Ribeye steak is that delicious cut of meat from the back-rib area of the steer. It is well marbled with fat that melts into the flesh as it cooks. The fat moisturizes and flavors the steak. A ribeye doesn’t require much seasoning. Nor does it take long to cook. However, you can prepare the steaks with a dry rub and finish them off with a blue cheese butter or steak sauce.
I am partial to grilling ribeye steaks outdoors over a charcoal or gas fire. That isn’t really practical in colder months. So, I recently experimented with cooking ribeye steaks in my air fryer. I found that it really works best to coat the steaks with a little oil, season them well, and cook at high heat so the steaks form an outer layer similar to grilling or searing. You don’t want the steaks to steam. That is what happened when I cooked them lower than 390°F.
Start with fresh, thick steaks, at least 3/4 inch and up to 1-1/4 inches. Don’t trim the fat from the meat as that is where the flavor resides.
Have a digital meat thermometer on standby to check the internal temperature of the steak. You are looking for 125°F to 130°F for medium rare and 150°F to 155°F for medium well. Be mindful that all brands of air fryers differ slightly when it comes to heat generated and cooking times. Always rest the meat before slicing or serving it.
The Recipes
The recipes start with basic, seasoned air fryer ribeye steaks. Also included is a dry rub seasoning that you can coat your steaks with and marinate them prior to cooking.
Following the dry rub recipe is one for blue cheese butter to finish the steaks with. Butter and blue cheese are common ingredients paired with finer cuts of beef. As well, there is a recipe for a simple, homemade steak sauce that is slightly similar to the bottled kind. Homemade is always better.
While the steaks are resting you can cook asparagus, broccoli, or cauliflower in your air fryer to serve with the steaks. Ribeye is also great with air fryer potatoes and a leafy green salad dressed with a red wine vinegar vinaigrette. Finish the meal off with pears poached in port wine and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Basic Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks (Keto and Paleo)
Ingredients:
- 2 (10 ounce) boneless ribeye steaks, approximately 3/4 to 1 inch thick
- 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
- 1-1/2 tsps kosher or coarse sea salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Total time:9 min – Prep time:2 min – Cook time:7 min – Serves:2 people
Author: Nick
Directions:
1. Take the steaks out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking them.
2. Preheat your air fryer for 3 minutes on 390°F to 400°F.
3. Coat all sides of the steaks with the olive oil. Season all over with salt and pepper. Place the steaks in the preheated fryer basket or on the crisper plate inside the air fryer. Set the timer for 15 minutes, just to be safe.
4. Cook the steaks for 4 minutes. Flip them over and cook for an additional 4 to 8 minutes. Check the internal temperature of the meat with a digital thermometer at 8 minutes total. You are looking for 125°F to 130°F for medium rare and 150°F to 155°F for medium well.
5. Remove the steaks to a clean cutting board and tent with foil. Allow the ribeye to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing or serving. Enjoy with some traditional sides and blue cheese butter or steak sauce. (Recipes follow).
Dry Rub for Ribeye Steaks
Ingredients:
- 3 TBS sea salt
- 2 TBS turbinado or brown sugar
- 2 tsps smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp instant coffee (optional)
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Total time: 5 min – Prep time: 5 min – Serves: 2 people
Directions:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, sugar, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, coffee, and red pepper flakes.
2. Rub this all over the steaks and place them in a dish that you can cover. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
3. Oil the fryer basket or plate. Cook the steaks as described in the first recipe for basic air fryer ribeye steaks, remembering to bring the steaks to room temperature before cooking.
4. Serve with your favorite sides.
Blue Cheese Butter for Ribeye Steaks (Keto)
Ingredients:
- 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (Maytag or Gorgonzola)
- 2 tsps minced fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Total time: 10 min – Prep time: 10 min – Serves: 2 people
Directions:
1. in a medium bowl, combine the butter, cheese, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator while you prepare and cook the ribeye steaks.
2. Prepare and cook the steaks according to the first recipe for basic air fryer ribeye steaks.
3. As soon as the steaks are placed on the cutting board, top each with large spoonful of the blue cheese butter. Reserve a little extra to serve with the steaks.
4. Serve with your favorite sides.
Homemade Steak Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup tomato ketchup
- 1-1/2 TBS Worcestershire sauce
- 1-1/2 tsps apple cider vinegar
- 1-1/2 tsps honey or brown sugar
- 1-1/2 tsps Dijon mustard
- 2 dashes of your favorite hot sauce
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Total time: 5 min – Prep time: 5 min – Serves: 2 people
Directions:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients. Cover, and set aside while you prepare the steaks. Or, store in the refrigerator until ready to use. It is best at room temperature or even slightly warmed up.
2. Prepare and cook the steaks according to the first recipe for basic air fryer ribeye steaks.
3. Serve the rested steaks with the sauce on the side and your favorite vegetables.
Air Fryer Starters and Sides to Go with Ribeye Steaks
If you are looking for a complete meal to compliment ribeye steaks, you might want to try these appetizers and vegetables that are great with steak. They can all be made in tour air fryer for easy clean-up.
- Crunchy breaded dill pickles with a Cajun spiced dipping sauce
- Classic blooming onion with creamy sauce
- Easy asparagus salad with feta and tomatoes
- Homemade French fries with cheese sauce
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