Air Fryer Flank Steak

Look at this killer air fryer flank steak! Using some simple seasonings you can add some spicy or sweetness and either way it is delicious. Tender beef steak is just one of many easy air fryer recipes on our site.

Have you bought this cut of beef before at the grocery store? It isn’t the most common I suppose but it’s quite lean and very flavorful if you use the right seasonings and cook it right. What is the best way? Well we’re here to show you. 😉

There are so many ways to cook meat right, we are here to compare them all depending on the time of year. Of course I love our slow cooker flank steak recipe which I do make year round. This doesn’t get the outside crisp at all though, and I love that.

Ninja Air Fryer Flank Steak

Ok so then you could get that in the oven right? Well during the summertime that isn’t going to happen when it is 100 degrees outside. Get ready to ditch your grill this weekend because this may be a game changer for your next dinner. Even my kids loved this easy air fryer beef recipe.

How Long to Cook Flank Steak in Air Fryer to Medium Rare

You do not want to cook for too long or it will be tough. You want a decent amount of pink in the center so it is tender and slices easily. Ideally you will want to cook for approximately 7-8 minutes depending on how well done you want it and always allow to rest for 5 minutes and then slice against the grain and serve.

Frozen Flank Steak in Air fryer

Of course this isn’t ideal but you can save dinner if you follow the right steps. You wouldn’t be able to marinate it beforehand but if you follow the steps in our Air Fryer Frozen Roast recipe you can defrost and then cook to tender still!!

How Long to Marinate Flank Steak

We like to use our fajita marinade the night before and soak overnight (8 hours) which adds a ton of flavor for sure. You need at least 2 hours to let it sink in (kept in the fridge) but longer is better (up to 12 hours max). Before adding you could pound it with a meat mallet too. This will create a deep flavor and break down the connective tissues if you add some citrus.

Flank Steak Dry Rub

This time we instead just used a simple dry rub but using our tri tip dry rub is fantastic too. That one has some sweetness to it though so if you just want simple use just salt and pepper but we also love some cajun seasoning and smoked paprika too.

How to Make it Spicy

A bit of cajun seasoning was added this round for a bit of a kick of heat. Use it sparingly or you may regret it but a little is a really nice addition to the outside flavors. If you want to really heat it up use dry Sriracha instead!

Depending on how large your piece is you could fit 1-2 pieces in your basket at a time. You do NOT want them to overlap for sure. We’re looking for a very even cook on all sides for optimal tenderness and flavor.

If you use our sweeter dry rub for this or on our air fryer ribeye steak you’ll want to spray the basket or it may stick a bit.

How do you know when flank steak is done?

You can check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer once you remove it. Ideally it should read 130 degrees F, then when resting it will increase by 5 degrees making it a perfect 135 degrees. This will ensure the middle will be tender and juicy. Serve with a glass of red wine and YUM!

You should never overcook this cut or it will get chewy and dry. Instead get the internal meat temperature to be medium and nothing more. Cooking it low and slow in your slow cooker is good too. For that follow our carne asada recipe here.

What is the best way to slice flank steak?

Similar to a “regular” air fryer steak, you’re going to want to allow it to rest first. Then grab a sharp knife and slice each piece thin and against the grain. This will allow you to chew it easier as you break apart the muscle fibers with every cut. The thicker the pieces the more “tough” they will seem to you.

Cooking flank steak has seriously never been easier. Other than our Instant Pot steak, air frying steaks is super quick and an under 30 minute meal with prep, side dishes and everything taken into account.

If you want to add more flavors once sliced, you can offer soy sauce, Worcestershire and/or A1 sauce.

Other steak recipes

If you love your slow cooker try Crockpot steakand potatoes some night. Air fryer chicken fried steak is great sliced into strips like this so you can dip them into sausage gravy and have a finger food kinda’ night.

Printable recipe including nutritional information like calories, saturated fat, etc is below. Keep in mind that the amounts will vary depending on your serving size and amount of fat on the cut you chose.