This Air Fryer Filet Mignon Recipe delivers steakhouse-quality flavor to the table in less than 30 minutes. Juicy, tender, and always cooked just the way you like it every time — with all the tips and tricks for foolproof results.
This is a quick and easy protein to serve on date night or a quick-fix meal for special family dinners.
We've cooked and tested just about every cut of beef and steak known to man on this site. My husband's family has a history with cattle and was a meat judge in college, so the standards around here are pret-ty high.
We have leveraged that expertise over the last 20 years to develop the best steak recipes, and our readers return to them time and time again.
After cooking just about every protein under the sun in the air fryer and perfected them all--from burgers to "fried" shrimp to chicken legs — it was most definitely time to add steaks to the air fryer recipe repertoire!
This recipe is guaranteed to yield tender, juicy filet perfection topped with a garlicky steak butter that makes every bite positively succulent and gourmet-kind-of delicious.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Filet Mignon
Quick + Easy | We sure do love a cast-iron filet on date night, but there's absolutely nothing easier than cooking a steak in the air fryer. It takes less than five minutes of prep and under than 10 in the air fryer--no popping grease, no preheating the oven, no cleaning the skillet. Cleanup is a breeze and eating it is even easier.
So Flavorful | Our make-ahead steak butter is the difference maker when it comes to flavor. Beef tenderloin (the primal cut from which filet mignon comes) is prized for its tenderness but is a lean cut of beef. Lean means there's often very little marbling in comparison to cuts like a ribeye or even a coulotte steak. Without the extra fat, there's not a ton of beefy flavor. By quickly whipping up a butter mixed with garlic, herbs, and lemon zest, you instantly add flavor to the beef.
Temperature Control | Some air fryer filet mignon recipes call for cooking the steak at 450°F in order to develop more of a crust, but this is just too risky a temp for such a high-dollar cut of steak. Drizzling the steak with oil will help with browning, and cooking at 400°F according to the doneness-timing chart below will help you achieve the results you want dependably.
Ingredients (+ Easy Swaps)
Filet Mignon | This recipe calls for 6- to 8-ounce filets, about 1 ½ inches thick. If possible, go for prime beef, which has the best marbling. Choice is the next best option. Ask for a center-cut steak to avoid sinew and connective tissue. This also ensures your steaks are uniform in size and will cook evenly in the air fryer.
Oil | You can use avocado or olive oil for your steaks. This helps seasoning to stay put and steaks to brown.
Seasoning | We use a simple seasoning blend of Kosher salt and black pepper to keep things easy. This is the same seasoning we use for other prized cuts of beef like prime rib. If you want to add more flavor to your steak, whip up a big batch of steak seasoning and sprinkle away.
Butter | Use unsalted, room temperature butter for the base of your steak butter. Unsalted butter gives you full control over sodium levels.
Garlic | Freshly minced garlic adds loads of savory flavor to steak butter. If you don't have fresh garlic, feel free to sub in garlic powder.
Herbs | You can use a variety of fresh herbs in your compound steak butter. My favorite is freshly chopped thyme and parsley. Chives are a great addition, too. You can also use fresh rosemary, although take care to chop it finely as rosemary is a bit thicker. Marjoram and oregano are also popular herbs you might find in a compound butter.
Lemon | A tiny bit of lemon zest goes a long way in brightening up a compound butter for steak. It might seem like a strange ingredient, but if you've ever had a lotta on a porterhouse steak, you know this is most definitely the way to go.
How Cook Filet Mignon in the Air Fryer
Before you air fry, make sure your steaks are completely thawed. Frozen steaks will not cook evenly.
And remember that it's essential to take the chill off your steaks in order for your steaks to cook as evenly as possible. Allow steaks to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Make the Compound Butter (Optional) | Soften the butter in the microwave at 10-second intervals until room temp and easily spreadable but not melted. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Make two hours in advance if you want your butter to be sliceable.
Remove Excess Moisture | Pat away the excess moisture from the filets using paper towels; set them aside. Allow them to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes to remove the chill. In the meantime, preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
Oil + Season | Once the air fryer is ready, drizzle the steaks with the oil and rub all over. Sprinkle with Kosher salt and pepper all over and rub to adhere.
