This Air Fryer Roast Beef recipe is guaranteed to give you a delicious, medium rare tender roast beef in just over an hour. This easy air fryer recipe with a flavorful herb rub on the outside of the roastforms a lovely crust while the inside remains moist and delicious.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
Quick and Easy Recipe: Air fryer recipes are incredibly fast and efficient, making this roast beef recipe a great option for busy weeknights. You can have a delicious dinner the whole family will love on the table in no time!
Healthy: An air fryer cooks food using much less oil than a traditional oven or deep fryer, so you can enjoy a delicious roast beef meal without worrying about all of the extra fat and calories.
Delicious: Air frying works by circulating hot air around the food, giving it a crispy, golden-brown finish that's sure to make your roast beef recipe a hit! And because air fryers can cook food quickly and evenly, the texture and flavor of the roast beef will be out of this world!
🥘 Ingredients
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Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for complete recipe and instructions.
Beef Roast: You want a tender cut of beef for roasting. Different cuts of beef you may want to use would be tenderloin, eye of round roast, sirloin tip roast, or a ribeye roast. The size will depend on the air fryer. I made a 2-pound roast beef in mine.
Spices: I used a blend of my favorite spices to make a dry rub for the roast. Garlic powder, onion salt, parsley, thyme, basil, salt, and pepper.
Olive oil: I use this because it has a higher smoke point. It is used to coat the roast beef before applying the dry rub.
🔪 Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 15 minutes at 390 degrees.
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion salt, parsley, thyme, and basil, salt, and pepper. Set aside
- Coat the roast with the olive oil then rub the herb mixture over the entire roast.
- Place the roast in preheated air fryer. Set timer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the basket and turn the roast over.
- Reduce the air fryer temperature to 360 degrees and return the roast to the air fryer. Cook for another 60 minutes, or until meat thermometer reaches desired degree of doneness.
- Let meat rest for 15 minutes before cutting.
🥄 Equipment
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Air Fryer: I have used both a basket air fryer and an air fryer with trays. Both work great but I do prefer the air fryer with trays.
Meat Thermometer: I always recommend using a meat thermometer when cooking meat. I love the instant-read digital thermometer.
🌡️ Degrees of Doneness
The official USDA temperature recommendation for roast beef is 145 degrees (medium - a warm pink center). Below are temperatures to follow to reach your desired level of doneness:
- 135 degrees (Rare)
- 145 degrees (Medium)
- 150 degrees (Medium well)
- 160 degrees (Well done)
⏲️ Cooking Time
Only you know your air fryer. Different size air fryers will have different instructions for temp and time. I cannot guarantee you will get the exact same results I received. My biggest recommendation is you always read your air fryer manual and use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature periodically.
As a general rule of thumb for the cooking process:
- Air fry the roast at 390 degrees f for 15 minutes. This is the "searing" process that will seal the juices.
- Turn the heat down to 360 for the remainder of cook time.
- Roast the beef for 20 minutes per pound (for rare) or 25 minutes per pound (for medium-rare), checking the temperature of the meat periodically.
- For best results, to place the roast on the cutting board with tented foil to hold the heat in and allow it to rest at least 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
🥫Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days or in the freezer up to 3 months.
📖 Variations
- Any oil with a high smoke point can be used to coat the roast.
💭 Tips
- Use a tender cut of meat for this air fryer recipe. I have made this with a tenderloin, top loin, or ribeye.
- Line your air fryer basket with a basket liner or sheet of aluminum foil to catch drippings and minimize clean up.
- Spray the fryer basket with cooking oil spray to ease the clean up of the basket (if not using a liner)
- Preheat your air fryer on 390 for 15 minutes before cooking the roast.
🙋 FAQ's
Minutes per pound are to be followed after the 15 minute sear.
I recommend doing the hot sear at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then reduce the temp as directed after the sear.
📚 Related Recipes
Holiday Prime Rib Roast with Pan Gravy
Sirloin Roast with Red Wine Onion Gravy
Sweet Chili Braised Beef Short Ribs
Sweet Black Pepper Whole Beef Tenderloin Roast
🍽 Serve with...
This recipe makes the perfect Sunday roast with your favorite side dishes, such as mashed potatoes, gravy, and a green side salad.
🏫 The last word
My main method of making a roast been has been either in the oven or a slow cooker. However, once I made this Air Fryer Roast Beef, I knew I would never cook a roast beef any other way again.
Are you new to using the air fryer? If so, then be sure to read this post on How To Use an Air Fryer to learn the best one to buy, air fryer cooking tips, cleaning tips, and more!
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When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Roast Beef with Herb Crust
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Ingredients
- 2 pound beef roast
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion salt
- 2 teaspoons parsley
- 2 teaspoons thyme
- 2 teaspoons basil
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 15 minutes at 390 degrees.
