This Air Fryer Roast Beef recipe is guaranteed to give you a delicious, medium rare roast beef in just over an hour. A flavorful herb crust develops on the outside of the roast while the inside remains moist and delicious.
From now on, you can have a low carb, keto-friendly, perfectly air-fried roast beef any day of the week with little effort.
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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!
If you have been looking for a no-fail way to make the perfect roast beef, then you are done looking! Beef and Pork both cook up excellent in the air fryer. Once you have had Air Fryer Pork Chops or Maple Glazed Pork Loin in the Air Fryer, Roast Beef won't be the only main protein you make in the air fryer! This cooking method is a great way to serve a holiday roast or to make a weekend family dinner any time of year.
Air Fryer Method
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. This is the most delicious Roast Beef made in the air fryer, and the best part is I didn't have to do a ton of work, and I had very little mess afterward!
This Air Fryer roast is the juiciest, most tender, and flavorful roast beef I have ever eaten! All I did was as add a light coating of oil on the roast, then rubbed some dried herbs over the entire roast. The rest of the magic happened right in the air fryer!
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🥘 Ingredients
Beef: You want a tender cut of beef for roasting. Go for tenderloin, top round, 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 coat this roast. Garlic powder, onion salt, parsley, thyme, basil, salt, and pepper.
Oil: I used olive oil to coat the roast beef before putting the rub-on. This was to give it a little more fat and help the rub to stick and seep into the meat.
🍽 Equipment
Air Fryer: The brand I started with is no longer available, but I bought my son and brother in law this one for Christmas and they both love it!
Meat Thermometer: I always recommend using a meat thermometer when cooking meat. I love the instant-read digital thermometer.
I have had many emails asking me about air fryers and temperatures. The specific air fryer I used in this post was a Cozyna 3.7 quart air fryer. Perfect for two people. I just bought a Pampered Chef air fryer, which I have not used yet, but look forward to trying!
When it comes to temperature, everything I cook is in Farenheit. Most of my readers are from the US and this is how we cook. The air fryer I used to make this recipe only goes up to 390 degrees F. Normally I do not preheat the air fryer, but for this recipe I did as I wanted it hot when I put the roast in.
I started my roast on the hottest setting to set the sear, similar to how it is done when making a prime rib roast. It is only at 390 degrees for 15 minutes. Immediately the temperature should be turned down to 360 degrees F after that 15 minute sear.
⏲️ Cooking Time
Only you know your air fryer. Unless you use exactly what I have, I cannot guarantee you will get the exact same results. Therefore, my biggest recommendation is you always use a meat thermometer and check on the internal temperature periodically.
- 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.
Levels of Doneness
The official USDA temperature recommendation for roast beef is 145 degrees (medium - a warm pink center).
Temperatures to reach your desired level of doneness:
- 135 degrees (Rare)
- 145 degrees (Medium)
- 150 degrees (Medium well)
- 160 degrees (Well done)
💭 Tips
- Use a tender cut of meat for this air fryer recipe. I recommend a tenderloin, top loin, 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.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this air fryer roast beef topped with this tasty Cowboy Butter.
A natural side to roast beef is the potato. We love this recipe for Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Chives. It is the only recipe I ever make for mashed.
Since this Roast Beef is naturally low carb, if you are following a low carb keto diet, then this Garlic Mashed Cauliflower with Browned Butter is the BEST!
This Roasted Acorn Squash is another delicious veggie side you may want to serve, and we also love this recipe for Roasted Asparagus with Browned Balsalmic Butter.
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
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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
Ingredients
- 2 lb 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. Combine the garlic powder, onion salt, parsley, thyme, and basil, salt, and pepper.
- Rub 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 temperature to 360 degrees on the air fryer and return the roast. Cook for another 60 minutes, or until 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.
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