Perfectly Cooked Air Fryer Flank Steak
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I come from a family of steak lovers and this air fryer flank steak does us proud. It’s the best way to get juicy flank steak, without making a huge mess or having to fire up a grill.
Flank steak is a highly underrated lean cut of meat. Marinating it is a great way to add flavor and tenderness, otherwise it can be a very tough cut of meat. This flavor-packed marinade turns this simple steak into a juicy and tender piece of meat. Just be sure to marinate for at least 4 hours to soak it all up, overnight being best! 👌🏻
Serve as is with your favorite sides like brussel sprouts and creamy mashed potatoes. Use the leftover steak to make steak tacos wrapped in warm tortillas with black beans.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- 36 grams of protein.
- Using the air fryer makes cooking steaks a breeze.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
These are the main ingredients and substitutions for this air fryer flank steak recipe. See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions.
- Flank Steak: one of my favorite (and highly underrated) cuts of beef to marinate because it absorbs the flavors so well.
- Coconut Aminos: or soy sauce.
- Lime Juice: fresh or store-bought!
- Toasted Sesame Oil
- Garlic Powder
- Ground Ginger: or twice the amount of fresh ginger.
- Salt and Pepper
Variations
- If you like a slightly sweeter marinade, add brown sugar or honey to the marinade.
- If you like heat, add red pepper flakes or chiptle powder.
Dietary Modifications
- This recipe is both dairy and gluten-free.
How to make this tender air fryer flank steak (a step-by-step visual guide):
Step 1: combine marinade ingredients
Add the coconut aminos, lime juice, toasted sesame oil, garlic powder and ground ginger to a ziplock bag or reusable bag (image 1). Score the top of the flank steak with a knife by cutting slits against the grain just along the top, not through the meat (see pictures for details). Mix to combine and add the flank steak to the marinade. Place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (the longer the better, overnight is great), flipping every so often to ensure an even marinade (image 2).
Step 2: discard excess liquid and cook the steak
When ready to cook, remove the meat from the steak marinade and discard the excess liquid. Let the meat sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to cooking. Season both sides with salt and black pepper. While the steak rests, preheat the air fryer, add the meat directly to the air fryer basket (image 3) and cook at 400 degrees F for 5-6 minutes on each side (image 4). For an extra outside sear, heat a cast iron skillet over medium high with 1 tbsp. of olive oil (or preferred oil) and place the cooked meat on the cast iron straight out of the air fryer for 1 minute on each side (image 5). Let the meat rest for 10 minutes and then place on a cutting board. Cut into slices against the grain, using a sharp knife (image 6).
Expert Tip!
To ensure tender, juicy steak, be sure to cut the meat against the grain. This shortens the muscle fibers, making it easier to chew.
Recipe FAQs
I suggest you put each piece of meat with the marinade in separate bags to ensure it gets nice and tender and evenly marinates.
To grill a flank steak: aim for 3-5 minutes per side over high heat, depending on desired doneness and thickness.
To bake: turn the oven on broil and broil for 6-8 minutes per side until desired doneness.
For medium rare, 6 minutes per side.
For medium-rare, aim for 130-135°F, medium 140-145°F, and medium-well 145-155°F. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the steak and your air fryer model, but generally, it takes anywhere from 10-14 minutes total at 400°F depending on your desired doneness.
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Air Fryer Flank Steak
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Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. flank steak, whole
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Add the coconut aminos, lime juice, toasted sesame oil, garlic powder and ground ginger to a ziplock bag or reusable bag. Score the top of the flank steak with a knife by cutting slits against the grain just along the top, not through the meat (see pictures for details). Mix to combine and add the flank steak to the marinade. Place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (the longer the better, overnight is great) flipping every so often to ensure an even marinade.
- When ready to cook, remove the meat from the marinade and discard the excess liquid. Let the meat sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to cooking. Season both sides with salt and pepper and
- Preheat the air fryer. Add the meat directly to the air-fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-6 minutes on each side.
- For an extra outside sear, heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with 1 Tbsp. of oil of choice. Place the cooked meat on the cast iron straight out of the air fryer for 1 minute on each side.
- Let the meat rest for 10 minutes and then cut into slices against the grain.
Notes
- For best results, always cut against the grain. This ensures the most tender steak.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- For Medium-Rare: 130-135°F
- Medium: 140-145°F
- Medium-Well: 145-155°F.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your steak and your air fryer model, but generally, it takes anywhere from 10-14 minutes total at 400°F depending on your desired doneness.
