15 minutes is all you need to make a juicy, tender air fryer sirloin steak with garlic and rosemary herbed butter! Making sirloin steak in an air fryer is easy, inexpensive, and requires only minimal cleanup. Serve alongside mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, or roasted rainbow carrots.
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Air fryer sirloin steaks are perfect for a last-minute meal for one, yet still feel special enough for a Valentine's Day dinner. All you need is an air fryer and around 15 minutes.
Sirloin is an inexpensive, yet underrated cut of meat that can be just as juicy and delicious as ribeye or New York strip steak if you prepare it correctly and slice it against the grain.
Simply season with salt, black pepper, and mushroom seasoning (optional), and air fry for 4-5 minutes on each side. The key to a good sirloin is ensuring that you don't overcook it. Since air fryer temperatures can vary, a meat thermometer can also be helpful.
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Ingredients & Substitutions
- Steak: Sirloin or top sirloin steak
- Oil: Olive oil or avocado oil
- Seasoning: Sea salt (or kosher salt) and black pepper. If you prefer a seasoning mix, try this steak seasoning recipe.
- Butter: Salted or unsalted butter at room temperature
- Herbs: This recipe calls for fresh rosemary; however, fresh thyme, parsley, or chives can be substituted. Or add a pinch of each.
- Optional: Mushroom seasoning adds a delicious umami flavor and is easy to make by grinding dried mushrooms
How to Make Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
Step 1: Bring steaks to room temperature for approximately 30 minutes. Pat both sides with paper towels to dry.
Step 2: Prepare garlic herb butter by mixing softened butter with crushed garlic and minced rosemary; set aside until needed.
Pre-Heat Air Fryer Basket at 400°F for 5 Minutes
Step 3: Brush steaks with oil, then season with salt, black pepper, and mushroom seasoning. Air fry the steaks for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Rest steaks for 5 minutes before serving, topped with herbed butter.
Pro Tip: Air frying times can be adjusted based on steak thickness and how you prefer your steak cooked.
Air Fryer Sirloin Steak Chart (400°F)
(Preheated air fryer, flip halfway, times lean conservative to avoid overcooking)
| Thickness | Rare | Medium-Rare | Medium | Med-Well | Well Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ inch | 6–7 min | 7–8 min | 8–9 min | 9–10 min | 10–11 min |
| 1 inch | 7–8 min | 8–9 min | 9–11 min | 11–13 min | 13–15 min |
| 1½ inch | 9–10 min | 10–12 min | 12–14 min | 14–16 min | 16–18 min |
| 2 inches | 11–12 min | 12–14 min | 14–16 min | 16–18 min | 18–22 min |
Doneness Temperatures (Pull Early!)
| Doneness | Temp to Remove | Final Temp After Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Rare | 120°F | 125°F |
| Medium-Rare | 125–130°F | 130–135°F |
| Medium | 135°F | 140–145°F |
| Medium-Well | 145°F | 150–155°F |
| Well Done | 155°F+ | 160°F+ |
Pro Tip: As the steak rests, its internal temperature increases anywhere from 5°F to 10°F, so don't wait until it reaches the final internal temperature in the basket before removing the steaks from the air fryer.
FAQs
Sirloin steak is a general term that refers to cuts from the sirloin section of the cow, which includes several different steaks. Top sirloin steak is a specific cut from the upper part of that section and is usually more tender, leaner, and better suited for grilling or air frying. In short, all top sirloin is sirloin, but not all sirloin steaks are top sirloin-top sirloin is typically the higher-quality, more desirable option.
It's best to preheat the air fryer basket for 5 minutes, then cook for 4 minutes on each side at 400 degrees F (8 minutes total), although you may need to increase the cooking time to 10-12 minutes for thicker cuts.
One of the easiest ways to ensure the perfect doneness is to test the internal heat of the steak with a probe thermometer. The center should be 125-130 degrees F for a medium-rare steak, or up to 160 degrees for a well-done steak.
Sirloin steak is lean, so it's best cooked medium-rare to medium, as cooking it further can make it tough since it's a pretty lean cut of meat.
Pro Tips
- Don't forget to season the sides of the steak as well!
- Air fryer sirloin steaks pair well with air fryer twice baked potatoes or air fryer corn ribs.
- Store leftover air fryer sirloin steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- You can use leftover steak to make a steak salad, a hearty Cobb salad, or check out my leftover steak recipe ideas post for even more options.
More Steak Recipes
If you enjoy this air fryer sirloin steak recipe, check out these other great steak recipes!
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Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring steaks to room temperature for approximately 30 minutes. Pat both sides with paper towels to dry.
- Prepare garlic herb butter by mixing softened butter with crushed garlic and minced rosemary; set aside until needed.
- Brush steaks with oil, then season with salt, black pepper, and mushroom seasoning. Air fry the steaks for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Rest steaks for 5 minutes before serving, topped with herbed butter.
Nutrition
Notes
- Air frying times can be adjusted based on steak thickness and how you prefer your steak cooked.
- Don't forget to season the sides of the steak as well!
- Air fryer sirloin steaks pair well with air fryer twice baked potatoes or air fryer corn ribs.
- Store leftover air fryer sirloin steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- You can use leftover steak to make a steak salad, a hearty Cobb salad, or check out my leftover steak recipe ideas post for even more options.
Nena Sterner says
We hope you enjoy this recipe!