This Air Fryer Roast Beef is deliciously seasoned with a simple spice blend and requires minimal hands-on prep. Cooking it in the air fryer makes it easy to nail a perfectly pink, medium-rare result.
My go-to method for cooking roast beef has always been my Eye of Round Roast Beef recipe cooked in the oven, but that changed a bit during our recent kitchen remodel. We were without a full kitchen for six months, so I became very friendly with my air fryer, and this Air Fryer Roast Beef was just one of many recipes I leaned on during that time.
When you’re short on oven space, or just plain don’t have an oven (like me!), your air fryer is a compact, mobile solution that allows tender roast beef to be on the menu.
A lovely bonus is how easy it is to check on the roast toward the end of cooking. This makes it simple to pull it right at that medium-rare temperature for a juicy, tender result.
Table of contents
Ingredient Notes
- Sirloin tip roast: This lean cut cooks up beautifully in the air fryer when cooked to medium-rare and sliced thinly against the grain. If you can’t find a sirloin tip roast, top round, eye of round, tri-tip, or top sirloin roasts will also work well. Keep in mind that leaner cuts, like eye of round, may cook a bit faster and won’t be quite as tender as a sirloin tip.
- Olive oil: Helps the seasoning stick and promotes browning. You’ll need just enough to generously coat all sides.
- Roast beef seasoning mix: A simple blend of kosher salt, dried rosemary, thyme, black pepper, granulated garlic (or garlic powder), onion powder, and paprika that adds classic roast beef flavor.
How to Make Air Fryer Roast Beef
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.
- Allow the roast to rest at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes, then pat it dry with paper towels.
- Coat the roast lightly with olive oil and season all sides generously.
- Place the seasoned roast in the air fryer basket and air fry at high heat to get the outside nicely browned.
- Flip the roast, then continue cooking at a lower temperature until it reaches medium-rare. Remove from the air fryer and let the roast rest before slicing thinly against the grain.
Tips for the Perfect Air Fryer Roast Beef
Don’t skip the rest before cooking. Letting the roast sit at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes helps it cook more evenly.
Pat the roast dry. Removing surface moisture helps the seasoning stick and promotes better browning.
Start high, then go low. Beginning at a high temperature helps brown the outside of the roast, then lowering the heat allows it to finish cooking gently without overcooking the interior.
Use an instant-read thermometer. Air fryers vary, so temperature is more reliable than time. Pull the roast at 130-135°F for medium-rare.
Flip halfway through cooking. This helps the roast brown evenly on both sides.
Rest before slicing. A short rest allows the juices to redistribute so the meat stays juicy.
Slice thinly against the grain. This is key for tenderness, especially with lean cuts like sirloin tip.
Storage Tips
- Refrigerate: Store leftover roast beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Great cold: This roast beef is especially good cold, making it perfect for sandwiches straight from the fridge. If you’re specifically looking to make deli-style roast beef for sandwiches, be sure to check out my Deli Style Roast Beef recipe for detailed tips on slicing, chilling, and storing.
- Reheating: If you prefer it warm, reheat gently to avoid overcooking. Thin slices warm best with a quick pass in the microwave at reduced power or briefly in a skillet.
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Air Fryer Roast Beef
Ingredients
- 2 ½ to 3 ½ pound sirloin tip roast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, or enough to generously coat all sides
Roast Beef Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¾ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Remove your roast from the refrigerator and allow it to rest on the counter for 30 to 45 minutes to take the chill off. If the roast is tied with twine, leave it in place.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Combine all the Roast Beef Seasoning Mix ingredients in a small bowl.
- Pat the roast with paper towels to dry the surface and drizzle with olive oil, using your hands to rub the olive oil over the roast, coating all sides. Sprinkle all sides, including the ends, with the seasoning mix.
- Once preheated, transfer the roast to the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes or until nicely browned.
- Open the air fryer, flip the roast, and roast at 320 degrees F for another 25 to 35 minutes (an additional 10 minutes per pound) or until the internal temperature reads no more than 135 degrees F. (medium rare). Begin checking temperature after 25 minutes by inserting an instant read thermometer into the center of the roast. I don’t recommend cooking roast beef beyond 135 to 140 degrees F for the most tender, delicious result.
- Transfer to a cutting board, lightly tent with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain and serve.
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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