Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks

4.59 from 63 votes
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Air fryer ribeye steaks boast a rich, succulent flavor with a perfectly seared exterior that enhances the natural juiciness and robust beefiness of the meat.

two steaks in an air fryer basket with butter and chives on them

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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe – my goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

I want each reader to walk away with a solid knowledge of each recipe, with all of the tips I’ve gathered from extensive testing of each recipe. I also answer questions my friends and family have asked about my recipes, to help everyone better understand the processes we use – and why!

two steaks with butter and chives on them

Perfect Ribeye Steaks in the Air Fryer

Grab some ribeye steaks, your air fryer, and set aside 20 minutes – and you’re about to have a knockout steak like you never thought you could make at home. Add some butter to melt over the top and a great side dish, and you have an amazing steak dinner in no time!

I’m going to show you how to use your air fryer to mimic the ultra high heat needed for restaurant quality steak – right from your own kitchen, without having to fire up the grill or worry about a ton of smoke.

We’re going to walk you through the steps – from buying steaks to preparing them – to help you make a great ribeye dinner right in your air fryer, from start to finish.

We hope you love this recipe as much as we do.

Air fried steaks are tender, juicy, and delicious – they are one of my favorite way to get steakhouse quality ribeyes at home. If you have an air fryer that goes over 400 degrees (the higher, the better), you’re going to LOVE this recipe!

Just like our Air Fryer New New York Strip Steaks, our Air Fryer Tri Tip Steak, and our Air Fryer London Broil Recipe, this recipe brings you tender, juicy, delicious steak right from your air fryer. It takes less than 20 minutes for a juicy steak to get to your plate, and there’s almost no prep or cleanup work! Serve this steak with some dinner rolls, a lobster tail, broccolini, rice pilaf, or garlic roasted potatoes for a dinner you’ll want again and again.

These air fryer steaks are awesome for a lot of reasons, including:

  • Air frying steaks cuts down on smoke and cooking smells compared with broiling, so your kitchen stays clean!
  • Air fryers get hotter than some broilers quick – so you can char steak fast without overcooking.
  • Ribeye steaks are low carb and work great in keto diets!
  • Ribeye is rich, hearty, and large – while expensive, it can serve 2. (Or 1 really hungry adult.)
  • There is almost NO cleanup – wash out your air fryer and you’re done!
  • It’s super easy to get a perfect temperature for your steak – we’re going to share the right temperature to cook to so it’s exactly how you like it!
a steak in an air fryer basket with butter and chives on them

How To Air Fry Ribeye Steaks

To make this recipe, you will need:

  • 2 large ribeye steaks
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon aleppo or cayenne pepper
  • 2 tbsp compound butter

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will follow this process:

  • Prep. Let steaks come to room temperature and season well. Preheat air fryer to scorching hot.
  • Air fry. Air fry steak according to your temperature preference, flipping once in the middle of cooking. Let rest in air fryer to carryover cook for medium well or well done. Let rest on cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing.
  • Serve. Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks For Perfect Air Fried Ribeye Steaks

Air frying steaks is insanely easy – even if you’ve never made steaks before – but there are a few simple tips and tricks we’ve found to help you have a great steak dinner, every time you make it!

Make a compound butter. We love topping our steak with a compound butter – basically a butter that we mix with chives, garlic powder, and some herbs before chilling. You can make your own compound butter with whatever herbs and flavors you love (plan for about 1/2 cup softened butter and a couple teaspoons fresh or dried herbs.) You’ll mix together the softened butter, herbs, and spices, and then spoon into parchment paper and roll into a “log” shape to be refrigerated. Once your butter sets, you can slice little pats that are perfect to top steaks, pork chops, lobster tails, chicken thighs, and all sorts of dinners with!

  • 1/2 cup high-quality unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh minced chives
  • 1/4 tsp coarse salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Cook ribeye steak to the ideal temperature. To find your ideal cooking temperature, you can follow our easy chart below:

  • Rare – 125 degrees (steak will be soft to the touch – not firm at all, deep red/purple and slightly cool in middle)
  • Medium Rare – 135 degrees (steak will be a bit soft, and red in middle)
  • Medium – 145 degrees (steak will be more firm, and have a bit of pink in middle)
  • Medium Well – 155 degrees (steak will be mostly firm and have no pink)
  • Well – 165 degrees (steak will be very firm and have absolutely no pink whatsoever.)

