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This Air Fryer Sirloin Steak cooks up tender and juicy every time. It’s a simple way to make a delicious steak with a beautifully seared outside and a moist, flavorful center in minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Cooks in about 10 minutes with simple seasoning and minimal prep.
- Flavorful Results: A beautifully seared outside with a moist, tender center.
- Perfect for One: A tender, juicy steak without needing a grill or heavy cleanup.
This Air Fryer Sirloin Steak is one of those recipes I turn to when I want something simple, hearty, and packed with flavor. The steak cooks beautifully in the air fryer, with a crisp, golden sear on the outside and a juicy, tender center.
I love how dependable this method is — every time, the steak turns out just the way I like it. It’s an easy, satisfying way to enjoy a really good steak at home without any complicated steps or ingredients.
Serve your steak with garlic smashed potatoes, sautéed green beans, or a fresh tomato salad for a simple, well-rounded meal.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy air fryer steak recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Sirloin Steak: I like to use an 8 to 10-ounce sirloin steak that’s about ¾ to 1 inch thick. If your steak is thicker or thinner, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
- Olive Oil: A light brushing of olive oil adds flavor, helps form a good crust, and makes the salt and pepper stick to the steak.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper: Season the steak generously. Salt and pepper bring out the natural flavor and are the key to a well-seasoned crust.
- Butter (optional for topping): Resting the cooked steak with a small pat of butter adds richness and helps keep the steak moist and flavorful.
How To Cook Steak In An Air Fryer
These step-by-step photos show how to cook one sirloin steak in an air fryer. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Let the steak sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then pat it dry with a paper towel.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Rub olive oil over both sides of the steak. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Place the steak in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the steak over.
- Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, for a total of 10 minutes.
- Transfer the steak to a plate or cutting board. Top with a small pat of butter, cover loosely with foil, and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Air Fryer Steak Cook Times
Use a meat thermometer for the best results. Remove the steak from the air fryer when it’s about 5 degrees below your target temperature — it will continue to rise slightly as it rests.
I cook my steak for about 10 minutes total because I like it medium-rare, but you can adjust the time based on your preferred doneness.
- Rare (125°F): Cook for 8 to 10 minutes total, flipping halfway.
- Medium-Rare (130°F to 135°F): Cook for 10 to 12 minutes total, flipping halfway.
- Medium (140°F to 145°F): Cook for 12 to 14 minutes total, flipping halfway.
- Medium-Well (150°F to 160°F): Cook for 14 to 15 minutes total, flipping halfway.
Expert Tips
- Steak Type: I like using a leaner sirloin for this recipe, but it also works well with other tender, thick cuts like ribeye, New York strip, or beef tenderloin.
- Steak Thickness: I recommend using a steak that’s about 1 inch thick. Thinner steaks will cook faster, so keep a close eye on the time to avoid overcooking.
- Room Temperature: Let your steak sit out for about 30 minutes before cooking. A steak that’s closer to room temperature cooks more evenly.
- Pat the Steak Dry: Before adding oil or seasoning, pat the steak dry with paper towels. Removing the moisture helps the steak sear instead of steam.
- Lightly Oil the Steak: Brushing or rubbing a little olive oil over the steak before air frying helps create a beautiful, flavorful crust.
- Rest After Cooking: After air frying, move the steak to a plate and loosely cover it with foil. Resting for about 5 minutes keeps the steak juicy and lets the juices settle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, preheating for a few minutes helps get a better sear on the steak.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, but you’ll need to add a few more minutes of cooking time.
More Single Serving Air Fryer Recipes
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder and check out these easy air fryer recipes.
If you’ve made this quick air fryer sirloin steak recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you. Please rate the recipe and share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) sirloin steak (¾-1-inch thick)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ tablespoon butter (optional)
Instructions
- Let the steak sit out for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature.
- Pat the steak dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Rub olive oil over both sides of the steak. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Place the steak in the air fryer basket, leaving space around it for air circulation.
- Air fry the steak for 5 minutes.
- Flip the steak over and cook for an additional 5 minutes, for a total of 10 minutes.
- Remove the steak from the air fryer and transfer it to a plate or cutting board. Add a small pat of butter on top, loosely cover with foil, and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
I cook my steak for about 10 minutes total because I like it medium-rare, but you can adjust the time based on your preferred doneness. Rare (125°F): Cook for 8 to 10 minutes total, flipping halfway.
Medium-Rare (130°F to 135°F): Cook for 10 to 12 minutes total, flipping halfway.
Medium (140°F to 145°F): Cook for 12 to 14 minutes total, flipping halfway.
Medium-Well (150°F to 160°F): Cook for 14 to 15 minutes total, flipping halfway. Tips
- Steak Type: I like using a leaner sirloin for this recipe, but it also works well with other tender, thick cuts like ribeye, New York strip, or beef tenderloin.
- Steak Thickness: I recommend using a steak that’s about 1 inch thick. Thinner steaks will cook faster, so keep a close eye on the time to avoid overcooking.
- Room Temperature: Let your steak sit out for about 30 minutes before cooking. A steak that’s closer to room temperature cooks more evenly.
- Pat the Steak Dry: Before adding oil or seasoning, pat the steak dry with paper towels. Removing the moisture helps the steak sear instead of steam.
- Lightly Oil the Steak: Brushing or rubbing a little olive oil over the steak before air frying helps create a beautiful, flavorful crust.
- Rest After Cooking: After air frying, move the steak to a plate and loosely cover it with foil. Resting for about 5 minutes keeps the steak juicy and lets the juices settle.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
