If you’re wondering whether you can cook a beef roast in the air fryer, the answer is a resounding yes! Our air fryer roast beef recipe will give you a tender, juicy, and flavorful roast cooked to the perfect medium-rare. Discover how to select the most delectable and buttery cut of beef for your roast dinner. With the air fryer spit, this main course is perfect for a holiday or a special Sunday dinner.
The Best Beef Cuts for Roast Beef
When it comes to air fryer roast beef, choosing the right cut of beef is crucial. You want tender cuts that will result in a mouthwatering roast. Here are some cuts that work well for this recipe:
- Chateaubriand Tenderloin Roast: This is the most tender and succulent beef roast, ideal for special occasions like this. It’s a bit pricey but certainly worth it.
- Ribeye Roast: A classic choice for roast beef, with lots of marbling and rich flavors.
- Shoulder Petite Tender: Smaller than Chateaubriand, it’s more affordable and takes less time to air fry.
- Tri-tip Roast: Although not as tender as the previous cuts, it still makes for a delicious air fryer roast with its incredible flavor.
- Sirloin Tip Roast and Top Sirloin Petite Roast: Lean and budget-friendly options that work well for roasting and air frying.
- Rolled Rib Roast: Also known as boneless prime rib, this tender cut produces excellent results in the air fryer.
Avoid the following cuts for air fryer roast beef, as they are better suited for slow cooking:
- Rump Roast
- Bottom Round Roast
- Top Round Roast
- Eye of Round Roast
- Chuck Roast
- Brisket
The Importance of Beef Grades
Another factor to consider when aiming for the best roast beef ever is the beef grade. The USDA grades beef based on quality and yield. Here are the different beef grades:
- Prime Beef: This is the top grade and the one we recommend for our recipe. Prime cuts have abundant marbling and are perfect for air fryer roast beef. They are also more expensive.
- Choice Beef: Another high-quality option, choice cuts have less marbling than prime but still produce fantastic results.
- Select Beef: A grade below choice, select beef has less marbling and is best marinated to enhance its juiciness and flavor.
- Standard Beef and Commercial Beef: These are lower grades of beef and are typically sold ungraded. They are not recommended for air fryer roast beef.
- Utility Beef, Cutter Beef, Canner Beef: These lower-grade beef cuts are usually used for ground beef and highly processed foods. They are not suitable for this recipe.
Nutritional Information
A serving of our air fryer roast beef provides approximately 589 calories, 0 grams of net carbs, and 39.2 grams of protein. It’s a nutritious and satisfying dish that fits well into low-carb, keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free diets.
Why Choose Air Fryer Roast Beef?
There are several reasons why air fryer roast beef is the best choice for your next roast dinner:
- Cold Roast Beef Sandwiches: Air frying the roast beef allows you to enjoy delicious roast beef sandwiches even in the middle of summer, without heating up the house with the oven. It’s a versatile option for roasting meats throughout the year.
- Simplicity: With only three ingredients, our recipe keeps things simple. You can focus on your guests or other dishes while still serving a mouthwatering entree.
- Allergy and Special Diet-Friendly: Our air fried roast beef is suitable for various dietary preferences and restrictions, including low carb, keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free diets. It’s a crowd-pleaser for almost everyone.
- Nutrient-Rich: Tenderloin, the cut we recommend for this recipe, is a healthy and lean choice packed with high-quality protein. It also provides essential nutrients like riboflavin, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and phosphorus.
- Unbelievable Flavor: Our roast beef will impress even the most discerning palates. It’s an unforgettable dish that stands out, thanks to the high-quality ingredients and exceptional taste.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make the perfect roast beef in an air fryer oven, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- A beef roast suitable for air frying
- Olive oil
- Steak seasoning
For this recipe, we used a USDA Prime beef tenderloin roast. If you choose a different type or size of beef roast, be sure to adjust the cooking times accordingly.
Using olive oil in this recipe is perfectly fine, despite its relatively low smoke point. The fatty acids in olive oil are heat-stable, so there’s no need to worry. However, feel free to substitute avocado oil if you prefer. Avoid strongly flavored oils like coconut oil.
The steak seasoning we used is from Chicago Steak Company. It’s a blend of salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, black pepper, natural flavors, and paprika. If you don’t have the exact blend, you can try using a combination of thyme, sage, rosemary, fresh minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
Essential Equipment
To make our air fryer roast beef, you’ll need the following equipment:
- An air fryer oven with a spit
- Kitchen twine
- A meat thermometer
These tools are essential to achieve the best results. Make sure your air fryer has a rotisserie spit for even cooking. However, keep in mind that cooking times may vary slightly depending on the brand and model of your air fryer.
How to Make Air Fryer Roast Beef
Let’s dive into the steps for making the perfect air fryer roast beef:
- Start by letting the thawed roast rest at room temperature for about an hour. This will help it brown more quickly.
- Prepare and season the beef by wrapping it tightly around the spit, securing the hooks to the center of the long sides of the roast. This compact arrangement ensures even cooking.
- Fold the meat over the spit so that the short ends of the rectangle touch. Tie the roast around the spit in three places.
- Rub the tied roast on all sides with olive oil and sprinkle it liberally with steak seasoning. Feel free to add more seasoning to taste.
- Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Once preheated, attach the rotisserie spit and start cooking your roast beef.
- Cook the roast for 15 minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit, then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for another 15 minutes.
- After cooking, remove the spit and cover the roast with foil. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes at room temperature. This resting period allows the roast to become juicier and more flavorful.
- Remove the twine from the roast and unroll it. Cut it against the grain into thin slices and serve.
Cooking Time and Safe Temperature
Our air fryer roast beef recipe calls for a cooking time of 15 minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by 15 more minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. However, these times are general guidelines, and we recommend using a meat thermometer to determine the desired level of doneness.
For a roast cooked to medium-rare perfection, the internal temperature should be around 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that the roast continues to cook while resting, so it’s essential to remove it from the air fryer at the appropriate temperature.
Serving Suggestions and Expert Tips
Air fryer roast beef pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes. Consider serving it as part of a roast dinner with carrots, broccolini, horseradish mashed potatoes, and brown gravy. You can also try these side dish ideas:
- Air Fryer Squash with Brown Butter and Sage
- Air Fryer Loaded Radishes
- Yorkshire Pudding
- Biscuits
- Your favorite steamed and roasted vegetables
- Air Fryer Potatoes
- Kale Apple Slaw
If you’re following a weight management plan, keep in mind that our roast beef is a level 2 recipe. While it’s a lean choice, the calorie content can add up, especially when combined with rich side dishes. To reduce the overall calorie intake, opt for non-starchy vegetables in larger portions and minimize the consumption of energy-dense starches.
Remember, the pleasure of savoring this incredible dish outweighs the slight adjustments you may make for portion sizes. Enjoy your air fryer roast beef and relish in the delightful experience it offers.
FAQs and More Air Fryer Beef Recipes
If you’re looking for more beef recipes to try with your air fryer, check out the following options:
- Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer
- Meatloaf in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Burgers (Stuffed with Cheese)
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The Disclaimer…
Please note that all recipes on this website should be evaluated based on your specific needs and preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or physician to determine the dietary pattern that best suits you. The nutrition information provided is an estimate and may vary depending on specific brands and ingredients used. Calorie information on food labels can be inaccurate, so don’t get too caught up in the numbers. Stay informed and enjoy the cooking process!
Recipe
To access the original recipe, visit Hook’d Up Bar and Grill – Air Fryer Roast Beef (Recipe + VIDEO!)