤️
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!
Sarah
Is the steak taken right from the fridge and prep into the air fryer, or does it need to sit out before prep and cooking?
Carmen Spillette
I always cook my steak at room temperature. Have it sit out for 15 to 20 minutes while you prep the other sides.