This flavorful air fryer ribeye steak is perfectly cooked, juicy, and with a wonderfully seasoned seared exterior – and ready to eat in just a few minutes.
ribeye recipe Overview
If you’re a steak and potatoes kind of person, you might worry that cooking steak in the air fryer will dry it out or make it tough. No need to fear!
This recipe will give you an air fryer ribeye steak that is perfectly cooked, flavorful, and juicy. An optional herb butter can be added that will take this meal from average to amazing too!
Just like your favorite steakhouse, this steak is totally satisfying and goes perfectly with a side of Air Fryer Potato Wedges or an Air Fryer Baked Potato.
what you’ll need
- Steaks – This recipe will teach you how to make two boneless ribeye steaks in the air fryer. Look for steaks that are about ¾” thick. You can air fryer thinner or thicker steaks, but it will be more tricky to get them perfectly cooked in the center.
- Olive Oil – Slather the steaks with olive oil and salt and pepper before adding them to the air fryer. You really only need simple seasonings here so that the flavor of the beef can shine.
- Herb Butter – This part is optional, but I highly recommend you try it! A blend of fresh herbs mixed with garlic powder and butter can be added to the steak after it’s cooked to give it tons of buttery, savory flavor.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you ASAP
how to air fry ribeye
- Get Ready: To cook a ribeye in the air fryer perfectly, you need to let it come to room temperature before cooking it. Let the steaks sit on the counter for at least 15 minutes.
- Season the Steak: Now, preheat the air fryer at 400°F/200°C for at least 5 minutes. A hot air fryer basket will allow the steaks to cook similarly to how they would on a grill or under a broiler. While that’s happening, rub the steaks with olive oil (on both sides), and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Air Fry: Add the steaks to the preheated air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 7 minutes (for medium-rare) or 10 minutes (for well-done), or until your desired doneness.
- Rest: This is key to a perfectly juicy steak! Once the steaks have finished cooking, let them rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting into them.
how to make the herb butter
This savory herb butter is so simple to make and really brings out the flavor in the ribeye!
- Combine softened butter with minced parsley, thyme, and rosemary.
- Add some fresh lemon zest and a little bit of garlic powder.
- Add half of the butter mixture to each steak after it’s rested and allow it to slowly melt into the meat.
tips for best results
- Cook the steak at room temperature. The key to a perfectly cooked air fryer steak is to avoid putting the steak in the air fryer cold. Allow it to sit on the counter for 30 minutes or more before cooking.
- If using frozen steak, be sure to fully thaw it before cooking, and let it come all the way to room temperature.
- Try a different steak. This method will work to cook most types of steaks that are the same size and thickness as Ribeye. You can also check out our recipes for Air Fryer Flank Steak and Air Fryer Steak Bites for more ideas.
- Don’t overfill the air fryer. You should be able to fit two steaks in your air fryer easily, but in case your basket is smaller, cook just one at a time. You don’t want the steaks to be touching each other at all.
- Adjust the seasonings. Instead of just salt and pepper, season the steaks with Montreal steak seasoning, Italian Seasoning, or your favorite BBQ rub. You can also adjust the compound butter – I found this recipe for Chipotle Rib Eyes with Lime Butter that sounds delicious.
- Use a meat thermometer. An instant-read digital thermometer can help you to understand when your steak is cooked to your preference.
- Have leftovers? Try one of these Leftover Steak Recipes to turn them into a new dinner for tomorrow.
Doneness Temperatures
The absolute best way to ensure you’ll have a perfectly cooked steak is to monitor the temperature using an instant-read thermometer.
If you are unsure about the size of your steak or how fast your air fryer cooks, begin checking the temperature of the steak after 5 minutes and check it every 1-2 minutes after that.
Note that your meat will continue to cook a bit while it’s resting. So remove the ribeye from the air fryer when it’s about 5 degrees short of the goal. Here’s a handy list of steak temperatures:
- Rare: final temperature goal of 125°F. Remove steak from air fryer at 120°F
- Medium-Rare: final temperature goal of 130°F. Remove steak from air fryer at 125°F
- Medium: final temperature goal of 140°F. Remove steak from air fryer at 135°F
- Medium-Well: final temperature goal of 150°F. Remove steak from air fryer at 145°F
- Well Done: final temperature goal of 160°F. Remove steak from air fryer at 155°F
What To Serve With Ribeye
Steak and Potatoes are always the best combination. Make crispy homemade Air Fryer French Fries, or Roast Baby Potatoes in the Air Fryer.
If you’d rather make your side dishes without the air fryer, you’ll want to try our comforting Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese, Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Sweet Potatoes, or classic Ranch Mashed Potatoes.
FAQs
Because this is such a simple recipe, you want to choose a tasty steak to start with. Try to find USDA Prime (or Choice) beef, and look for plenty of marbling in the meat.
For the herb butter here I’ve found that adding fresh garlic is a bit overpowering. Garlic powder gives the butter a more subtle garlic flavor. Roasted garlic or garlic confit can also be used.
Dried herbs will not be very tasty in this recipe, as they are added directly to the butter and not cooked or rehydrated at all. Pick up fresh rosemary, parsley, and thyme instead. If you don’t have all of these, use what you do have.
Keep leftover ribeye in an airtight container for up to two days. Enjoy it cold, or follow my easy how to reheat steak in the air fryer instructions.
Air Fryer Ribeye
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
For the Steaks
- 2 boneless ribeye steaks about ¾” thick
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
For the Herb Butter (Optional)
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 2 teaspoons fresh minced parsley
- ½ teaspoon fresh minced thyme
- ½ teaspoon fresh minced rosemary
- ½ teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
For the Steaks
- Bring the steaks to room temperature by allowing them to sit on the counter for at least 15 minutes (or up to 1 hour) before cooking.
- Preheat your air fryer using the preheat function or by heating it at 400ºF/204ºC for 5 minutes.
- Rub your ribeyes with olive oil (on both sides) and season them (on both sides) with salt and pepper.
- Cook the steaks at 400ºF/204ºC for 7 minutes (for medium-rare) or 10 minutes (for well-done), or until your desired doneness. I highly recommend checking the temperature of your steak with an instant read thermometer– check out the notes below for timing and temperature recommendations.
- Allow the steaks to rest for 5 minutes while you prepare the herb butter.
For the Herb Butter
- Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Divide the butter between the steaks and enjoy.
Notes
- The key to a perfectly cooked air fryer steak is to avoid putting the steak in the air fryer cold. Allow it to sit on the counter for 30 minutes or more before cooking.
- If using frozen steak, be sure to fully thaw it before cooking, and let it come all the way to room temperature.
- This method will work to cook most types of steaks that are the same size and thickness as Ribeye.
- Don’t overfill the air fryer. You should be able to fit two steaks in your air fryer easily, but in case your basket is smaller, cook just one at a time. You don’t want the steaks to be touching each other at all.
- Adjust the seasonings. Instead of just salt and pepper, season the steaks with Montreal steak seasoning, Italian Seasoning, or your favorite BBQ rub.
- Have leftovers? Try one of these Leftover Steak Recipes to turn them into a new dinner for tomorrow.
- Use a meat thermometer. An instant-read digital thermometer can help you to understand when your steak is cooked to your preference. Remove the steaks from the air fryer to rest when they are about 5 degrees F less than what you’re aiming for on this list.
- Rare: 125°F
- Medium-Rare: 130°F
- Medium: 140°F
- Medium Well: 150°F
- Well Done: 160°F
