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This Air Fryer Cube Steak recipe is a quick, budget-friendly dinner, ready in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy nights. Made with just a few simple ingredients, cube steak cooks fast in the air fryer while staying juicy, tender, and well-seasoned. Serve it as is or add gravy for a comforting meal the whole family will enjoy.
Quick Look At This Recipe
- ✨ Flavor: Savory, well-seasoned beef with a tender, juicy bite
- ⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes
- 🔥 Cook time: 7 minutes + 3 minutes to rest
- ⏲️ Total time: 15 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 4
- 🥄 Tools: Air fryer, instant-read meat thermometer
- ❄️ Freezer friendly: Yes — freeze cooked cube steak in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- 👩🏻🍳 Tip: Don’t overcook. Cube steak cooks quickly in the air fryer, so use a thermometer and let it rest before serving.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Big flavor on a budget: Cube steak may be inexpensive, but it delivers rich, beefy flavor without the price tag of premium cuts, like air fryer T-bone steak.
- Quick and easy: The air fryer gets dinner on the table fast, making this recipe perfect for busy weeknights.
- Versatile serving options: Enjoy it as-is, or top it with country gravy for a comforting, homestyle meal.
- Family-friendly: Simple ingredients and familiar flavors make this a dinner everyone will enjoy.
For more easy steak recipes, try cooking my air fryer filet mignon, air fryer New York strip steak, air fryer sirloin steak, or air fryer ribeye. You can even make air fryer frozen steaks without needing to thaw them first!
Ingredients
- Cube steak: Cube steak is mechanically tenderized beef, usually from top round, bottom round, or sirloin, and is sometimes labeled minute steak. The small “cubed” marks come from the tenderizing process, which breaks down tough fibers and helps the steak cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer.
- Olive oil: Brush or spray olive oil or melted butter on the cube steak to help the seasoning stick and promote even browning in the air fryer.
- Seasoning: We keep it simple with some minced fresh garlic, salt, and pepper.
Variations
- Garlic Butter Cube Steak: Swap the olive oil for melted butter and add some garlic powder for a richer, classic flavor.
- Montreal Seasoned Cube Steak: Use Montreal steak seasoning for an easy, all-in-one seasoning option. Feel free to experiment with other seasoning blends to flavor your cube steaks.
- Peppercorn-Style: Season with coarse black pepper or your favorite steakhouse seasoning for bold flavor.
- Country-Style: Serve the cooked cube steak with air-fried onions and gravy for a comforting, homestyle meal.
Looking for a breaded cube steak recipe? Try our air fryer chicken fried steak recipe instead.
How to Make Cube Steak in the Air Fryer
- Step 1: Prep. Lightly brush both sides of the steaks with olive oil, and then sprinkle with the seasonings. Spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray and carefully place the steaks in the air fryer basket. Make sure the pieces aren’t stacking or overlapping.
- Step 2: Cook. Air fry at 400° F for 5-7 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145° F. Use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness. Let the meat rest in its juices for about 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy it with an easy side dish like air fryer green beans.
For more easy dinners, try these air fryer gluten-free pork chops or air fryer breaded pork chops next!
Tips & Troubleshooting
- Use a meat thermometer: An instant-read thermometer helps prevent overcooking, which can make cube steak tough and chewy. Remove the steaks once they reach 145°F, then let them rest.
- Avoid overcrowding: Make sure the steaks don’t overlap in the air fryer basket so they cook evenly. If needed, cook in batches.
- Flipping isn’t always necessary: For thinner cube steaks, flipping isn’t required. Once cooked, let the steaks rest for a few minutes to help keep them juicy.
- Air fryer models vary: This recipe was tested in a Cosori basket-style air fryer. Depending on your air fryer’s size, wattage, and the thickness of the steaks, you may need to adjust the cook time by 1–2 minutes.
- Storing and reheating leftovers: Store cooled cube steaks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. To reheat, warm them in the air fryer at 325°F for 2–3 minutes, just until heated through.
Recipe FAQ’s
Cubes steaks are already tenderized, so you don’t need to pound them further. I do suggest pounding them if they aren’t even in thickness. Doing this will help them cook more evenly.
Most cube steaks cook in 5–7 minutes at 400°F, depending on thickness. Thicker cube steaks may need an extra minute. For best results, cook until the internal temperature reaches 145°F, then let the steak rest for a few minutes before serving.
Yes, but cooking it fully thawed is best for tenderness. If cooking from frozen, add 2–3 extra minutes to the cook time and check the internal temperature to make sure it reaches 145°F before serving.
Cube steak becomes tough when it’s overcooked. Because it’s thin and already tenderized, it cooks quickly. Pull it as soon as it reaches 145°F and allow it to rest — overcooking is the most common cause of chewiness.
Reheat cube steak in the air fryer at 325°F for 2–3 minutes, just until warmed through. Avoid high heat when reheating, as it can quickly dry out the meat.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve it as a main dish: Pair air fryer cube steak with mashed potatoes, rice, or your favorite vegetables for an easy weeknight dinner. Air fryer squash and air fryer carrots are simple and easy to prepare.
- Add gravy: Spoon country gravy over the steak and top with air-fried mushrooms for a comforting, homestyle meal.
- Use the leftovers: This cube steak makes a delicious sandwich when served in a sub roll. Slice the cooked steak into strips and top with air fryer onions and bell peppers for a quick and satisfying lunch or dinner, similar to
More Air Fryer Beef Recipes
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Air Fryer Cube Steak
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound cube steak, 4 steaks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic, about 2 fresh cloves
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Lightly brush the steaks, on both sides, with olive oil. Then season both sides of each steak.
- Lightly spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray, then carefully place steak in air fryer basket, making sure pieces aren't stacking or overlapping.
- Air fry at 400 degrees F for 5-7 minutes cooking time, until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness.
- Let the meat rest in their juices for about 5-10 minutes
Notes
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to avoid overcooking the steaks. Overcooking can make them tough and chewy.
- Be sure steaks don’t overlap in the air fryer. This can lead to parts of the steaks not cooking evenly.
- Unless you have thick steaks, there is no need to turn steaks during the air frying process. Once they are done cooking, letting them rest for a few minutes helps them stay juicy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
