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Air Fryer Ribeye Steak gives you a steakhouse worthy, perfectly charred bone in ribeye in under 20 minutes, no grill required. I make these on busy weeknights when we are craving steak but I do not want to fire up the grill, and the kids fight over the crispy edges every time. If you love easy air fryer dinners, this one is as foolproof as our Mississippi steak bites.
A quick brown sugar and Worcestershire marinade plus a hot air fryer is all it takes for a juicy, restaurant quality ribeye with a gorgeous crust.
Air Fryer Ribeye Steak Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 16 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 20 minutes (plus marinating)
- 🍽️ Serving: 2 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 543kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Savory, beefy, and buttery with a charred crust
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our beef tips and noodles
Quick Answer
Pat the steak dry and rub both sides with brown sugar, salt, pepper, and Montreal steak seasoning, then add Worcestershire sauce and marinate at least 3 hours. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F, and cook the bone in ribeye for 12 to 16 minutes, flipping halfway, until it reaches 130 degrees F for medium rare. Rest 5 to 10 minutes, top with butter, and serve.
Jump to:
- Air Fryer Ribeye Steak Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Air Fryer Ribeye Steak
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Air Fryer Ribeye Steak FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy Steak and Beef Recipes
- Marinated Air Fryer Ribeye Steak Recipe (Bone-In)
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- The marinade builds a crust. Brown sugar caramelizes in the hot air fryer while Worcestershire and steak seasoning add savory depth, creating that steakhouse char.
- The air fryer cooks fast and even. Concentrated circulating heat sears the ribeye quickly, so the outside chars while the inside stays juicy and pink.
- Room temperature is key. Letting the steak sit out for 30 minutes means it cooks evenly instead of cold in the center and overdone outside.
- A thermometer guarantees doneness. Pulling the steak at 130 degrees F for medium rare takes the guesswork out, no matter how thick your ribeye is.
- Resting locks in the juices. A 5 to 10 minute rest lets the juices redistribute so every bite is moist, and a pat of butter melts over the top.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It delivers a steakhouse quality bone in ribeye at home in about 20 minutes of cook time, no grill or cast iron needed.
- The simple brown sugar and Worcestershire marinade uses pantry staples for huge flavor.
- It is a foolproof beginner steak, perfect alongside our loaded mashed potato cakes.
Key Ingredients
A handful of simple ingredients turn a bone in ribeye into a steakhouse dinner. Here is what each one does:
- Bone in ribeye: A 1 1/2 inch thick bone in ribeye stays juicy and flavorful, and the bone adds richness. Boneless works too.
- Brown sugar: Caramelizes into a savory sweet crust as the steak cooks.
- Montreal steak seasoning: A blend of garlic, pepper, and spices that gives instant steakhouse flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds umami and helps tenderize the meat as it marinates.
- Butter: A pat melted over the rested steak adds richness and shine, with salt, pepper, and parsley to finish.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This recipe is endlessly adaptable to your taste and the cut you have on hand.
- Use boneless ribeye: Or any steak you would grill, such as New York strip or sirloin. Adjust the time for thickness.
- Add garlic butter: Mix minced garlic and herbs into the finishing butter for a compound butter.
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the rub.
- Skip the sugar: Leave out the brown sugar for a classic savory steak.
- Cook to your doneness: Pull at 120 degrees F for rare, 140 for medium, or 150 for medium well.
How to Make Air Fryer Ribeye Steak
- Pat the steak dry, then rub both sides and the edges with the brown sugar, pepper, salt, and Montreal steak seasoning.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, flip to coat, cover, and marinate in the fridge at least 3 hours or overnight. Let the steak sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the basket to minimize smoking.
- Place the ribeye into the air fryer basket; no cooking spray needed.
- Cook for 12 to 16 minutes, flipping halfway, until charred and 130 degrees F for medium rare. Rest 5 to 10 minutes, then top with butter and parsley and serve.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Bring it to room temperature. A cold steak cooks unevenly, so let it sit out 30 minutes first.
- Do not overcrowd. Cook one steak at a time, or in batches, so the air can circulate.
- Keep the lid closed. Opening the air fryer lets heat escape and cooks the steak unevenly.
- Use a meat thermometer. It is the only way to nail your exact doneness every time.
- Add water to cut smoke. A couple tablespoons of water in the basket keeps the fat from smoking.
- Always rest the steak. 5 to 10 minutes of resting keeps all those juices in the meat.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
A perfectly cooked air fryer ribeye deserves classic steakhouse sides. We love it with creamy mashed potatoes, a baked potato, or our crispy fried red potato wedges.
Add a green vegetable to round out the plate, like roasted asparagus, garlicky green beans, or a crisp wedge salad. A pat of garlic butter melting over the top makes it feel like a special occasion.
For a full steakhouse dinner at home, pair the ribeye with warm dinner rolls and finish with a slice of lemon cake or strawberry angel food cake. It is restaurant quality without the restaurant bill.
Air Fryer Ribeye Steak FAQs
A 1 1/2 inch thick bone in ribeye takes about 12 to 16 minutes at 400 degrees F, flipping halfway through. Thicker steaks need a little longer, so always check with a meat thermometer for your desired doneness.
Cook to an internal temperature of 130 degrees F for medium rare, 120 for rare, 140 for medium, or 150 for medium well. The steak keeps cooking a few degrees while it rests.
Marinating is not required, but the brown sugar and Worcestershire marinade adds a savory crust and deeper flavor. Even 3 hours makes a big difference, and overnight is even better.
Yes. This method works on boneless ribeye or any steak you would grill, like New York strip or sirloin. Just adjust the cook time based on thickness and check the temperature.
The rendering fat can smoke at high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the basket before cooking to catch the drippings and cut down on smoke.
Yes, flip the ribeye halfway through cooking so both sides get an even char. Avoid opening the air fryer at other times so the heat stays consistent.
Hungry for more easy beef dinners? Try our slow cooker Mississippi steak bites next.
Marinated Air Fryer Ribeye Steak Recipe (Bone-In)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound bone-in ribeye steak 1 & ½ inch thick
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Fresh chopped parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Pat the steak dry with paper towels. Add it to a dish that will hold it.1 pound bone-in ribeye steak
- Sprinkle the steak with half of the brown sugar, pepper, salt, and steak seasoning. Rub it in.2 teaspoons light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
- Flip the steak over, repeat with the remaining seasonings, and rub them into the meat, make sure to get the sides of the steak too.
- Add half of the Worcestershire sauce, flip, and top with the remaining Worcestershire sauce.2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 3 hours or up to overnight.
- Take the steak out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes to sit at room temperature, this will help the steak cook faster and more evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Place steak into the air fryer basket; no need to spray it with cooking spray. Cook for 12-16 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- It is ready when it is charred, and an internal temperature reads 130 degrees f for medium-rare with a meat thermometer, or until your desired level of doneness. For best results, let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before serving with the butter on top and parsley for garnish, optional.1 tablespoon butter, Fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Video
Notes
- Make sure your steak is at room temperature before cooking. This will help it cook evenly.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. If you’re cooking more than one steak, cook them in batches.
- Don’t open the air fryer during cooking. This will let the heat out and make the steak cook unevenly.
- Let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. This will help the juices redistribute throughout the meat.
- This also works on boneless ribeyes or any cut of steak that you would grill.
- Remember, the thickness of your steak will vary the cooking time.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water to the air fryer basket before adding the steak to minimize smoking.
Nutrition
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