Air Fryer Tuna Steaks

Name: Air Fryer Tuna Steaks
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari); 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 tablespoon sliced green onions (for garnish); 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (for garnish)

It’s easy to make air fryer tuna steaks at home that are just as good, if not better than you’ve ever had in a restaurant!

closeup view of an air fried ahi tuna steak topped with sesame seeds and green onion. The steak has been sliced to show the pink inside color and texture.

What People Are Saying

“I saw this recipe today and something told me I had to try it. Well, I'm so glad I did! The recipe is flawless and so delicious - even my husband, who isn't the world's biggest fan of tuna, enjoyed it!”

Faye Houghton 2 MORE COMMENTS

Recipe Overview

This recipe for Tuna Steaks in the air fryer uses a simple Asian-inspired marinade packed with the delicious flavors of soy, honey, garlic, and lime.

You’ll have perfectly seared, medium-rare air fryer Tuna Steaks, in just a few minutes!

If you love Asian flavors, you should also try making Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken!

List of ingredients

The ingredients for air fryer tuna steaks measured into small bowls on a marble counter, viewed from above.

Tuna Steaks: You should be able to comfortably fit two 6-ounce tuna steaks in your air fryer basket.
Soy Sauce: The salty, umami base of our tuna marinade is soy sauce. Use regular or low sodium. You can also use tamari or coconut aminos if you prefer.
Sesame Oil: I love the nutty, Asian-style flavor that this oil gives the tuna.
Lime Juice: Get a tablespoon of fresh lime juice by juicing it yourself. Bottled lime juice is nice sometimes, but it’s just not as good as the real thing.
Honey: To balance the sour and salty flavors in the marinade.
Garlic: Just mince up one clove to toss into the tuna marinade.
Kosher Salt: Just a pinch makes this marinade extra flavorful. You can leave this out if you’re watching your sodium.
Garnish: Top your cooked tuna steaks with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and some thinly sliced green onion.

How to make this Tuna

a collage of six numbered images showing how to make tuna steaks in air fryer

Make the marinade for the tuna by combining soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, honey, minced garlic, and salt in a large bowl.
Add the tuna steaks to the bowl and toss to cover with the marinade. Be sure to spoon some of the minced garlic onto the top of the steaks.
Marinate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, or up to 1 hour.
Place the marinated tuna steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid letting the steaks touch each other, give them lots of room.
Air Fry Tuna Steaks at 380°F/ 190°C as directed in the recipe below. Flip them over halfway through the cooking time so that they are seared on both sides. The cooking time will depend on how rare or well done you’d like your tuna steaks, so be sure to check the recipe card for the details.
Rest the tuna steaks for 1-2 minutes before serving them, topped with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with fresh lime wedges too!

How to tell when it’s done

a ridged white plate holding two air fryer tuna steaks, garnished with lime wedges, sliced green onion, and sesame seeds

Tuna steaks do not have to be fully cooked all the way through. Many restaurants and home cooks serve tuna steaks Medium Rare, which is an internal temperature of 125°F/ 52°C.

At this temperature, the inside will be pink and the outside of the tuna will be an opaque light orange color.

Look for these temperatures when considering doneness:

Well Done Tuna Steak: no more than 150°F/ 65°C
Medium Tuna Steak: 140°F/ 60°C
Medium Rare Tuna Steak: at least 125°F/ 52°C
Rare Tuna Steak: 115°F/ 46°C

Serving fish that is less than well done can be risky, as there may be certain parasites or bacteria in raw Tuna that can make you sick.

If you like to follow FDA guidelines, they recommend cooking all fish to an internal temperature of 145°F/ 63°C.

That being said, raw tuna is often served in sushi and other dishes, so it is generally considered safe to consume in moderation.

How to Serve Tuna Steaks

horizontal image showing a dinner plate filled with air fried tuna steaks. One has been sliced. There are lime wedges on the plate and a silver fork is holding a piece of fish.

This air fryer fish has lots of Asian flair, so it will be most delicious with jasmine rice and steamed veggies, or my delicious Air Fryer Fried Rice.

You might also like to try Air Fryer Dumplings or some easy Air Fryer Egg Rolls.

Make a healthy salad! Use this grilled tuna salad recipe, but instead of grilling the fish, make it in the air fryer instead.

Recipe Substitutions

Instead of honey, you can use any sweetener that you enjoy. This recipe pairs honey, lime and soy together in a really delicious way, however, maple syrup or brown sugar will also work well.

To make this recipe gluten-free be sure to choose gluten-free soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminios instead of traditional soy sauce.

a triangular shaped whole tuna steak topped with sesame seeds and green onion on a white plate with lime wedges on the side.

How to thaw Tuna steaks

Buying tuna steaks frozen is often the most cost-effective option, especially if you don’t live very close to to ocean where fresh fish is readily available.

There are two ways to thaw frozen fish steaks or fillets:

Place the frozen tuna steaks in the refrigerator and allow them to thaw for 6-8 hours, or overnight.
Use a cold water bath. Place the frozen fish in a sealed bag, and place that bag in a large bowl of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep the temperature cold enough. Continue to do this until the fish is thawed.

Forgot to thaw them?

I always recommend that you allow frozen fish to thaw naturally, either in the refrigerator overnight or in a cold water bath for an hour or so.

Quickly thawing tuna will not give you the best texture, however, here’s how I suggest making this recipe if you don’t have time for a full thaw:

Cook the Tuna steaks in a preheated 380°F/190°C air fryer for 3-4 minutes. This will thaw the steaks partially so that you can marinate them, but won’t cook them all the way through.

Then follow this air fryer tuna steaks recipe to finish them. The marinating time in the fridge will thaw the fish the rest of the way.

FAQs

Is Tuna Healthier than Salmon?

Both fish are a healthy protein option with lots of protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. However, Tuna steaks contain less fat than salmon fillets and provide more protein than salmon too.

Yellowfin Tuna has higher mercury levels than many types of salmon, so it’s suggested that you enjoy this fish no more than once per week. Pregnant women are generally told to avoid tuna steaks.

What is Ahi Tuna?

Ahi is the Hawaiian name for what is more commonly known as yellowfin tuna. Ahi or Yellowfin is a firm, meaty fish that can stand up to grilling or searing.

It’s also commonly used in sushi or other raw applications like these ahi tuna nachos.

How long should I marinate Tuna Steak?

You should marinate the tuna steaks in the honey-soy and lime mixture for at least 20 minutes, but no longer than 1 hour. After an hour, the acid from the lime will start to break down the fish too much and will give you a mushy final dish.

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