Dry Rub Air Fryer Flank Steak

Air fryer flank steak is fabulous! Marinated or using a dry rub this beef comes out tender medium rare and pink on the inside with a little crisp on the outside. Make in your Ninja Foodi or Cosori this week.

Flank Steak in Air Fryer

Have you bought this cut of beef before at the grocery store? It isn’t the most common I suppose but it’s quite lean and very flavorful if you use the right seasonings and cook it right. What is the best way? Well we’re here to show you. 😉

There are so many ways to cook meat right, we are here to compare them all depending on the time of year. Of course I love our slow cooker flank steak recipe which I do make year round. This doesn’t get the outside crisp at all though, and I love that.

Ok so then you could get that in the oven right? Well during the summertime that isn’t going to happen when it is 100 degrees outside. Get ready to ditch your grill this weekend because this may be a game changer for your next dinner. Even my kids loved this easy air fryer beef recipe.

Flank Steak Air Fryer Medium Rare

You don’t want to cook this one too long. With beef you can leave it pink inside and be okay. In fact that will keep it more moist and tender like you want it to be. This is how it will turn out with this timing as long as it is of similar thickness and size.

How to marinate flank steak for tenderness

You could use our fajita marinade the night before and that adds a ton of flavor for sure. Before adding you could pound it with a meat mallet too. This time we instead just used a simple dry rub but using our tri tip dry rub is fantastic too. That one has some sweetness to it though so if you just want simple use just salt and pepper.

A bit of cajun seasoning was added this round for a bit of a kick of heat. Use it sparingly or you may regret it but a little is a really nice addition to the outside flavors. It will get a nice crust on the outside and seals in all the goodness you rub on at the beginning.

Is flank steak a good cut of meat?

It really is but you need to know how to cook it properly. You should never overcook it or it will get chewy and dry. Instead get the internal meat temperature to be medium and nothing more. Cooking it low and slow in your slow cooker is good too. For that follow our Crockpot flank steak recipe here.

Ninja Foodi Flank Steak

Depending on how large your piece is you could fit 1-2 pieces in your basket at a time. You do NOT want them to overlap for sure. We’re looking for a very even cook on all sides for optimal tenderness and flavor.

If you use our sweeter dry rub for this or on our air fryer ribeye steak you’ll want to spray the basket or it may stick a bit.

What is the best way to slice flank steak?

Similar to a “regular” air fryer steak, you’re going to want to allow it to rest first. Then grab a sharp knife and slice each piece thin and against the grain. This will allow you to chew it easier as you break apart the muscle fibers with every cut. The thicker the pieces the more “tough” they will seem to you.

How to Cook Flank Steak with Dry Rub in Air Fryer

• You’ll want to start this by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Mix together the different seasonings you want to use in small dish.
• Dab outside of steak with a paper towel to remove moisture. Rub seasoning mix all over.
• Spray inside of basket with non stick spray and lay steak flat inside.
• Cook for approximately 7-8 minutes depending on how well done you want it.
  • 7 minutes will typically make a 2 lb. steak medium rare which is ideal for this cut.
  • You can spray it with olive oil spray before the last minute to really crisp the
• Allow to rest for 5 minutes and then slice against the grain and serve.

It smells amazing when it is done y’all. Even my picky husband who sometimes doubts that “this thing” will taste as good as a grilled steak said it was fabulous.

What temperature should flank steak be?

You can check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer once you remove it. Ideally it should read 130 degrees F, then when resting it will increase by 5 degrees making it a perfect 135 degrees. This will ensure the middle will be tender and juicy. Serve with a glass of red wine and YUM!

Dry Rub Flank Steak Ingredients

• 1.5 – 2 lb flank steak
• Cajun seasoning
• Smoked paprika
• A pinch of salt

Cooking flank steak has seriously never been easier. Other than our Instant Pot steak, air frying steaks is super quick and an under 30 minute meal with prep, side dishes and everything taken into account.

If you want to add more flavors once sliced, you can offer soy sauce, Worcestershire and/or A1 sauce.

For other great cooked steak recipes see our other favorites below:

• If you love your slow cooker try Crockpot steak and potatoes some night.
• Air fryer chicken fried steak is great sliced into strips like this so you can dip them into sausage gravy and have a finger food kinda’ night.

Printable recipe including nutritional information like calories, saturated fat, etc is below. Keep in mind that the amounts will vary depending on your serving size and amount of fat on the cut you chose.