Air Fryer Roast Beef
This Air Fryer Roast Beef is a fool proof way to make a roast beef that has a seared crust on the outside and is perfectly cooked in the middle, every single time. Ready in under 45 minutes, this easy roast beef is the perfect dish to serve for family dinner or a special occasion alongside creamy horseradish sauce. 
As a kid, a roast beef dinner was saved for special occasions and something that I always looked forward to. My grandma was British (and a terrible cook) but a roast was the one thing she always made for us when we came to visit. I didn’t have an appreciation for just how big a part of British life roast beef was until I moved to the UK, where Sunday roast at the pub was a big part of british culture and something I quickly adopted and loved. It wasn’t until we moved back to Canada that I decided to take on the task of making roast beef at home, which although easy, was rather time consuming. Enter my newly discovered favorite way to cook roast beef, the air fryer, not only because it’s much faster, but also because it cooks the meat perfectly every single time.
Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Roast Beef
- All you need is a handful of ingredients and an air fryer to make perfectly cooked roast beef.
- Cooking roast beef in an air fryer is much quicker than cooking it in the oven (it’s about 30 minutes less time)
- Cooking the roast for a few minutes at a high temperature creates a wonderful crust on the roast which gives it so much flavor before lowering the temperature which ensures it doesn’t dry out as it cooks and remains moist and juicy in the middle.
- Whether it’s a special occasion or simple family dinner, this is a low fuss easy recipe that ensures you have perfect roast beef every time.
Ingredients You Need To Make This Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Beef Roast: I recommend using a leaner cut of meat such as Sirloin Tip roast, top round roast or ribeye roast. I recommend buying a 2 pound roast, the cooking time will have to be adjusted for anything larger in size
- Olive Oil: I like using extra virgin olive oil but any type of cooking oil that has a high smoke point can be used such as avocado oil or vegetable oil.
- Salt & Pepper: I like using a generous sprinkle of kosher salt and black pepper which helps to create a crust on the roast beef.
- Thyme: The recipe states dried thyme, if you prefer using fresh herbs use 1 tablespoon fresh thyme and finely chop it
- Rosemary: I prefer using dried rosemary for this recipe, if you have fresh rosemary I recommend finely chopping it and using 1 tablespoon
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder adds a subtle garlicky taste. Feel free to swap it for onion powder if you prefer.
You can find full measurements in the recipe card below.
What Cut Of Beef Should I Use?
There is a variety of cuts of beef that can be used for this roast beef recipe. The cut of beef will impact the amount of time that it needs to be cooked as cheaper cuts with a lot of connective tissue will require a lot longer to cook and may actually be better suited for oven roasting. For the air fryer I recommend choosing a tender cut of beef with a bit of marbling such as a top sirloin roast, prime rib roast, rump roast or top-round roast. The size and type of roast will impact the cook time required for the roast.
How To Make This Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Remove the roast from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature. Preheat the air fryer.
- Pat the surface of the roast dry with a paper towel and then rub a little bit of oil all over the roast.
- In a small bowl stir together the salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary and garlic powder.
- Sprinkle the herb mixture all over the entire roast ensuring that all of the sides are well coated.
- Place the roast in air fryer basket and leave it to cook for 5 minutes. Preheating the airfryer and then leaving it to cook at a higher temperature for 5 minutes will allow it to sear on the outside and form a lovely crust.
- Next reduce the heat, flip the roast and cook for an additional 30 minutes. I recommend checking the internal temperature of the roast with 25 minutes left and then in 3 minute increments as it gets closer to your desired temperature
- Remove the roast from the air fryer and leave let the roast rest on a cutting board with a sheet of aluminum foil overtop for 10 minutes to allow the juices to restabilize before cutting it into thin slices
Why Do I Have To Let The Roast Beef Rest
When cooking red meat it is always recommended to leave it to rest for a minimum of 5 minutes for something small like a steak, to up to 30 minutes for a big roast. This time allows the muscle fibers to relax and allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. If you cut the meat too quickly the juices will simply run out onto the cutting board and result in much dryer meat.
What Internal Temperature Should The Roast Beef Be?
The easiest way to tell whether the roast beef is done cooking is to check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. Be sure to insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the beef when checking the temperature of the meat. As a rule of thumb the roast should be removed from the air fryer 10 degrees below your preferred level of doneness as the roast will continue to cook as it sits.
- 120-130°F for rare
- 130-135°F for medium-rare
- 135-145°F for medium
- 145-155°F for medium well
- 155°F and above is well done
Can I Make This Roast Beef In The Oven?
Absolutely! If you do not have an air fryer this roast beef can easily be cooked in the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees fahrenheit and rub the roast in oil and coat in the herb mixture. Place a roasting rack in a roasting pan and place the roast on the rack. Roast the beef for 15 minutes before lowering the oven temperature to 325 degrees and cooking for an additional 1 hour and 15 minutes (or longer depending on your desired level of doneness, be sure to use a digital thermometer to check the internal temperature). Similar to the air fryer, cooking the roast at a high temperature first creates a nice seared crust before cooking it at a lower temperature which will result in a perfectly cooked tender roast beef.
What To Serve With This Air Fryer Roast Beef
I highly highly recommend serving this air fryer roast beef with creamy horseradish sauce. It is an absolutely delicious sauce that takes minutes to make and pairs wonderfully with the roast. I find that when serving the roast beef with the horseradish sauce there is absolutely no need for gravy. I like to choose simple side dishes that can be made in the time that the roast cooks, these include roast potatoes (if you have space in your air fryer you can arrange the potatoes around the roast and leave them to cook for approximately 20 minutes). Other easy side dishes include roasted carrots, asparagus, roasted fennel, green beans or broccoli.
What About Leftovers
Leftover roast beef can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. There are so many ways to enjoy leftover roast beef, I love to have it sliced up into salads, or my absolute favorite way is to enjoy it in as a roast beef sandwich served in a fresh bun with horseradish sauce, mayonnaise and lettuce. I always try to ensure that I have extra meat because leftover roast beef sandwiches are one of my favorite things to have for lunch.
Can I Freeze Leftovers
If you end up with a lot of meat you can alternatively store leftovers in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 4 months. To thaw the meat I life to leave it on the counter for a few hours to let it come to room temperature before warming (or enjoy it cold!).
Here are a few more of my favorite air fryer recipes that you might enjoy….
- Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce
- Air Fryer Halibut with Lemon Garlic Sauce
- Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken Bites
- Spicy Honey Glazed Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!
Air Fryer Roast Beef
Ingredients
- 2 lbs roasting beef joint (sirloin tip roast, topside, silverside etc)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer by turning it on to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and leaving it to heat up for 5 minutes
- Pat the roast dry with a paper towel and then rub oil all over the roast.
- In a small bowl stir together the salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary and garlic powder
- Sprinkle the roast with the herb mix ensuring the entire roast is coated
- Place in the air fryer and leave to cook at 400º F for 5 minutes, then flip the roast over, reduce the heat to 360º F and cook for 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the beef to check the internal temperature. Pull it from the air fryer approximately 8 degrees below your desired level of doneness (see notes). Leave the roast beef to rest covered in aluminium foil for 15-20 minutes before slicing. Serve with creamy horseradish sauce
Notes
- 120-130°F for rare
- 130-135°F for medium-rare
- 135-145°F for medium
- 145-155°F for medium well
- 155°F and above is well done
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