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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Cook Sirloin Steak In The Air Fryer
- Tips For The Best Air Fryer Steak
- How Long To Cook Sirloin Steak In The Air Fryer?
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- More Easy Air Fryer Dinners
- My Favorite Tools For This Recipe
- Air Fryer Sirloin Steak (Perfect Every Time!) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
After I made air fryer filet mignon, I was so pleased with the results that I had to try it with other cuts. This air fryer sirloin steak recipe actually works with any thick cut of steak! Cooking steak in the air fryer is easy and results in a perfectly cooked meat that stays tender and juicy. It has quickly become one of my new favorite air fryer recipes.
Cooking sirloin steak in the air fryer might sound risky at first, but it actually works very well and is hard to mess up, because it reaches high temperatures very quickly. This means that you can sear the outside of the steak while keeping the inside nice and juicy. Plus, air fryers circulate hot air around the food, ensuring that it cooks evenly on all sides.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- Tender, juicy steak
- Easy to cook correctly – harder to overcook than other methods
- Only 3 basic ingredients
- Quick 10-15 minute cooking time
- Completely hands off (no flipping needed!)
- Goes with dozens of side dish recipes!
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for cooking sirloin steaks in the air fryer, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Steaks – I used top sirloin steaks, but you can make air fryer steak recipes using any high quality cut, like porterhouse (also known as T-bone), New York strip, filet mignon, or ribeye. Thin steaks overcook easily, so the best cuts will be at least 1 to 1.5 inches thick.
- Sea Salt – Draws out the moisture and breaks down muscle proteins, making the steak juicier and more tender. Kosher salt is also fine to use.
- Black Pepper – Feel free to adjust based on how much spice you want.
- Compound Butter – Optional, but adds so much flavor to an already perfectly juicy steak! The classic version uses dill and parsley, but you can also use other herbs, such as rosemary and thyme.
VARIATION: Add steak seasoning!
If you want to add more flavor to your steaks, use my Montreal steak seasoning recipe instead of salt and pepper.
How To Cook Sirloin Steak In The Air Fryer
This section shows instructions for how to cook sirloin steaks in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Bring to room temp. Remove the steaks from the fridge before cooking to bring it to room temperature. (This will ensure even cooking.)
- Make garlic herb butter. Make compound butter here. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Season. Pat the steaks dry with paper towels. Season them liberally with sea salt and black pepper on both sides. Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer.
- Air fry. Arrange the sirloin steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, so the pieces are not touching or only minimally touching. Air fry until the steaks reach desired doneness, using a meat thermometer to check for the right temperature. (See the time chart below!)
TIP: Give steaks space in the basket.
Cook in batches if needed. Overcrowding the air fryer basket can result in uneven cooking.
- Rest. Top your air fryer sirloin steak with compound butter. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice against the grain.
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Steak
Follow these reminders for juicy air fryer sirloin steak — or any steak!
- Bring to room temperature. Doing this before cooking helps the steak cook evenly.
- Season generously. A good seasoning on both sides creates a mouthwatering crust on the meat.
- Avoid overcooking. Use a meat thermometer to ensure you cook your steak to your desired doneness.
- Let steaks rest. It may be tempting to cut into that juicy steak right away, but let it rest for 5 minutes so that the juices have time to redistribute into the steak.
- Finish with compound butter. It adds unbelievably rich flavor.
How Long To Cook Sirloin Steak In The Air Fryer?
Air fryer steak time varies depending on steak thickness and desired doneness. For 1.5-inch-thickness, cook for 11-13 minutes for medium-rare steaks.
Use the following time chart to achieve your desired doneness:
Desired Doneness | Minutes To Cook | Internal Temperature |
---|---|---|
Rare | 10-12 minutes | 120 degrees F |
Medium Rare | 11-13 minutes | 130 degrees F |
Medium | 12-14 minutes | 140 degrees F |
Medium Well | 13-15 minutes | 150 degrees F |
Well Done | 14-16 minutes | 160 degrees F |
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftover steak in the refrigerator for 2-3 days in an airtight container.
- Reheat: Reheat your sirloin steak in the air fryer again, for just a couple of minutes at 350 degrees F, until warm. You can also use the low-temperature oven method that I describe in my reverse sear steak recipe for the best results.
