23 Beef Air Fryer Recipes to Save Time in the Kitchen

Yes, this is my FAVORITE cheeseburger recipe to make in the air fryer. I can fit three good sized burgers in our Ninja Foodie, and this recipe is easy enough for the girls to make too. Serve it up with some homemade pickles or a mixed green salad. So good!

For many of us, ground beef is a dinner staple. Did you know that you can cook ground beef in the air fryer? The fat drains automatically, leaving lean ground beef behind.

Once you've thawed your ground beef in the fridge overnight (if it was frozen), you need only 5 or 6 minutes to cook it in your air fryer. Add it to a casserole, some quick tacos, a soup, or anything else you'd like. 

If you're worried about the grease making your air fryer smoky, use the leanest ground beef you can find to cut down on the fat.

Are you worried that your air fryer will dry out your burger meat? Think again! It can actually help you make thick, juicy burgers in a fraction of the time. Get your hamburgers done in just 10 minutes, add your favorite toppings, and serve them up. Pair with fries or tots (also cooked in the air fryer) for a super quick meal.

Here's a kid-friendly meal your family will ask for regularly. It's quick, delicious, and budget-friendly, so you won't mind.

To make cheeseburger egg rolls, you'll combine ground beef with cheese, onion powder, dill relish, and Worcestershire sauce. Wrap it all up in an egg roll, pop it in the air fryer for 6 minutes. Talk about a perfect weeknight dinner.

Want a customizable air fryer dinner idea? Try empanadas! While these are made with ground beef, peppers, and onion wrapped in an easy Jiffy pie crust, you can fill them with anything you want. Chicken, ground turkey, or sausage are great options, too. They make a portable and tasty lunch for the kids (or yourself).

Spiced meat on a stick makes a fun appetizer or entrée. Ground beef is used for this version, but ground venison or bison are yummy choices if you have those. Simply add a spice mix, salt, minced garlic, and parsley to ground meat, shape into sausages, insert the skewers, and cook them in the air fryer.

A bit like the empanadas above, these taco pockets are savory hand pies that are filled with meat, taco seasoning, and other yummy ingredients like corn, cheese, and salsa. Serve them with sour cream or some creamy queso dip.

This snack is perfect for family movie night or watching the big game. It's also a terrific way to use leftover ground beef, ground turkey, or rotisserie chicken! Fill your air fryer basket with tortilla chips, add cooked ground beef and shredded cheese, and heat until melted. What could be simpler? Sprinkle some chopped green onions on top for a bit of extra flavor.

Make meatloaf in half the time with this easy dinner idea. The air fryer allows the fat to drip away, resulting in a loaf with crispy edges that's not at all greasy. While it does take a little longer than half an hour, it's still one of the fastest ways to cook meatloaf when you're craving classic comfort food.  

Get tender, juicy steak bites every time in a flash — just 15 minutes, to be exact. They make a great appetizer but can be enjoyed as a main dish, too. If you're watching your carbs, even better. Serve with steamed vegetables for a keto-friendly meal or mashed potatoes for a kid-friendly favorite. Fries or potato wedges would also make great sides along with these air fryer steak tips.

Once the meat for this beef satay is marinated, it takes only 10 minutes to cook it to perfection. A great choice for low carbers, this protein-packed dish is flavorful on its own but divine when served with peanut sauce. Add steamed or roasted veggies on the side, and you have a total winner for dinner.

Not only does this Asian Beef and Veggies meal cook up perfectly in the air fryer, but it's a fabulous freezer meal to tuck away for a busy day, too. The easy air fryer recipe only takes 10 minutes of prep and just 8 minutes to cook! How incredible is that?

While it won't be a super saucy meal since you have to ditch the marinade to make it in the air fryer, it will still be amazing served with a side of rice, some sesame seeds, and scallions sprinkled over top.

