Air fryer roast beef is coated in montreal steak spice before being air fried to juicy, tender perfection.
Serve this easy air fryer roast beef recipe next to some asparagus and roasted potatoes for the perfect meal!
Why We Love It
Gone are the days you need to sear a roast in the pan before finishing it off in the oven.
This recipe just needs 3 ingredients – a roast, olive oil, and Montreal steak spice.
Preheating the air fryer at 390°F does the searing for you, then it cooks at a temperature of 360°F, while you prep the sides.
This roast beef is delicious as is, and we love using the leftovers in roast beef hash or on french dip sandwiches!
Choosing A Cut Of Beef
Cheaper cuts like stewing beef are better when simmered in soups and stews for a longer period of time. The fat in these cuts has a harder time breaking down.
An air fryer roast is the best time to splurge a little bit on quality – especially because the cooking time is quicker than usual.
These are some go-to’s when making this roast beef recipe:
- Prime rib roast
- Sirloin tip roast
- Beef chuck roast
- Rump roast
- Inside round roast
Look for a roast that is even in size, will fit in your air fryer, and has some marbling.
How To Make Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 5 minutes.
- Brush roast with olive oil, then cover with montreal steak seasoning.
- Air fry for 15 minutes (this is the sear).
- Reduce heat to 360°F. Cook for 25 minutes per pound or until desired doneness is reached.
- Rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Roast Beef Temperatures
The easiest way to know when the roast is ready, is an instant-read meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the roast.
Here are the roast beef temperatures:
- Rare: 125°F (cold, red center)
- Medium rare: 135°F (warm, red center)
- Medium: 145°F (warm, pink center)
- Medium well: 150°F (center only slightly pink)
- Well done: 160°F (no pink)
Air fryer roast beef should always be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F for safety.
The temperature will usually raise another 5-10°F while resting.
To Make Gravy
Save the drippings! They make for a great gravy that’s packed with flavor.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Drippings from roast
Instructions:
- Bring 2 cups of low sodium beef broth to a boil.
- Combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Whisk into the beef broth, along with any drippings from the air fryer.
- Whisk constantly until thickened.
Don’t add salt, the Montreal steak spice will be plenty salty enough in the drippings.
Tips and Substitutions For Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Montreal pepper steak spice is our favorite roast beef rub. The coarse salt helps during the searing process and creates a beautiful crust on the roast. If you prefer, you can use your favorite roast rubs or seasonings.
- Check the temperature every 10 minutes towards the end of cooking, so you don’t go over.
- If the roast is wrapped with cooking twine, feel free to leave it on. It doesn’t need to be trussed otherwise.
- A little chopped parsley, thyme, or rosemary adds a fresh pop of color when serving roast beef.
- Don’t forget to rest before cutting the roast! The juices need a chance to settle back into the muscle after cooking.
- An electric knife makes quick work of slicing the roast beef. Aim for ½” slices.
- The roast should cook for about 25 minutes per pound at 360°F. A 4 pound roast took us 1 hour and 40 minutes. This timing may vary depending on the size of the air fryer and size of the roast.
- Our favorite side dishes for this roast beef include roasted potatoes and vegetables like green beans or carrots!
Storing and Reheating Roast Beef
Leftover roast beef can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, covered with plastic wrap or placed in an air tight container.
It also freezes well. Freeze the roast once fully cooled for up to 8 months. Defrost it in the fridge before you plan to use it.
When reheating, roasts tend to dry out. A splash of beef broth will help keep it moist and tender.
To reheat air fryer roast beef, place it in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 380°F or until heated through.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Avocado Fries
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Corn On The Cob
- Air Fryer Pickles
Air Fryer Roast Beef
Ingredients
- 4 pound sirloin tip roast see note
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 tablespoons montreal steak spice
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F. Trim excess fat off of roast.
- Brush roast with olive oil. Sprinkle with montreal steak spice on all sides, and press gently to coat.
- Place roast into preheated air fryer basket. Cook for 15 minutes. This is the sear.
- Reduce heat to 360°F. Cook for 1 hour 40 minutes, or 25 minutes per pound.
- Towards the end of cooking, check temperature with an instant read thermometer (cook to 135°F for medium rare).
- Place roast on a serving tray. Tent with foil, and rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
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28 thoughts on “Air Fryer Roast Beef”
Like a person in an earlier comment, I overcooked it. The flavors were there, and the charred crust was delicious. 🙂
I was so busy prepping the rest of dinner that I didn’t check it enough. Lesson learned. Next time it will be perfect. Thanks for the recipe.
Happy the flavor was there! Roasts are always a trial-and-error, happy you’re here!
Love this recipe! Turned out great! I used “roast” on my air fryer, I wasn’t sure if this was right or not but it turned out great! I checked mine after an hour and was able to remove it about 15 minutes earlier than above but again all air fryers are different. Thank you for sharing!
So glad it was a hit Shelly!
This recipe was awesome!! Family loved it.
Thank you
So happy to hear! Glad it was a hit.
With a toaster oven style air fryer is there a need to turn it half way through the cooking time? And does the cooking times you referenced for a completely thawed roast?
I would turn it during cooking, yes. Times are for a thawed roast.
I had given up trying to cook a beef roast because it never turned out. It was either tough or it fell apart and it was hard to find the meat. I tried doing it in the oven and in the slow cooker but not the insta-pot. Tonight I tried this recipe in the air fryer and we really liked it. I didn’t have Montreal Steak Spice so used Spicy Pepper Medley which I think is similar. I love the crusty outside. Thanks Bailey. I’ll check out some more of your recipes.
So happy it was a hit Carol!
Made roast beef came out perfect was delicious thanks
So happy it was a hit Antionette!
It was delicious. So easy, so tasty, not a crumb left.
So happy you love it Sharron!
I made this exactly according to the recipe and roast is so dry and disgusting. I just hope I can save it by putting it in my crockpot.
Hi Diana, I am so sorry to hear the recipe didn’t work out for you. It’s one of our favorites. If you walk me through the steps you took, I am happy to try and help you troubleshoot why it may have not worked for you!
We hadn’t tried to cook a roast in the air fryer yet, but your recipe made it very easy; Montreal steak spice worked great with it. The roast was a hit, thanks!…
So happy you loved it Shawn! It’s one of our favorites!
I tried this recipe. 390 for 15 and then 360 for 60 for a 4 pound roast. It came out well done and according to the recipe it should have baked longer. My air fryer max set time is 60 minutes. At that point I checked the temp and it was 155 degrees F. What did I do wrong.
Hi Francis, air fryers will always have varying times. There are several factors that may have caused this:
1. The air fryer is either smaller or larger
2. Whether you have a basket style or toaster oven style air fryer
3. Preheating the air fryer.
Air fryers don’t lose heat, so it’s always best to check as often as possible how your roast is doing throughout the cooking process. If you have a 60 minute maximum set time for your air fryer, it is possible that it is stronger than a standard air fryer. I hope this helps, and helps you achieve the perfect air fryer roast!
Received an air fryer from my son as a Xmas gift. First time using it today and jumped right in and did sirloin tip roast beef! Came out perfectly done and I love the crust! Frees up my oven to bake dessert!
So glad you loved it Karen!
I made it and it’s perfect
Happy it was a hit!
Surprisingly easy any surprising good. Drippings made a great gravy too!
So glad you loved it Victor. It does make a great gravy!
Do you put it on air fry setting or bake?
I use the air fry setting for all of the air fryer recipes you’ll find here. Enjoy!