What steak to buy. Ribeyes have lots of fat marbling, which makes them perfect to air fry – their higher fat content can drip on a grill and cause flame-ups, but in an air fryer that is enclosed, there is no fire risk since the burner isn’t underneath the steaks! For the best ribeye, we reccomend looking for steaks that:

  • Look for thicker steaks – the thicker, the better! Generally, we like steaks thicker than 1″.
  • Know what grade steak you’re getting. Prime cuts are usually what you’re eating in a restaurant, with the most marbling. Choice cuts are the highest many grocery stores carry – and are a great quality pick, with less marbling than prime and a bit of a lower price tag. Select cuts have the least amount of marbling and are the least expensive.
  • Ribeye steaks come bone-in or boneless – either can be used for this recipe. Cooking with the bone in might impact how your steak fits in your air fryer basket, but it does provide flavor and the fat around the bone keeps a ribeye tender and juicy. Which you select is a personal choice for this recipe!
  • Let ribeye come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
    • Cold ribeye steak won’t caramelize and sear properly, room-temperature steak will have the most juicy, melt-in-your-mouth flavor and perfectly seared crust!
  • Pat steak dry with paper towel if there is any moisture from packaging. 
    • Moisture leftover from packaging is common unless you bought dry-aged steaks – be sure to pat steaks dry to get a perfectly seared crust so your steaks sear, not boil.
  • Salt and pepper steak generously before cooking. 
  • Preheat air fryer for at least 10 minutes. 
    • I can’t undersell the importance of heating your air fryer basket to be scaldingly hot before placing steaks in the basket – you want the air to be hot, the basket to be scalding, and the motor warmed up ready to start searing the second the steaks hit the fryer basket!
steak with chives and butter on it

FAQs

When is steak done?

For a medium rare steak, cook to 135 degrees internal temperature.
Rare – 125 degrees
Medium Rare – 135 degrees
Medium – 145 degrees
Medium Well – 155 degrees
Well – 165 degrees
all degrees Fahrenheit

How long to broil ribeye steak?

For a medium rare ribeye steak, broil for 12-15 minutes.
Rare – 10-12 minutes
Medium Rare – 12-15 minutes
Medium – 13-16 minutes
Medium Well – 15-17 minutes
Well – 16-18 minutes

How long does ribeye steak last?

Ribeye steak can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

How do I clean my air fryer after cooking steak?

Allow the air fryer to cool down, then remove the basket and pan to wash them with warm soapy water. If there are any tough residues, soaking for a few minutes can help. Ensure the air fryer is completely dry before reassembling.

Can I add vegetables or other sides in the air fryer with the steak?

Yes, you can cook vegetables alongside the steak, but make sure there’s enough space for air to circulate. It’s best to choose vegetables that can cook in a similar timeframe as the steak.

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

It’s best to thaw the steak completely before cooking to ensure even cooking and the best texture. Cooking from frozen can lead to uneven cooking and a less desirable texture.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks

Steaks are classically served with baked potatoes (we love our perfect air fryer baked potatoes!), or some asparagus – we also love serving steak with a red pepper farro salad, delicious baked carrot fries, or garlic roasted brussels sprouts!

For more delicious and easy side dish recipes, visit our archives below:

Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks Recipe

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two steaks in an air fryer basket with butter and chives on them

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4.59 from 63 votes

Air Fryer Ribeye Steak

By: Courtney O’Dell
Servings: 2 steaks
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
An Air Fryer Ribeye Steak cooking in a pot.
Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks Recipe – delicious tender, juicy ribeye steaks cooked to perfect medium rare in the air fryer!

Ingredients 

  • 2 large ribeye steaks
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
  • ยผ teaspoon aleppo or cayenne pepper
  • 2 tbsp compound butter

Instructions 

  • Let steaks come to room temperature, set on counter about 20-30 minutes before cooking.
  • Preheat air fryer to the highest temperature it allows (at least 400, preferably 450-500 degrees.)
  • As air fryer preheats, prepare steaks. Pat ribeye steaks dry with paper towel, making sure there is no packaging liquid or water on steaks at all.
  • Rub steaks with softened butter.
  • Generously season steaks with salt, pepper, and cayenne or aleppo pepper.
  • When air fryer is preheated and scorching hot, place steaks in clean air fryer basket using long handled tongs.
  • Air fry at 450-500 (the highest temperature you can air fry at) for 8 minutes.
  • Flip steak, cook 5-6 more. Gauge steak temperature and cook to 135 degrees for medium rare.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 11gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 645mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Steak
Cuisine: air fryer
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcsdesigns or tag #sweetcsdesigns!

About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style at lifestyle blog Sweet Cโ€™s Designs. Sweet C's devoted to finding the best food and drinks you'll want to make or find, around the world!

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4.59 from 63 votes (63 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. Heather says:

    Went to grill our steaks last night only to find our grill wasn’t working. Air fryer for the save! Looked up recipes and yours popped up. I had all the ingredients so it came together fast. The only downside is that we could only air fry two steaks at a time so it took a bit to cook six total. Super tender and yummy! Thanks!

    1. Courtney ODell says:

      Yea… The air fryer works great, but batching really can be a pain. I have seen some air fryers with shelves, I have been thinking of getting one for things like this.

  2. Ronald L Davis says:

    I like the recipe,I wanted to see what brand air fryer was used for this.

    1. Katherine says:

      Hi Ronald, I use the Ninja Max XL, I love the capacity it has and features, you can find it at this link.