Air Fryer Steak Tips

Name: Air Fryer Steak Tips
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 195 min
Ingredients: 1 pound steak tips (New York, Sirloin or Ribeye steak, cubed); 1/2 medium yellow onion (very thinly sliced or diced finely); 2-4 ounces blue cheese crumbles; 2 tablespoons melted salted butter (optional); 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon coconut sugar (substitute brown sugar); 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

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These Air Fryer Steak Tips are marinated in an easy homemade marinade and browned to perfection in the air fryer. Serve them with melted butter and blue cheese for the juiciest steak bites you’ve ever tasted!

Close up of air fryer steak tips topped with crumbled blue cheese.

If you love steak tips but hate the messy situation of frying them in oil on the stovetop, then you absolutely need to try this recipe! The high heat of the air fryer adds a little charring to the steak bites which is so flavorful, and the clean up is much easier too!

We normally enjoy these steak tips with creamy garlic mashed potatoes and maple glazed air fryer carrots, but you can serve them up with so many different side dishes like these air fryer frozen french fries! I’ve included some of my favorite options at the end of this post.

Check out the air fryer steak tips story!

Why this recipe works

As with most foods cooked in the air fryer, you get tender and juicy results without using as much oil as stovetop or oven cooking.
Since the steak tips are cooked in the closed air fryer basket, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up messy oil splatters on your stovetop.
They air fry on high heat for just 4-5 minutes, so these steak bites don’t dry out and they turn out perfectly browned and juicy every time!

Overhead of cooked steak tips on a black plate.

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Other air fryer recipes

Ingredients

You’ll need 1 pound of steak tips for this recipe. I usually buy New York, Sirloin or Ribeye steak and cut it into cubes. You can also buy steak tips, usually labelled as sirloin tips or beef tips.

Look for steak with some marbling, but not a lot. You want your steak tips lean enough that they’re not drenched in grease, but fatty enough that they’re tender and flavorful.

The steak tips are air fried with a layer of thinly sliced onions (or finely diced). You just need ½ a medium yellow onion. You can also use white or red onion if you prefer.

The homemade steak marinade is simple and consists of Worcestershire sauce, garlic, coconut sugar, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. If you’re in a pinch, you can also use a store-bought steak marinade.

For serving, I opt for melted salted butter and blue cheese crumbles. This is optional, but it takes the flavor up a notch, so I highly recommend it!

Step by step instructions

Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Marinade for steak tips mixed together in a glass bowl with a spoon.

Add the beef tips and stir to coat them thoroughly.

Let sit for at least 3 hours, or overnight for best results, in the fridge.

Preheat the air fryer to 400F degrees for about 3-5 minutes.

Lightly spray the bottom of the air fryer with oil and add the beef tips in a single layer. (They will need to be cooked in two batches). Layer half the onion slices on top.

Cook for 4-5 minutes for medium-rare to medium.

Repeat with the remaining beef and onions.

Sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles and drizzle with melted butter.

Expert tips

For even cooking, you should air fry the steak tips in a single layer. This means you'll likely need to cook them in two separate batches, especially if you have a small air fryer.
Each air fryer is a little different so you may need to adjust the temperature or cook time slightly.
Use a good quality spray oil (not PAM or equivalent) to avoid damaging the air fryer. I like to use this oil sprayer and fill it with my favorite oil.
If you prefer your steak tips well done, air fry for a few extra minutes, but check on them to make sure they don’t burn.

Steak bites on a black plate and topped with blue cheese.

Common questions

What cut of meat are steak tips?

I usually buy New York, Sirloin or Ribeye steak and cut it into cubes. You can also buy steak tips, usually labelled as sirloin tips. While this suggests they come from the sirloin, steak tips (or beef tips) can also come from the flank, tenderloin or round part of the cow.

Do you need to marinate steak tips before air frying?

While marinating is not absolutely necessary, it does add flavor to steak and helps tenderize it, especially if your steak tips are from a tougher cut of beef. You can marinate the steak tips for a little as 3 hours, or for maximum flavor, let them sit in the fridge overnight.

If you’re pressed for time, you can mix the steak tips in the marinade and air fry immediately. You will get some of the flavor, but the steak tips will not have time to absorb it all or tenderize.

How long should you air fry steak tips?

It depends on how well done you like your steak. I think beef tips taste best when they’re cooked to medium or medium rare. So, at 400F degrees, you would air fry your steak tips for about 4-5 minutes.

If you prefer well done, you can add a few extra minutes to the air frying time. Just check on the steak tips to ensure they aren’t charring too much on the outside. To check for doneness, I suggest using a meat thermometer for accuracy.

Make it a meal

Here are a few of our favorite side dishes to serve with air fryer steak bites:

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!