- Freeze: It’s best to freeze steaks raw. You can freeze leftover cooked steaks in the freezer for 3-4 months, but they will not be as tender after thawing and reheating.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
This steak pairs well with a variety of side dishes. Here are some to try:
- Roasted Veggies – Try hearty favorites like roasted butternut squash (shown above), roasted green beans (shown above as well), cheesy asparagus casserole, or crisp-tender roasted broccolini.
- Leafy Salads – A steak dinner always pairs well with a classic wedge salad, but you can also try a fresh spring mix salad, or if you want to prep ahead, a 7 layer salad.
- Classic Steakhouse Sides – Of course, you can’t go wrong with the classics like mashed potatoes (or mashed cauliflower), creamed spinach, or sauteed mushrooms to pair with your perfectly air fried sirloin steak. You can even make an air fryer baked potato for a meal made completely in the air fryer. For a steakhouse breakfast, try steak and eggs!
- Land & Sea – Make it a surf and turf meal by adding some shrimp or for an elegant idea crab legs.
More Easy Air Fryer Dinners
If you like this quick and easy main dish, you might also like some of these air fryer recipes:
My Favorite Tools For This Recipe
- Air Fryer – I use and love this air fryer from Amazon or Target. It crisps foods evenly every time, and the basket is larger than most brands.
- Meat Thermometer – Use this thermometer from Amazon or Target when cooking this air fryer sirloin steak recipe. It reads quickly, so that your beef won’t overcook.
Air Fryer Sirloin Steak (Perfect Every Time!)
This easy air fryer sirloin steak recipe creates juicy, tender meat every time. It's one of the fastest ways to make perfectly cooked steak!
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Remove your steak from the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to bring it to room temperature. (This will ensure even cooking.)
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Make compound butter according to the instructions here. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
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Pat the steaks dry with paper towels. Season the steaks liberally with sea salt and black pepper on both sides.
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Arrange the steaks in the air fryer in a single layer, so the pieces are not touching or only minimally touching (cook in batches if needed; don’t crowd the basket). Air fry until the steaks reach your desired doneness (use a probe thermometer for best results). For 1.5-inch thick steaks, that’s about 10-12 minutes for rare, 11-13 minutes for medium rare, 12-14 minutes for medium, 13-15 minutes for medium well, or 14-16 minutes for well done. Use a meat thermometer to check for the right temperature – 120 degrees F (52 degrees C) for rare, 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) for medium rare, 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) for medium, 150 degrees F (66 degrees C) for medium well, or 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) for well done. The temperature will rise by another 5 degrees F while resting (see next step).
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Remove the steaks from the air and transfer to a plate. Top each with 1 tablespoon (14g) of compound butter.
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Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain.
Did You Like It?
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 8-oz sirloin steak
Nutrition info does not include optional compound butter.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
14 Comments
Oxygen1991
0Great recipe nonetheless! 10/10!
Tammy
0I have to be honest, I was skeptical. But it was raining and I didn’t want to grill in the rain. After trying this recipe, I will be using the air fryer to make steaks even when the sun is shining.
Heidi S
0Another reason to love the air fryer! This came out PERFECT!! Thank you.
Sharina
0This is a perfect dish for our date night this Vday! It’s super tender and extra juicy! So satisfying. Highly recommended!
margaret
0Very quick and easy to make. Steaks were excellent!
Elyce
0No air fryer with basket… are there oven instructions?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Elyce, You can follow my oven sirloin steak recipe instead of the air fryer option.
Andie
0HOW??? My mind is blown! Such an easy recipe, definitely will be making it again.
Matt
0This air fryer steak recipe is awesome! I love using my air fryer and I love eating steak, so this is perfect for me. I love how you listed the chart for cooking times for desired doneness.
Jennifer
0I love making steak in the air fryer especially when it’s too cold outside to grill outside!
Elena
0Great recipe. Easy to follow and absolutely delicious.
Journa Liz Ramirez
0This is so good! My family loved it so much. It’s so tender, juicy, and delicious! Thanks, for this mouth-watering recipe. We’ll surely have this again.
Gloria
0A great way to make a nice steak dinner any night of the week. Looks cooked to perfection.
Lisa
0We loved how easy it was to make perfect steaks in the air fryer. This will be our preferred method when cooking them indoors.