Air Fry | Add the steaks to the air fryer basket. Cook for 9-15 minutes, depending on the desired doneness of your steaks, and flip halfway through. Use an instant-read thermometer inserted in the most center part of your steak for best results. Your steak temperature will continue to rise after cooking, so it's best to remove five degrees before desired temp.
The thickness of the steaks will affect cook time. Thinner steaks won't take long to cook, while thicker steaks might take more time. This recipe was developed using a 1 ½-inch filet.
Rest | Remove the steaks from the air fryer immediately and top with about a tablespoon of softened compound butter. Do not allow it to automatically switch to warm, or your steaks will overcook.
Make a Tent | Tent with aluminum foil and steaks to rest for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Air Fryer Steak Time & Temp Guide
- Cook at 400°F for 9-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Remove immediately after cooking (do not let your air fryer switch to "Warm").
- Temp early: Pull steaks 5°F below desired doneness; they'll rise in temperature as they rest.
- Rest steaks 10 minutes, topped with compound butter.
- Rare (120°F): 9-10 minutes → remove at 115°F
- Medium Rare (130°F): 10-11 minutes → remove at 125°F
- Medium (140°F): 12-13 minutes → remove at 135°F
- Medium Well (150°F): 13-14 minutes → remove at 145°F
- Well Done (160°F): 14-15 minutes → remove at 155°F
What to Serve with Filet Mignon
It's time for all the sauces! You can keep it light with a simple veggie and side salad or bring in all the carbs with your favorite potato dish and a slice of Texas Toast or soft, buttery yeast rolls.
Steak Sauces + Toppings | Top with steak butter or crumbles of blue cheese, or take it the extra mile with a homemade steak sauce. If you're Team Blue Cheese, this blue cheese sauce doubles as a steak sauce and a pasta sauce. Bonus. If you want to serve up a classic, bearnaise sauce is where it's at. It's easier thank you think with just a blender and a handful of ingredients.
Potatoes | No filet mignon is complete without the perfect potato side. Twice-baked potatoes are creamy, buttery potatoes stuffed with cheddar and topped with crispy bacon double-time it in the oven while mashed potatoes deliver light, fluffy buttery goodness every time.
Vegetables | Every steak dish deserves a brigh, yummy veggie sidekick. Green Bean Almondine combines crunchy green beans and a light almond sauce for an elevated but easy option. Or keep it classic with a simple house salad just like the one from your favorite restaurant!
5 More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
- Air Fryer Pizzas
- Air Fryer Pickles
- Air Fryer Crab Cakes
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
Air Fryer Filet Mignon
Ingredients
FOR THE FILETS:
- 2 beef filets, 1 ½" thick (about 6-8 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon avocado or canola oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
FOR THE OPTIONAL STEAK BUTTER (MAKE AHEAD IF USING):
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- Pinch black pepper
- Zest of half a lemon
- 1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
Instructions
PREP THE STEAKS:
- Pat the excess moisture away from the filets using paper towels, set them aside on a work surface, and allow them to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes to remove the chill. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Once the air fryer is ready, drizzle the steaks with the oil and rub all over. Sprinkle with Kosher salt and pepper all over and rub to adhere.
AIR FRY:
- Add the steaks to the air fryer basket. Cook for 9-15 minutes, depending on the desired doneness of your steaks. Use an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of your steak for best results. Steak temperature will continue to rise after cooking; remove 5° before the desired temp.Rare (120°F): 9-10 minutes → remove at 115°FMedium Rare (130°F): 10-11 minutes→ remove at 125°F Medium (140°F): 12-13 minutes→ remove at 135°FMedium Well (150°F): 13-14 minutes→ remove at 145°F Well Done (160°F): 14-15 minutes → remove at 155°F
REST:
- Remove from the air fryer immediately, top with about a tablespoon of compound butter if desired. Use softened butter immediately, or pre-chilled slices (see below).
- Tent with aluminum foil and steaks to rest for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
MAKE THE COMPOUND BUTTER:
- Soften butter in the microwave at 10-second intervals until room temp and easily spreadable but not melted. Mix in the remaining ingredients.
- Use right away: add a dollop to steak. if using right away.
- For chilled slices: Spoon butter onto a small sheet of wax or parchment paper, about 4 inches from the edge. Fold the paper over the butter and roll it into a smooth cylinder, about 1 ½ inches thick. Twist the ends in opposite directions, like wrapping a piece of candy. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Then, slice into rounds and serve.
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