7 Simple Air Fryer Beef Recipes

Turns out, your new air fryer isn’t just for making French fries and healthier versions of fried chicken. If you’re looking to switch things up a bit, why not use it to make beef-based dishes?

The air fryer cooks beef faster than your oven or stovetop do, and it’s much more convenient than going outside to use the grill. Plus, it gives the meat an irresistible texture and tenderness. 

If you’re looking for quick and easy meal ideas, this roundup is for you. Read on to discover seven of our favorite air fryer beef recipes, from steaks to burgers to roast beef. 

1. Air Fryer Steak

You don’t need to fire up the grill or labor over the stove to enjoy a tender, juicy steak. Making it in the air fryer is quick, simple, and requires almost no hands-on time. Not to mention, the air fryer gives the steak a delicious crust that’s impossible to achieve with other cooking methods. 

To take air fryer steak to the next level, top it with homemade garlic butter, made with parsley, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. 

1. Start by preparing the butter. Mix the ingredients until well combined, wrap the mixture in a piece of parchment paper in the shape of a log, and chill in the fridge until you’re ready to cook the steaks. 

2. Before you start on the steaks, make sure you leave them out of the fridge for a while to let them come to room temperature—this will ensure that they cook evenly. Season them with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. 

3. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the steaks in the air fryer basket in one layer and cook them for 6 minutes on each side. 

4. Once the steaks are out of the air fryer, top them with a slice of garlic butter and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving. The butter will melt and seep into the steaks, infusing them with even more flavor. 

5. Serve the steaks with mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli, or another side of your choice. 

2. Air Fryer Burgers

Hamburgers are a quick and simple dinner option that the whole family will love. They’re easy to cook, fun to assemble, and highly customizable to fit different tastes. 

To get hamburgers on the dinner table without firing up the grill, try making them in the air fryer. Not only is it more convenient, but it gives the meat patties a deliciously crispy outside, while keeping the inside nice and juicy. This method works well for both homemade and store bought frozen patties. 

1. Mix ground beef with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce and shape into patties. Skip this step if using frozen patties. 

2. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Place the patties in the air fryer basket in one layer, making sure they don’t touch. Depending on how many burgers you’re making and how big your air fryer is, you may need to do this in batches. 

3. If using homemade patties, cook them for 7 minutes on each side. Extend the time by 1-2 minutes for burgers that are more well done. If using store bought frozen patties, cook them for 10 minutes on each side. 

4. Serve on a toasted bun with your favorite toppings. Enjoy air fryer hamburgers with a salad or French fries.

3. Air Fryer Meatballs

Meatballs are typically fried on a stovetop, baked in the oven, or sometimes both! If that sounds like a lot of work, you’ll love making meatballs in the air fryer—it’s so quick that your meatballs might just be ready at the same time that your spaghetti is done boiling! 

These meatballs are made with a mixture of ground beef, ground pork, and Italian seasoning and go perfectly alongside pasta or in an Italian wedding soup. 

1. Mix together seasoned breadcrumbs, fresh parsley, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add in one egg and a bit of milk and mix to combine. 

2. Add ground beef and pork, mix well, and shape into meatballs. 

3. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the meatballs in a single layer inside the air fryer basket and cook at 380°F for 12-14 minutes. 

4. Serve with spaghetti and Marinara sauce, in a soup, on a sandwich, or in a salad. 

4. Air Fryer Beef Jerky

Who doesn’t love a quick road trip stop at a gas station for some jerky? It’s filling, full of protein, and most importantly, delicious. 

We’ve been making jerky for thousands of years—drying meat was one of the best ways to preserve it before refrigerators and freezers came into the picture. And even now, when we have the luxury of preserving meat in other ways, jerky remains a top choice snack on long trips and outdoor adventures. 

Store bought jerky, however, tends to be expensive and is often packed with an unnecessary amount of preservatives. The good news is that you can make beef jerky at home, and you don’t even need a dehydrator—simply use your air fryer at a low temperature to achieve the same effect. 

1. Start by slicing a sirloin steak (or another cut) into thin strips. 

2. Prepare a teriyaki marinade by mixing together soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, ground ginger, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes. Marinate the steak strips for 12-24 hours, mixing and turning them every now and then. 

3. Dehydrate the steak strips in the air fryer at 180°F for 2 hours, turning them over every 30 minutes. 

5. Air Fryer Beef Roast

Roast beef is a classic dish served at holidays and on special occasions. You probably wouldn’t think of serving it for a regular weeknight dinner, since it takes about two hours to cook in the oven. Well, with an air fryer, you can! 

Air fryer roast takes only 35 minutes to cook. Simply season the meat and let the circulating hot air do its thing. In less than half the time that it takes with a traditional oven, you’ll be cutting into a mouthwatering piece of tender roast beef. 

1. Start by preparing a seasoning mix by combining garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. 

2. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Pat the meat dry with a paper towel, coat it with a bit of olive oil, and rub in the seasoning mix. 

3. Cook the roast in the air fryer for 15 minutes, then flip it over. Reduce the temperature to 360°F and cook for an additional 20-30 minutes. 

4. Let the roast rest for 15 minutes before serving. 

6. Air Fryer Steak Fajitas

Fajitas are one of the easiest dinners you can make. Just prepare the filling and let your family or guests assemble them on their own. 

The air fryer makes delicious steak fajitas even simpler. There’s no need to marinade the meat, since the direct heat will help lock in tons of flavor.

With an air fryer, these fajitas can be ready in less than 20 minutes. All you have to do in the meanwhile is lay out the tortillas and prepare the toppings. 

1. You can use store-bought fajita seasoning or make your own by combining chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and salt. 

2. Start with a piece of sirloin steak. Pat it dry, cut into cubes, and coat with a bit of olive oil and seasoning. You can also cut the steak into strips right away, but they might cook faster than the vegetables. 

3. Slice onions and bell peppers. Make sure the slices are large enough that they won’t fall through the grates of the air fryer basket. 

4. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Place the steak cubes and vegetables in the basket and gently shake it to help distribute some of the oil and seasoning onto the vegetables. Cook for 9 minutes, shaking again halfway through. 

5. Slice the steak cubes into strips before returning them to the vegetables and serving. 

6. Serve with warm flour tortillas and your favorite fajita toppings. 

7. Air Fryer Steak Kabobs

Did you ever think you could have grilled kabobs without stepping foot outside to use the grill? You can with an air fryer! 

These steak kebabs are made with a zesty marinade and share the skewers with colorful bell peppers and red onions. 

The best part? They take just 8-10 minutes to cook! 

1. To prepare the marinade, combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. 

2. Cut the steak in 1-inch cubes, cover completely with the marinade, and let rest in the fridge for up to 24 hours (the longer, the better). 

3. When you’re ready to cook, cut the bell peppers and onions to a size similar to the steak cubes. 

4. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 10 minutes to prevent them from burning in the air fryer. 

5. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Thread the steak cubes, peppers, and onions onto the skewers and place them in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping them over half-way through. 

6. Serve with roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, rice, or a salad.

Get the Most Out of Your Air Fryer 

The air fryer is a truly revolutionary appliance that will forever change how you cook some of your favorite beef-based dishes. For even more ideas, be sure to check out our post on Heart-Healthier Indulgences: 20 Air Fryer Dinner Ideas. 

Happy air frying! 

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Written By

Sayana Lam

Sayana is a musician, writer and graphic designer based in Toronto, Canada.

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