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Air Fryer Sirloin Steak is one of my favorite ways to get a juicy, flavorful steak on the table without firing up the grill or dealing with a smoky skillet. A simple blend of pantry seasonings gives the steak tons of flavor, then a little butter melts over the top while it rests. It’s an easy steak dinner for busy nights when you’re craving something that feels a little special without the steakhouse price tag.
Table of Contents
- Kellie’s Note Steak Night In
- Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- Ingredients For Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- How to Make an Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- How Long to Cook Sirloin Steak in the Air Fryer
- Kellie’s Tips for the Best Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- What to Serve With Sirloin Steak
- How to Store Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Sirloin Steak Recipe
- Air Fryer Sirloin Steak FAQs
Kellie’s Note
Steak Night In
When I finally caved and bought an air fryer, the first thing I made (other than frozen French fries) was this Air Fryer Sirloin Steak. I had no idea what I was missing this whole time.
Sirloin Steak in the air fryer cooks up perfectly seared and incredibly juicy. It’s so easy, too. Paired with your favorite vegetable and a crispy oven baked potato with a wedge salad on the side, you’ll never have to visit a steakhouse again.
This Air Fryer Sirloin Steak recipe has become one of my favorite back-pocket dinners because there’s no standing over a hot skillet, no running outside to the grill and very little cleanup afterward. The steak cooks quickly at high heat, and the simple garlic-paprika seasoning creates a savory exterior while the inside stays tender and juicy.
I tested this recipe for over a year to ensure it’s quick, easy and absolutely fool-proof. If you don’t have an air fryer already, this is your sign to get one stat.
Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
There’s a lot to love about cooking steak in the air fryer, especially when you’re trying to get dinner on the table without turning it into an entire production.
- Great for weeknights. While the steak cooks and rests, you can throw together a salad or quick vegetable and call dinner done.
- Quick and easy. There are only a few minutes of hands-on prep before the air fryer takes over.
- Simple ingredients. No marinade or complicated steak rub required—just a handful of seasonings you probably already have.
- Less mess. You can skip the splattering skillet and smoky kitchen.
- Easy to customize. Cook your sirloin steak to your preferred doneness with the help of an instant-read thermometer.
- Steakhouse vibes at home. A buttery, juicy steak scratches that restaurant-steak itch without the restaurant bill.
Ingredients For Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
The complete measurements are in the recipe card below, but here’s what you’ll need and where you have a little flexibility.
- Sirloin Steak – I use individual sirloin steaks for this recipe. Try to choose steaks that are similar in size and thickness so they finish cooking at roughly the same time. Top sirloin works beautifully here, too.
- Olive Oil – Just enough to lightly coat the outside of the steak and help all those seasonings cling to it. Avocado oil is a good substitute if that’s what you keep on hand.
- Seasonings – Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika and onion powder make an easy savory steak seasoning without overpowering the beef. You can add a tiny pinch of cayenne for some heat or swap in your favorite steak seasoning blend. Just keep an eye on the salt if your blend already contains it.
- Butter – A little butter melting over the hot steak is the easiest finishing touch ever. Salted or unsalted both work; if you use salted butter, just keep that in mind when seasoning the steak. Or use my favorite Cowboy Butter Recipe
- Fresh Parsley – Totally optional, but it adds a fresh finish and a little color. Rosemary, thyme or chives would also be delicious.
How to Make an Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
Making steak in the air fryer is surprisingly simple. The biggest thing to remember is that thickness, starting temperature and your particular air fryer can all affect cooking time, so your thermometer is more important than the clock.
- Take off the chill. Let the steaks sit out for about 20–30 minutes before cooking. It’s the perfect time to start whatever sides you’re serving.
- Dry and season. Pat the steak really well with paper towels. You want the surface dry rather than damp. Rub with olive oil, then season both sides generously with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and onion powder.
- Get the air fryer hot. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 3 minutes. Starting with a hot basket gets the steak cooking right away.
- Air fry. Arrange the steaks in a single layer with a little breathing room around each one. Cook at 400°F, flipping halfway through. By the end, the seasonings should look deeply savory and browned and the steak should feel slightly springy when pressed.
- Check the temperature. This is the part where I trust my instant-read thermometer instead of trying to guess. Check the thickest part of the steak near the end of the suggested cooking time.
- Butter and rest. Transfer the steak from the air fryer and immediately top it with butter. Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing so you don’t lose all those juices onto your cutting board.
How Long to Cook Sirloin Steak in the Air Fryer
Use these times as a starting point when cooking your steak in the air fryer at 400°F:
- Rare: 6–8 minutes
- Medium-Rare: 8–10 minutes
- Medium: 10–12 minutes
- Medium-Well: 12–13 minutes
Always flip the steak approximately halfway through the cooking time.
- Rare: 125°F
- Medium-Rare: 135°F
- Medium: 145°F
- Medium-Well: 150°F
Keep in mind that steak continues to warm slightly as it rests and that thicker steaks may require another 1–3 minutes.
