Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak Recipe

There’s nothing quite like a big, juicy steak straight off the grill. Ribeye Steak is a family favorite around here used to celebrate all kinds of moments, like birthdays and special occasions. But cooking steak on the grill just isn’t always possible.

Whether it’s due to inclement weather, lack of outdoor space or even lack of time, there are a variety of reasons that a delicious steak from the grill just isn’t feasible. But luckily, for those occasions, you can still have the perfect steak- straight from your air fryer basket!

Air fryers are seriously one of the most game-changing kitchen additions in decades. While there always seems to be some new appliance craze just around the corner, air fryers have had some serious staying power- and for good reason.

They cook food evenly, which helps ensure each piece of food is cooked to the proper internal temperature- which in turn means no more burning half the food to make sure the other half comes to temp. 

The cooking time on most air fryer recipes is nice and short, perfect for the busiest weeknights. And of course, it’s a great way to get some of your favorite meals that you’d normally get at a restaurant- like fried dishes or a delicious steak- right at home! The air fryer is here to stay and it’s making me rethink how I cook everything!

Whether you’re already an Air Fryer superfan or you’re just learning the best way to use it, this Air Fryer Ribeye Steak Recipe is a great way to practice your skills. That’s not to say it’s difficult to make- quite the opposite in fact. This easy recipe is maybe not the first thing you’d think to make in an Air Fryer- but after you try it for the first time, that will change!

How long do you cook Ribeye Steak in the air fryer?

This one is hard to give an exact answer for, since thicker steaks will obviously take longer to cook {and thinner steaks, less time} and every air fryer is slightly different as well. As a general guideline, here’s a good starting point for your average sized ribeye steak based on your preferred doneness level:

• Rare Steak: 8-10 minutes
• Medium Rare Steak: 10-12 minutes
• Medium Steak: 12-14 minutes
• Well-Done Steak: 14-16 minutes

If your steak seems thicker or thinner than you’d expect, adjust your time accordingly. While you should try to avoid opening the basket TOO many times, you can definitely peek in a bit early and see if things are coming along at the expected speed. Be sure to check the meat with a meat thermometer when you suspect that it’s done to confirm.

Don’t forget to factor in a few minutes to let the steak rest at room temperature when it’s done! This step is important so that the juices have time to redistribute, making for a much juicier steak.

What temperature should I set the air fryer to? Should I use the meat setting?

I don’t usually recommend using a meat setting since all cuts of meat are unique. There’s no way for your air fryer to know the size, thickness, or even what kind of meat you’re using so it’s just using a guess to set the time and temperature.

For Ribeye Steaks in the air fryer, you’ll want to set your air fryer to 400°F no matter the size of the steak. The cook time will change based on how big or small the cut is, but 400 degrees F is a good temperature to use to cook any size steak in the air fryer as it’ll achieve a nice sear on the outside of the steak while ensuring that the inside cooks evenly.

Should I marinate or season the steak before cooking it?

This recipe does include directions for seasoning the steaks the way that I prefer them, but you can get creative and play around with flavors to find your perfect steak.

While it’s not a requirement to marinate or season the steak {although I definitely recommend seasoning with at LEAST some salt and black pepper- and preferably some garlic powder and onion powder for a flavorful steak}, if you’re going to do either of these things you definitely should do them before cooking. While you could sprinkle some salt over your cooked steak, it’s always a much better idea to season {or marinate} your steak before cooking so that the seasoning can penetrate the meat while cooking.

If you plan on using something after the fact, like ketchup or steak sauce, those don’t need to be on the steak before cooking.

​Bonus tip: Love a tender steak? Marinades with acidic ingredients, like vinegar, citrus juice, or yogurt, slightly break down the muscle fibers during cooking, resulting in a more tender steak! Need a good recipe? Try this Garlic Citrus Marinade– I used it on chicken in this recipe but it’s just as great on steak!

Do I need to preheat the air fryer?

Alright I confess- I don’t normally preheat my air fryer. It’s not that I’m opposed to it or think it makes the food worse- honestly, I just usually forget until it’s time to get the food in the air fryer. Air frying is something I usually do on busy weeknights where I’m already scrambling to do a whole bunch of other things- and preheating is just not top of mind.

Now that I’ve admitted that, I’m going to say that you should NOT be like me- or, actually, you should, because even I preheat my air fryer for this particular recipe! To get the PERFECT air fryer ribeye steak, you really should preheat the air fryer for best results.