Ribs in the air fryer? Why, yes! If you like crispy beef on the outside that's fall-off-the-bone tender on the inside, this recipe is a must-try. The easy marinade adds tons of flavor and juiciness and is made with coconut aminos, garlic, oregano, mustard, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika for that smoky flavor.

You can use bone-in or boneless ribs, but you may need a little less cooking time for the boneless version. Serve the short ribs with mashed cauliflower, roasted veggies, green beans, or a healthy green salad. Don't forget the BBQ sauce!

Why have I never considered making sandwiches in the air fryer until now? It's a genius way to get crispy bread, warm meat, and ooey-gooey melted cheese all in one go. This corned beef sandwich is topped with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing for an irresistible lunch idea.

Cube steaks are an economical cut of beef, but finding ways to cook them without using tough, chewy meat can be challenging. It gets a lot easier when you use your air fryer. Make this Southern classic using simple pantry ingredients you already have on hand. Smother it in gravy before serving. Yum!

If you're a parent, chicken fingers are definitely part of your vocabulary. But have you heard of steak fingers? They're equally delicious and incredibly easy to make.

While these steak fingers are made with spicy breading, you can use something different (and milder) if you're making them for kids. However, the spicy version is perfect for a party appetizer. The dill pickle dip helps cool off the heat and adds depth and flavor to the dish.

This perfect air-fried steak recipe from Low Carb Yum puts dinner on the table in about 15 minutes. Instead of a marinade, this version uses a dry rub that penetrates the meat for incredible flavor in every bite. Use your favorite steak seasoning or make a homemade version. Remember, thicker cuts of steak may require additional cooking time. Use your meat thermometer to make sure it reaches a safe temperature.

Serve this scrumptious orange beef over noodles or rice with some roasted veggies on the side. It's a fantastic meal that tastes like takeout but is way more affordable and healthier, too, since you control the ingredients. The sauce is added after the sirloin is removed from the air fryer, so you still get all that delicious sauce soaking your rice or noodles.

Cooking traditional German food has never been faster. Flank steak is rolled up with mustard, grilled onions, bacon, and parsley and cooked for about 10 minutes. The steak roll-ups are served with a delicious sauce made with oil, tomato paste, dill pickles, grilled onions, and sour cream.

Enjoy an easy 30-minute meal that's flavorful, low in carbs, and high in protein. The marinade helps tenderize the meat, and the resting time is also important to ensure that the juices are redistributed through the meat. Serve the thin slices of meat in tacos or with roasted vegetables to keep it all low-carb.

Kids love food on a stick! Make your kabobs with pieces of steak, onions, and bell peppers. Don't be afraid to add other veggies, though. Mushrooms, broccoli, or cherry tomatoes are delicious additions. Ready in just 10 minutes, you'll enjoy every bite of this easy and healthy entrée.

Another easy steak idea — this time with mushrooms. The steak is slathered with seasoned butter and cooked in the air fryer along with the mushrooms resting around the sides of the steak. In about 18 minutes, the steak is ready for serving with the tasty mushrooms on top.

I know what you're thinking. Filet mignon is too expensive to risk in the air fryer. Right? But this recipe is said to be foolproof, resulting in a perfectly cooked steak every time. Adjust the time for the thickness of your steak, checking every 1-2 minutes until it reaches a safe temperature.

Perfect this technique, and you may never sear your steak on the grill or in the pan again. The blue cheese butter on top adds even more flavor to the tender, juicy steak.

Flavorful beef cooked with air-fried broccoli is a simple and scrumptious weeknight meal. The dish is full of Asian flavor thanks to the delicious sauce the beef and broccoli is tossed in after cooking in the air fryer.

Although I've listed an easy recipe for steak bites above, I couldn't resist this Cajun version with mushrooms that's ready in just 8 minutes. To get the seasonings just right, the recipe creator starts with a Creole seasoning and adjusts with classic Cajun spices like paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne. Adjust it to your family's preferred spiciness level.