For food-safety purposes, USDA guidance recommends cooking whole beef steaks to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F followed by at least a 3-minute rest.
I love this Air Fryer because it’s easy to use, easy to clean and has 9 different cooking modes. The price is right, too!
Kellie’s Tips for the Best Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- Don’t skip the thermometer. Air fryers cook at different rates and steaks vary in thickness. An instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out of dinner.
- Pat the steak dry. Excess surface moisture works against browning. Give those steaks a really good blot with paper towels before adding the oil and seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer. For this recipe, I like having the basket already hot before the steak goes in.
- Give the steaks some room. Don’t overlap or cram them together. The hot air needs to circulate around the meat, so cook in batches if necessary.
- Flip halfway through. It helps both sides cook and brown more evenly.
- Remember that thickness matters. A thicker sirloin may need another 1–3 minutes while a thinner steak can finish much faster. Start checking early rather than discovering you went too far.
- Rest before slicing. Five to 10 minutes can feel like an eternity when that butter is melting all over your steak, but resist. Slicing immediately lets more of the juices escape.
- Slice against the grain. Once your steak has rested, look at the direction of the muscle fibers and cut across them rather than parallel to them for a more tender bite.
- Want more flavor? Add a pinch of cayenne to the seasoning for a subtle kick or finish your steak with fresh rosemary.
What to Serve With Sirloin Steak
Turn this Air Fryer Sirloin Steak into a complete dinner with any of these easy sides:
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Crispy Baked Potato in the Oven
- Sautéed Mushrooms
- Roasted Green Beans
- Baked Asparagus
- mashed potatoes
- A crisp wedge salad
If I’m trying to keep dinner extra easy, air fryer roasted potatoes and a green vegetable are pretty much perfection. And if I’m leaning all the way into steakhouse night at home, bring on the mashed potatoes and mushrooms.
How to Store Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- Store leftover Air Fryer Sirloin Steak in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. USDA guidance lists cooked beef at 3–4 days under refrigeration.
- For the best texture, I recommend storing the steak whole instead of slicing everything in advance. It helps hold onto more moisture.
- To reheat, warm the steak gently so you don’t cook a perfectly medium steak all the way to well-done. You can pop it back into the air fryer at a lower temperature just until warmed or reheat it gently on the stovetop.
- And don’t overlook cold leftover steak – it’s fantastic sliced thin for salads, wraps and sandwiches.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Once the air fryer is out on the counter, you might as well put it to work. Try a few more of my easy favorites:
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Crispy Air Fryer Salmon
- Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Juicy Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Air Fryer Sirloin Steak Recipe
Equipment
- air fryer
- measuring spoons
- whisk
- kitchen tongs
- Instant Read Thermometer
Ingredients
- 2 sirloin steaks, about 8 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- Remove the sirloin steaks from the refrigerator and allow them to sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes.
- Pat the steaks thoroughly dry with paper towels. Rub both sides with olive oil.
- Season both sides of the steaks evenly with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika and onion powder.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for approximately 3 minutes.
- Arrange the steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving room between them for air to circulate.
- Air fry at 400°F according to your desired doneness: 6–8 minutes for rare, 8–10 minutes for medium-rare, 10–12 minutes for medium or 12–13 minutes for medium-well. Flip the steaks halfway through cooking.
- Check the thickest portion of each steak with an instant-read thermometer and adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Remove the steaks from the air fryer and immediately top with butter.
- Rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- Air fryer models vary, so begin checking your steak toward the early end of the cooking range.
- Thick sirloin steaks may need an additional 1–3 minutes of cooking time.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook the steaks in batches if necessary.
- For a spicy variation, add a pinch of cayenne to the seasoning.
- Fresh rosemary can be added for another easy flavor variation.
- Use an instant-read thermometer rather than relying solely on cooking time.
- Your recipe’s doneness guide is: rare 125°F, medium-rare 135°F, medium 145°F and medium-well 150°F. USDA food-safety guidance recommends whole beef steaks reach at least 145°F and rest for at least 3 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Air Fryer Sirloin Steak FAQs
Can you cook sirloin steak in an air fryer?
Absolutely. Sirloin works really well in the air fryer because it cooks quickly at high heat. An instant-read thermometer is the easiest way to keep track of your preferred doneness.
What temperature should I cook sirloin steak in the air fryer?
For this Air Fryer Sirloin Steak recipe, preheat the air fryer and cook the steak at 400°F.
Do you have to flip steak in the air fryer?
For my recipe, yes. I flip the steak halfway through cooking so both sides have a chance to cook and brown evenly.
How do you keep sirloin steak from getting tough?
The biggest thing is not overcooking it. Sirloin is leaner than something like ribeye, so I start checking the internal temperature early rather than relying only on cooking time. Resting the steak before slicing and cutting against the grain also helps.
How long does sirloin steak take in the air fryer?
Depending on how you like your steak cooked, this recipe takes approximately 6–13 minutes at 400°F. Thickness and air fryer models vary, so treat cooking times as a guideline and check the internal temperature.
