Air Fryer Ribeye Steak

This air fryer ribeye steak recipe is everything a weeknight dinner should be, quick, easy and delicious! It is briefly marinated for extra flavor and cooked in your air fryer to the perfect preferred doneness. Just add a side dish and enjoy a juicy steak dinner you will want to put on repeat.

We love steak in our house and since there are so many ways to cook it, it never gets boring! There are so many different cuts available, why not try some of my other air fryer recipes like Air Fryer Flank Steak, Blackened steak or Air Fryer Steak Bites for dinner soon!

Why this recipe is just so good...

• Rib eye steak is a delicious cut of meat for dinner. It has just the right amount of fat to make it full of flavor and very juicy and tender. This popular steak would definitely be competition for a restaurant-quality dinner.
• We love having alternative ways to cook our meals. No grill or not the perfect grilling weather? Just pull out your air fryer! The steak won't get the crispy crust on the outside unless you finish it in a cast iron skillet or fry pan. But if you just want quick, tender and flavorful, this is it. The steak cooks is less than 15 minutes. And a bonus is the easy clean-up!

Ingredient Notes

These are the ingredients you will need to make ribeye in an air fryer. (Full instructions are in the recipe card below).

• Even though ribeye is quite flavorful on its own, a simple marinade will add even more tenderness and flavor to the beef. Just 20-30 minutes is needed.
• If you want to skip the marinade and save some time, just use about 1 tablespoon of olive oil to spread over the beef. And make a simple dry rub of ½ teaspoon each salt, pepper, garlic powder. Or use your favorite steak seasoning.

How to cook Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks

Step 1: Combine ingredients for marinade and stir well.  Place steaks in a plastic storage bag or large glass bowl.  Pour marinade over and let sit for 20 minutes.

Step 2: Preheat Air Fryer to 400°F or as close to that temperature as possible.

Step 3: Drain marinade and discard.  Lightly pat steaks dry with paper towel.  Place steaks in air fryer basket in a flat even layer.  Don't crowd the steak or put them on top of each other.

Step 4: Air fry steaks for 5 minutes on one side,  flip over and cook for another 5 minutes or it has a nice golden crust.

Step 5: Test meat with internal meat thermometer. The internal temperature for your steak will be based on how you like it done: 130°F will be medium rare, 140°F is medium and 150°F will be medium well.  Cook another 1-2 minutes if needed for desired temperature.

Step 6: Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing to allow juices to reabsorb back into the meat.

Cooking Tips

• Place room temperature steaks in a single layer in air fryer so as not to crowd them and cause steaming. If you are cooking more steaks, air fry them in batches.
• Always use tongs instead of a fork to move/flip the steak. Using a fork will pierce the meat and the juices will run out.
• The total cooking time will depend on the thickness of the steak. Also the size of your air fryer may vary the cook time. I am using a Phillips XL air fryer brand.
• Let the steak rest a few minutes after cooking for the juices to reabsorb into the meat. This will guarantee a perfectly juicy steak dinner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the perfect ribeye steak?

Choosing the perfect ribeye is fairly easy. According to Steak Revolution, it may be labeled Delmonico or Spencer, which is the same as a ribeye. Look for a steak that is between ¾" and 1" thick. If you use too thin of a steak, it is more likely that you may overcook it.
If you can, select organic or grass fed beef for best quality.
Pick a steak that has some marbling of fat in the center of the beef.

Should steak be marinated?

It is not necessary to marinate ribeye steak since they have a good amount of fat running through the meat. I do prefer it since I think it gives the steak the best flavor. It is a personal preference. You can make a simple dry rub recipe of garlic powder, salt, black pepper and some optional steak seasoning, such as Montreal steak seasoning.

However, a simple marinade will add extra flavor and tenderness to an already great steak. 20-30 minutes is the minimum amount of time needed. Marinating steak longer than 8 hours is not recommended, especially for a tender steak such as ribeye. The acid in the marinade will begin to break down the fibers in the meat and it will become mushy

Can you put marinated steak in an air fryer?

Absolutely, but since the air fryer doesn't get as hot as an indoor or outdoor grill, always preheat it at the highest temperature your model has, usually 400-425°F. Also, make sure you pat dry the beef to ensure you are cooking and not steaming the meat.

What to serve with a Ribeye Steak?

Steak seems to go well with many side dishes but if you want to keep it on the lighter side, some simple vegetables would be perfect. We served ours with some sautéed onions and cherry tomatoes.

You may want to try some Marinated Asparagus, Air fryer mushrooms or some Sweet and Spicy Brussels Sprouts.

Also, steak and salad are a fantastic combination. Try my Butter Lettuce Salad or Red lettuce salad with creamy garlic dressing.

And you can also top the steak with some garlic butter or some blue cheese dipping sauce.

Here are more delicious steak recipes to try:

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