While it’s not ABSOLUTELY necessary, I do prefer to preheat the air fryer for this recipe- especially if using a thick steak but even if not- since the steak is a big hunk of meat and I want to do everything I can to make sure that it cooks evenly.

Preheating the oven helps with that since the appliance is already at the proper ambient temperature before the steak goes in. It also cuts a couple of minutes off of the cook time since it’s cooking at full heat right off the bat {the cook times above assume you’ve preheated so don’t take time away from that chart!}.

Should I flip the steak during cooking?

Yes! Air fryers are pretty good about circulating heat throughout the appliance, but it’s still really hard to get enough hot air on the bottom to brown and crisp that part. Flipping the steak about halfway through helps to make sure that both sides of the steak cook evenly and develop a nice sear.

To flip your steak halfway through, use tongs or a spatula and make sure to be careful of any hot surfaces. Work as quickly as you can so that the heat doesn’t escape, but work carefully!

How do I know when the steak is done?

There are three ways to tell when your steak is cooked to your desired doneness- visually inspecting it, the touch test, or checking the internal temperature.

If you watch a lot of cooking shows you’ve likely seen professional chefs perform the touch test, but if you haven’t already cooked dozens of steaks in your life the safest way to make sure your steak is done to your preferences is to use the meat thermometer to check for the proper temperature.

Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the steak and use the chart below to make sure you’ve achieved the right level of doneness:

• Rare: 125-130°F (52-54°C)
• Medium-Rare: 130-135°F (54-57°C)
• Medium: 135-145°F (57-63°C)
• Medium-Well: 145-155°F (63-68°C)
• Well-Done: 155°F (68°C) and above

Don’t forget! The steak will continue to cook slightly as it rests for 5-10 minutes so try to factor that in when you decide when to take it out. I’m definitely not saying to undercook it, but if you’re wanting a medium-well done steak and it’s temping at 153, you’re definitely going to want to take that out before you hit well-done territory.

Can I cook a frozen ribeye steak in the air fryer?

You can, but obviously it will take longer. Keep an eye on it as all steaks and all air fryers are unique, but expect to cook it for about 20-25 minutes at 400°F. Of course, use the tips above to check the temperature and make sure it’s cooked all the way- always an important step but even more so with frozen steak!

Can I cook a frozen ribeye steak in the air fryer?

You can as long as they fit! Every air fryer has a different capacity so it’ll depend on what yours can handle. If you’ll be cooking more than one steak at a time in the air fryer, try to choose steaks that are close in size and thickness so that they need close to the same amount of cook time. That will prevent overcooking or undercooking, and will help keep you from needing to tend to the air fryer every few minutes while the steak cooks. Also be sure to leave some space around the steaks to allow for air circulation.

What side dish goes well with ribeye steak?

That’s of course up to personal preference, but some of my favorite pairings for ribeye steak include:

• Roasted Vegetables like these Roasted Carrots or these Roasted Veggies
• Mashed Potatoes 
• ​Mini Hasselback Potatoes 
• Grilled Corn on the Cob
• Jalapeno Cornbread Swirls 
• Green Salad – or this Winter Citrus Crunch Salad 
• Grilled Asparagus
• Sauteed Mushrooms
• French Fries

What supplies do you need to make Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak?

To make the perfect air fryer steak, you’ll need:
{These links are affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission on your purchase at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!}

• Air Fryer {of course}
• Tongs or a spatula
• Meat Thermometer
• Optional but recommended: This two-piece grill tray set made for using with raw and cooked meat- red for raw and black for cooked. Season your meat on the red tray then let it rest on the black! {We love these for any meat prep but especially grilling!}

Step by Step Guide

Ready to cook? Grab the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post and come back here to get started!

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for approximately 5 minutes.

While the air fryer heats, use a paper towel to pat dry the steaks and remove any excess moisture.

Coat both sides of the steaks evenly with avocado oil, ensuring thorough coverage.

Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, and black pepper onto the steaks, gently pressing the seasonings into the meat.

Arrange the seasoned steaks in the preheated air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch.

Cook the steaks in the air fryer according to times above.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature according to preference- see above for doneness levels.

Once cooked to your preference, remove the steaks from the air fryer and allow them to rest briefly before slicing.

Slice the steaks thinly against the grain for optimal tenderness.

Hungry for More?

Want more delicious air fryer recipes? Try these:

• Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
• Air Fryer Avocado Fries
• Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies 
• Air Fryer Donut Holes
• Air Fryer Pumpkin Spice Donuts