Easy 3 Ingredient Air Fryer Cube Steak Recipe

What you will love about this recipe

• It is a flavorful dish that only requires 3 ingredients. 
• This cooking method results in tender and juicy steak with a slightly crispy exterior.
• It is an inexpensive cut of steak making it an affordable main dish. 

Ingredient Notes

Cube Steak – one steak per person. 

Montreal Steak Seasoning – this spice mixture varies depending on the restaurant or manufacturer but the main spices are garlic powder, onion powder, coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dill seed, and salt. This is a great way to add tons of flavor using just one ingredient. 

Non-stick Cooking Spray – any variety will work. We usually buy olive oil spray but the only type my local grocery store had that day was the vegetable oil kind, so that is what I bought. 

What is cube steak

Cube steak or cubed steak is an inexpensive cut of beef, usually top sirloin or top round, that is tenderized by pounding it with a meat tenderizer (a meat mallet that usually has points protruding on one side and is flat on the other side). I have seen them made of metal and wood. Pounding the steak breaks down the fibers making it tender. 

How to Make Air-Fried Cube Steak

1. Spray the inside of the air fryer with cooking spray.
2. Place cube steaks on plate and spray the tops of the steaks with cooking spray, season with Montreal Steak Seasoning on one side. Place steaks seasoned side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spray with cooking spray and season with seasoning.
3. Cook at 380° for 6 minutes, flip over and cook another 3-4 minutes or until steaks are cooked to the desired doneness. 
4. Let rest for about 5 minutes before serving. 

What Temperature to Cook Cube Steak in the Air Fryer

We cook our steaks at 380°. I would not go higher than 400° and would decrease the cook time a little if cooking higher than 380°. They are thin steaks and you don’t want the outside to brown too much before the inside gets cooked. As stated below, find what works best in your air fryer and go with that. 

How Long to Cook Cube Steak in the Air Fryer

Generally it will take 4-6 minutes for the first side and 3-5 minutes for the second side. Find the cooking time that works best for you in your model air fryer and then you can make them perfectly to your liking every single time. 

Do You Turn Steak in an Air Fryer?

Yes, the hot air comes from the top of most air fryers so you want to flip them over so they cook more evenly. The best way to cook a steak is to cook it a little longer on the first side than you do on the second side. 

Helpful Tips

• Allow steaks to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before air frying them. 
• Cube steaks that are cooked rare or medium rare will be chewy so cook the steak until the center is cooked, it can be very slightly pink. 
• Steaks are done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 145°. I almost never use mine, I just cook them until they look and feel done.
• As you can see in the photo the steaks touch each other when I put them in the air fryer basket but will shrink after a short time cooking, this is fine. If the steaks are too big then either cut them down a bit so they fit or cook them in batches.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftover cube steak in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The kitchn has a great article about how to reheat steak. 

More Air Fryer Recipes

Ground Beef Taquitos

Cheddar Brats

Country Style Ribs