These Air Fryer Steak Tips are made with just two main ingredients and cook in under five minutes. Juicy, flavorful, and simple to prepare, this easy keto dinner is perfect for busy weeknights when you want a low carb meal without a lot of cleanup.
Air Fryer Steak Tips
If you enjoy quick air fryer recipes, these steak tips are a great option to add to your dinner rotation. The air fryer cooks the steak bites quickly while helping the edges become lightly browned and the inside stay tender. It is a simple way to prepare a keto-friendly main dish without turning on the oven or standing over the stovetop.
For this recipe, you only need steak tips and a low carb steak marinade. Salt and pepper can be added to taste for extra seasoning. After the steak has had time to marinate, the actual cooking time is only about four minutes for medium rare. That makes this recipe especially useful when you want something hearty, satisfying, and fast.
Another reason to love air fryer steak tips is the easy cleanup. The meat cooks in one basket, and there are no heavy pans to scrub afterward. Serve the steak bites with a salad, roasted vegetables, or your favorite keto side dish for a complete low carb dinner.
What are steak tips?
Steak tips are small, bite-size pieces of steak. They are often cut from sirloin, but they can come from other cuts of beef as well. Because the pieces are smaller than a whole steak, they cook very quickly and absorb marinade well. This makes them a practical choice for fast dinners, meal prep, salads, bowls, and low carb plates.
When buying steak tips, look for pieces that are similar in size so they cook evenly. If some pieces are much larger than others, you can cut them down before marinating. Even pieces help prevent some bites from overcooking while others are still underdone.
How to make Air Fryer Steak Tips
Start by marinating the steak tips. Place the steak tips in a bowl or food-safe bag with your low carb steak marinade. Let the meat marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours if you want a deeper flavor. The marinade helps season the beef and keeps the finished steak bites flavorful.
When you are ready to cook, preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 3 minutes. Preheating helps the steak tips begin cooking immediately and encourages better browning. Add the steak tips to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overlap the pieces, because crowded steak will steam instead of cook evenly.
Cook the steak tips for 3 minutes. Then shake the basket or rotate the pieces so they cook evenly on all sides. Cook for 1 additional minute for medium rare steak tips. If you prefer the steak more done, continue cooking in 1-minute increments until it reaches your desired level of doneness.
The best way to know when steak is cooked exactly the way you like it is to use a meat thermometer. Air fryers can vary, and the size of the steak pieces can affect the total cooking time. Use the temperature guide below as a reference:
- Medium rare: 135 degrees F or 57 degrees C
- Medium: 145 degrees F or 63 degrees C
- Medium well: 150 degrees F or 66 degrees C
- Well: 160 degrees F or 71 degrees C
Tips for the best Air Fryer Steak
- Do not skip the marinade. It adds flavor and helps season the steak tips throughout.
- Arrange the steak tips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overlapping for the most even cooking.
- Preheat the air fryer before adding the meat so the steak starts cooking right away.
- Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking or undercooking the steak.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste before cooking or after cooking, depending on your preference.
- If your steak tips are different sizes, cut larger pieces smaller so everything cooks at the same pace.
What should I serve with steak tips?
Air fryer steak tips pair well with many keto side dishes. A crisp salad is always a good choice because it balances the rich flavor of the beef. You can also serve these steak bites with roasted asparagus, roasted broccoli, cauliflower mash, sautéed greens, or low carb biscuits.
For a heartier meal, add the steak tips to a keto salad bowl or serve them with vegetables and a creamy low carb sauce. They also work well as meal prep because they can be portioned with simple sides for quick lunches or dinners. If you want dessert after dinner, choose a keto-friendly sweet option that fits your low carb goals.
More Keto Steak Recipes
- Easy Keto Steak Wraps
- Marinated Flank Steak
- Steak and Cheese Skillet
- One Pan Keto Philly Cheesesteak
- Keto Steak Omelet
More Easy Keto Dinner Ideas
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
- Keto Lasagna Skillet
- Shrimp con Queso
- Air Fryer Cabbage and Sausage
Air Fryer Steak Tips
Ingredients
- 1 pound steak tips
- 1/4 cup steak marinade, such as Allegro
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Marinate the steak tips for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours in advance.
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Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 3 minutes.
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Place the steak tips in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes.
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Shake the basket or rotate the steak bites, then cook for 1 additional minute for medium rare.
Add 1 extra minute of cooking time as needed until the steak reaches your preferred doneness. See the notes for temperature guidance.
Notes
For best results, use a meat thermometer and follow this guide:
- Medium rare: 135 degrees F or 57 degrees C
- Medium: 145 degrees F or 63 degrees C
- Medium well: 150 degrees F or 66 degrees C
- Well: 160 degrees F or 71 degrees C
Nutrition
Calories: 160kcal
Carbohydrates: 1g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 5.7g
Cholesterol: 68mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used only as an approximation.