This Air Fryer London Broil recipe transforms a less expensive cut of beef into a seriously delicious meal. Top round steak is tenderized and infused with flavor from an easy marinade before it is air fried to tender perfection.
My Eye of Round Roast Beef with Gravy is another recipe that turns an economical cut into something special!
When marinated and cooked properly, a top round steak can be transformed into this tender, flavorful London Broil.
This recipe is a delicious and easy way to serve steak to a crowd on a budget.
Table of contents
Best Method for Cooking London Broil
Because of the name, you might think London Broil should be prepared in the oven, specifically under the broiler. But, I have found the air fryer beats this method, hands down!
- When quickly air fried at a high temperature, round steak takes on a beautiful seared exterior with a perfectly cooked center.
- This method makes it easy to monitor so that it cooks to the correct internal temperature – exceptionally important for this cut.
Ingredient Notes
- Top round steak – A 2 to 2 1/2-inch top round steak will fit perfectly in a basket style air fryer. See more details about this cut in the FAQ section below.
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- London Broil Marinade – Balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, less sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried crushed rosemary, dried thyme.
The flavor-packed marinade serves two purposes. The acids in the lemon and vinegar help to tenderize the meat and the combination of powerful ingredients infuses the beef with amazing flavor.
How to Make Air Fryer London Broil
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
London Broil Marinade
- Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl.
- Use the sharp, spikey side of a meat mallet to pound both sides of the meat. Go over each side once or twice, leaving rows of marks on each side.
- Place the beef in a baking dish. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over both sides and pour the marinade over the meat. Flip the meat over, then cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Flip it once during the marinating time, if you remember.
- Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and allow it to rest at room temperature, for 30 to 45 minutes before cooking.
Air Fry the London Broil
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Carefully add the steak to the air fryer basket. Cook for 8 minutes.
- Flip the steak over and air fry for an additional 6 to 10 minutes. Transfer the London Broil to a cutting board and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
The total cooking time will depend on the weight, thickness, and how cold the steak is when it starts cooking. Remove the London Broil from the air fryer when the internal temperature in the thickest portion has reached 130 degrees F.
FAQ and Valerie’s Tips
London Broil is not a cut of meat, it is a method of preparing a lean, thick cut of beef, like a top round steak. The special preparation and high heat cooking method turn a less expensive cut into a great meal. It’s important to follow a special method of preparation for this tough cut to ensure a tender result.
Lightly pounding a top round steak with the sharp, spikey side of a meat mallet will puncture the surface and make it easier for the marinade to begin the process of tenderizing the beef. London Broil should be coated with salt and marinated in a mixture that contains acidic ingredients like vinegar and citrus juice for a minimum of 8 hours and no more than 24 hours for the best result.
It takes about 7 to 8 minutes per pound to cook to the desired medium-rare doneness. The total cooking time for a 2 pound top round steak London Broil at 400 degrees F will be between 14 to 16 minutes, depending on thickness and how cold it is when it goes in the air fryer.
London Broil should not be cooked beyond medium-rare for a tender result. Remove the steak from the air fryer when the internal temperature has reached 130 degrees F when measured with an instant read meat thermometer and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. The temperature will continue to rise a bit as it rests. The slices of a perfectly cooked London Broil should be slightly pink around the outer edges with a tender and deeper pink to red center.
How to Serve London Broil
The blue cheese butter and blue cheese horseradish sauce both pictured in this post are excellent ways to accent London Broil. Try one or both! The ingredients are listed in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Blue Cheese Butter – For both presentation and flavor, top the cooked steak with a simple blue cheese butter. What is more enticing than a seared slab of steak topped with melting butter?
- Blue Cheese Horseradish Sauce – We love the flavor of creamy horseradish with beef but add a little blue cheese and you’ve got a flavor combination that can’t be beat!
Best Side Dishes for London Broil
- Potatoes – Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes, Broccoli Cheese Mashed Potatoes or Scalloped Potatoes are all great choices.
- Rice – Swap potatoes out for rice like my Almond Rice Pilaf or Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pecans.
- Vegetables – Any simply prepared vegetable, like broccoli, works well. Or try Pesto Green Beans, Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic and Goat Cheese, or Bourbon Glazed Carrots to complete a holiday meal.
- Salad – My super easy Butter Lettuce Salad with Grapes and Gorgonzola is my go-to salad recipe for both busy weeknights and special menus. Other gorgeous choices include my Roasted Delicata Squash Salad and Apple Cabbage Salad.
- Bread – A warmed loaf of French bread or Sweet Potato Rolls for a cozy, festive touch.
Storing and Reheating Leftover London Broil
Transfer cooled leftover London Broil to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 to 4 days.
To reheat, cover slices of London Broil with a damp paper towel and reheat them in the microwave for 20 to 30 second intervals, just until warmed. Leftovers can also be eaten cold straight from the fridge in sandwiches.
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Air Fryer London Broil
Ingredients
- 2 to 2 ½ pound top round steak (London Broil), 1 ½- to 2-inches thick
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Marinade
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons less sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary, if it’s not crushed, crush it a little with fingers before adding
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Blue Cheese Butter (Optional)
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh minced herbs, optional (like parsley, thyme, or basil)
For the Blue Cheese Horseradish Sauce (Optional)
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, I use olive oil mayo
- 2 tablespoons creamed horseradish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Use the sharp, textured side of a meat mallet to pound both sides of the meat. Go over each side once or twice, leaving rows of marks on each side.
- Place the beef in a baking dish. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over both sides and press it into the surface of the meat with your hands.
- Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and pour it over the meat in the baking dish. Flip the meat to coat both sides. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Flip it once during the marinating time, if you remember.
- Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and allow it to rest, covered, at room temperature, for 30 to 45 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Carefully add the steak to the air fryer basket. Cook at 400 degrees F for 8 minutes. Flip the steak over and cook for an additional 6 to 10 minutes. Total time will depend on weight, thickness, and how cold the steak is when it starts cooking. When the internal temperature in the thickest portion has reached 130 degrees F. transfer the London Broil to a cutting board and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.
- Slice the London Broil against the grain into ½-inch slices. If desired, top with Blue Cheese Butter and serve with the Blue Cheese Horseradish Sauce on the side.
Blue Cheese Butter (Optional)
- Combine the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Then, add as much as desired to the top of the warm steak before serving.
Blue Cheese Horseradish Sauce (Optional)
- Combine the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve along with the London Broil as a dipping sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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