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion salt, parsley, thyme, and basil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Coat the roast with the olive oil then rub the herb mixture over the entire roast.
- Place the roast in preheated air fryer. Set timer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the basket and turn the roast over.
- Reduce the air fryer temperature to 360 degrees and return the roast to the air fryer. Cook for another 60 minutes, or until meat thermometer reaches desired degree of doneness.
- Allow the roast to set for 15 minutes before cutting.
Video
Notes
Tips and Recommendations for Air Frying Roasts
- Use a tender cut of meat for this air fryer recipe. I recommend a tenderloin, top loing, or ribeye.
- Line your air fryer basket with foil to catch drippings and minimize clean up.
- Spray the fryer basket with cooking spray to ease the clean up of the basket.
- Preheat your air fryer on 390 for 15 minutes before putting the roast in.
- Air fry the roast at 390 for 15 minutes, then turn the heat down to 360 for the remainder of cook time. This is the "searing" process that will seal the juices.
- Roast the beef for 20 minutes per pound (for rare) or 25 minutes per pound (for medium-rare), checking the temperature of the meat periodically.
- Be sure you allow the roast to rest at least 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Mary
Hi is it ok to use a top or bottom round roast for this recipe?
Shelby Law Ruttan
A bottom round is not the most tender cut of beef and is very lean. I wouldn't recommend air frying for that reason. In the ingredients section of this post I do indicate the cuts of meat I would personally recommend.
sandra kynes
Had to cook it for a bit longer but pleased with the outcome
Kathy
My go-to for doing the roast in an air-fryer, really love the taste of the rub. It is a keeper!
Terry
Can you use the rotisserie with air fryer?
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Terry, If you have a rotisserie and want to do that, I don't see why not. I sure would! Let me know how it works out for you. Shelby
Nanci
Just recently came across your penuche recipe. It’s a favorite of this East Coast ended up West Coast gal. I went to print it and hit the wrong button and now it’s lost. Hoping it’s somewhere and you can help. Thank you so much for all of your recipes. Merry Christmas to you and your family
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Nanci, if you click the search bar on the website, you can type in brown sugar fudge and the recipe should pop up. You can click that link and it will take you back to the recipe I hope that helped. If not, please send me an email. Thanks! Shelby
Lucille DeFrank
The rub recipe is great, but following directions perfectly, the roast was dry.
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Lucille, if the roast was dry it was either cooked too long or the type of roast used was not they recommended roast. Using a meat thermometer is highly encouraged in this recipe as I share in the post.
Zibby
Are your minutes per pound suggestions the times AFTER the 15 minute sear or INCLUDING the 15 minute sear?
Shelby Law Ruttan
The sear is separate. I would read my air fryer manual to see if they have specific instructions as well and an instant read thermometer should be used to test for level of doneness. I would start checking the internal temp of the meat at 40 minutes (after sear), then depending on what the temp is, every 5 minutes after until you have reached the level of desired doneness.
David backus
Great recipe 👌
Eileen H
Excellent! My husband loved it.
Trish
I picked up a couple of eye of the round roasts from Costco. I normally smoke them. Do you think I could use it here? This sounds wonderful!
Shelby Law Ruttan
You can, but I highly recommend an overnight marinade at least. Eye of round is very lean and air frying it could dry it out.
Liza Jo
My air fryer has only certain set temps, like 350, 375 and 400. Other than buying a new machine, do you recommend using a higher temperature for less time? Or the next lower temp?
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Liza, I would hot sear at 400 then reduce to 350 and make sure to check with the thermometer as instructed in the post/instructions. Shelby
Lisa
Hello, I'm making this, this weekend. Do you serve a sauce or gravy with this? Do you take the drippings and use those or discard? Thank you!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Lisa, I usually make a gravy with any drippings and add to it if necessary. Hope this helps, feel free to email me directly if you have any more questions before making the recipe. Shelby
Jon
I tried this recipe to make a roast in my air fryer (Instant Pot Duo Crisp) for the first time. I started with 15 minutes at 390° as suggested then set it to 60 minutes at 360°, however with about 25 minutes left it was already up to 170° temp when I checked the meat so took it out. Not sure why it cooked so quickly, was a little more done than we'd like but was still good! Will make again just keep an eye on the time more or cook at 350°.
Mel
Hi. This recipe looks amazing. I plan to make this today for my family for Christmas. Would you suggest poking holes in the meat and getting the seasonings in the meat or would that mess up the cooking time? Thanks!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Mel, I personally would not poke holes in the meat. I'm not sure if it would mess up the cooking time, but the rub itself is enough to season the roast. I hope you try the recipe! Shelby
Terry
Made this the other day & I guess it was my air fryer that cooks a bit faster but it came out medium well, still tasted great nonetheless. Trying it again with less time to get that medium rare!😊 Thank you for this recipe!