How to cook ribeye in air fryer so it is juicy inside. This is by far the best way to cook steak with a tender cook on the inside and a bit of steak dry rub crispy outer texture. Use your Cosori or Ninja Foodi to make this protein packed dinner tonight.
Looking for how to cook ribeye in an air fryer, we’ve got you covered! This popular steak is great grilled but if you want the next best thing cooked inside, this is it. Just one of many easy air fryer recipes on our site this week. (affiliate links present)
Ribeye Steak in Air Fryer
Now if you had a forgetful moment and need to know how to cook frozen steak in air fryer we have those directions. This one is for a defrosted piece. You can make it super simple with just a few sprinkles of salt and pepper, or use our dry rub that is really popular.
For a protein packed meal with tons of flavor cooked quickly, this is it. No need to heat up your house with your oven or stoke up your grill for just one rib eye anymore. 😉
Jump to:
If you love extra crispy food and quick recipes, here are some resources to start with:
- My Favorite models are this Cosori or for a dual machine, the Foodi.
- You can find more Ninja Foodi recipes here as well; bookmark them both!
- It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. this is how to preheat air fryer first.
- Here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
How to Cook Rib Eye in Air Fryer
If you haven’t tried steak in an air fryer it really does turn out amazingly well. Texture is everything when it comes to cooking beef if you ask me. You want it just the right “pinkness” inside but an outside sear is a must for sure. There are SO many cuts out there but this one is pretty darn common, and popular.
Ribeye is it! As polled this cut was said to be the favorite when it came to flavor, tenderness and overall texture. It is a bit more expensive because essentially they are cut prime rib roast pieces.
6-8 minutes is about right. Of course the cook time for steak in air fryer or Ninja Foodi using the air crisp mode will vary depending on how large, thick, and well done you want it to be in the center.
Typically you want to keep the middle pink so it is juicy and tender. Medium rare is the most popular cook. Use a digital meat thermometer to check. Rare = 120 degrees –125 degrees, Medium Rare is 130°–135°, Medium = 140°–145°, and Medium Well = 150°–155°.
The most desirable quality of a steak is that it has some fat to provide flavor and tender meat. As you can see, this does have a bit of marbling which is good. You can find them bone-in or boneless in stores. The latter takes a bit less time to cook, the other is a bit harder to get an even cook.
No matter what piece you choose you will be pleasantly surprised at how well air fryer beef recipes turn out.
How do you pick a good ribeye steak?
You don’t want it incredibly lean. As opposed to a filet mignon you do want a decent amount of fat on it to bring out more of the natural flavors in the meat. Of course you can trim this off before eating it, or enjoy every single bite.
What should I season rib eye with?
The simple answer is a sprinkle of salt and pepper and then let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before cooking. This will allow the salt to dissolve, sink in, and create a more tender piece of beef. If you want bolder flavors you could use a bottled steak seasoning or our dry rub recipe linked below in the recipe card.
It isn’t entirely necessary but I do spray the basket with non stick spray just to ensure it won’t stick. If you use our rub you’ll want to do that since there is a bit of sugar in it. Season first and then lay 1-2 inside without overlapping them. Always preheat the air fryer to begin with so you can air fry at a steady temperature.
Rib Eye Steak in Air Fryer Ingredients
- Fresh or defrosted steak
- Salt and pepper
How to Cook Ribeye Steak in Air Fryer
This is a quick rundown of how it’s done:
- Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 350 F.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper or mix together or in a small bowl combine steak dry rub and rub that on all sides.
- Place into air fryer basket for 6 minutes at 350 F, then increase air fryer to 400 and cook for additional 2.
- * Timing will vary depending on how thick your steak is and how well done you want it. This 8 minutes for medium thickness was the perfect cook time to get a really juicy steak that depending on thickness will be medium rare.
There is not a need to flip halfway since the hot air will circulate around the meat. Always wait a good 10 minutes after you remove the steak before you slice it. This will keep it as moist as possible. Serve with some brown onion gravy on top.
What should I serve with steak?
You can serve this air fryer ribeye steak as is, with some melted garlic butter on top, or with A1 sauce.
- I often times make some corn in the air fryer with this if it is in season.
- If it is Winter time I might choose to make air fryer roasted potatoes instead since those are always in the store here in Idaho.
- An easy idea and a low carb option would be to just grab bagged salad and call it a day with that.
If you have leftovers you should always allow it to come to room temperature. Then slide into a freezer bag or a tightly sealed container. Store in the fridge and enjoy the next day. I like to reheat the next day, serve with Ninja Foodi rice.
Air Fry Rib Eye Recipe
If you want to try another method, give our t-bone bacon wrapped air fryer steak a whirl. These are incredible! I used the same rub underneath and the pig pieces add a tremendous amount of flavor to each piece.
Ribeye in Air Fryer
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 350 F.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper or mix together our steak dry rub and rub that on all sides.
- Air fry for 6 minutes at 350 F, then increase heat to 400 and cook for additional 2.
- * Timing will vary depending on how thick your steak is and how well done you want it. This was medium thickness and came out medium/medium rare.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
