Name: Air Fryer Ribeye Steak
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 24 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 3 tbsp unsalted butter; 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves; 2 garlic cloves (, minced); ¼ tsp sea salt; ¼ tsp black pepper; 1 thick-cut rib eye steak ((or as many as you want to serve)); 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp salt ((coarse sea salt such as Maldon)); ½ tsp black pepper

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Is there anything better than a juicy ribeye steak? How about a juicy air fryer ribeye steak recipe? Quick and easy, requiring just four ingredients, air frying may be the best way we’ve found to produce a truly amazing and delicious steak.

A nice thick steak, olive oil, salt and pepper and just a few minutes in the air fryer is all you need to make a 100% delicious ribeye steak.

Serving it with garlic butter gives it that extra flavor boost that can makes this the perfect steak dinner for special occasions, just the best thing to impress your guests!

sliced rare steak topped with butter in air fryer

What Is a Ribeye Steak?

This cut of meat comes from the rib cage area of a cow, with lots of marbling that make it a particularly flavorful steak, and very tender and juicy when cooked over a high heat. Depending on where you live, it can either come as a boneless ribeye steak or bone-in.

raw thick cut ribeye steak seasoned with salt and pepper

Can I Use Other Cuts of Steak Than a Ribeye?

For the best results, it’s all about thickness of your steaks as well as some nice marbling for a truly juicy steak.

A thinner steak, like a skirt steak risks drying out, while filet mignon is usually too expensive. A nice New York strip is an option, but for our money rib eye really is the best cut of steak for the air fryer treatment.

Steak Temperature Chart

I can only give you approximate cooking times for your air fryer steak. They will vary depending on the thickness of your steak, whether you are cooking more than one at a time and the type of air fryer you have. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to gauge whether the steak is cooked safely and to your preferred level of doneness.

steak with chimichurri sauce on the side

How to Make Air Fryer Ribeye Steak

↓ For the full ingredients and detailed method, jump to the recipe card.

STEP 1 Take the steak out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature.

STEP 2 Pat the steak dry using a paper towel. Brush generously with olive oil on both sides. Follow this with coarse sea salt and black pepper on both sides. You can also add some steak seasoning (such as Montreal Steak) but it’s not really needed!

STEP 3 Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) on the grill or air fry setting for at least three minutes. Add the steak to the air fryer basket and cook for 6-7 minutes per side for a medium-rare thick steak. Make sure to flip the steak so it can brown evenly.

adding a ribeye steak into the basket of an air fryer

STEP 5 Check the steak’s internal temperature using a meat thermometer to see if it is cooked to your liking (referring to the table above). Rest the steak for 5 minutes so that the juices settle (don’t skip this no matter how hungry your are!).

STEP 6 Serve the steak with a pat garlic butter, allowing it to melt and enhance the flavor. Serve with french fries or baked potatoes for the perfect side dish!

Air fryer rib eye steak on a zinc surface, topped with a pat of garlic butter

Serving Suggestions

Making a quick flavored butter is the perfect accompaniment to this juicy steak! Simply add softened butter, minced garlic, fresh thyme, coarse salt and pepper to a small bowl. Mix until fully combined.

Wrap the garlic herb butter mixture in cling film and put in the freezer to chill. Roll flat then cut into small pats (I used a small heart-shaped cutter, it was Valentine’s Day) before serving.

Storing Air Fryer Ribeye Steak

Depending on the size of the ribeye, there probably won’t be any leftover steak, but if there is, it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can leftovers in a steak salad.