When the week is dragging and the weather is turning from autumn to winter the last thing you feel like is slaving away in the kitchen for hours on end, yet, the family still needs feeding. This is why you need these air fryer beef recipes for tasty meals that are quick to make, are budget-friendly, and will make life a whole lot easier.
Beef is one of those protein sources that are so versatile and can easily be customized to your preferences and tastes, as well as allergies, and you will always find a tasty dish that the whole family will love and can tuck into.
Life is busy and crazy enough as it is, and even more so when there are children in the picture who need driving to and from their sports practices, who need nutritious meals to keep them fueled for the day, and a hubby that works hard and deserves great tasting food. Dinner or mealtimes don’t need to be added into the mix and add more stress, quick and easy is the way forward.
#1. Mongolian beef
When I see meat that has a rich, dark coloring I get excited because I know there are some well-combined spices and sauces that have been marinating and seeping into the meat, and all the goodness is in the taste.
And this Mongolian beef recipe does not disappoint. It uses lean beef making it that little bit healthier and is one of those air fryer beef recipes that are done before you know it. The meat crisps on the outside while frying yet is still tender and moist on the inside so it ticks all the boxes in terms of great texture.
I like to serve this with fluffy rice and steamed veggies in the wintertime when only a hearty, filling meal will hit the mark, or tossed into a salad for a lighter dish during the warmer summer months, this is certainly an all year round dish that works for all occasions.
And any leftovers have been enjoyed by my husband neatly rolled into a wrap with homemade coleslaw, so no matter what you need this simple recipe is there to save the day.
I almost always make these beautifully seasoned steak strips when I know my husband is going to have the boys over to watch the football, they make the perfect filling for game day sandwiches and snacks.
When I make this recipe I like to triple the yield because there is always someone that wants to have a second serving of one of the dishes we created and the meat (uncooked or cooked) freezes down well, so you could portion some off to save some for a rainy day later in the month.
These tips cook in record time so keep an eye on them the whole time to not let them burn, although you do want that charred grill coloring and texture to seal in the moisture and juice. Simply pile these high into a bowl with a dipping sauce in the middle for the gents to dig into, skewer with veggies for a more filling snack option, or spoon them into fresh brioche slider buns with caramelized onions for the ultimate comfort food.
The hubby will thank you for it, and you won’t be surprised to hear the guys will want to come round your house for the next game day too. An easy convection oven beef recipe that is a filling meal and effortless to prepare.
If you didn’t think you could make a great-tasting, moist chunk of beef in the air fryer, I am here to change your mind. Not only will you be able to enjoy the gorgeous meat with its crisp edges, but the inside will be delicately pink and tender, and everything topped off by the flavorful herb crust you began with.
A winning dish that impresses anyone that you serve it to you, and is done within the hour so while it is cooking you can get the rest of the table set up and side dishes. Be sure to have a timer on hand and check and turn the meat every 20 minutes per pound in weight, and using a thermometer you will know when to turn the fryer off for rare, medium-rare, or medium.
Allow the meat to sit on the side to rest before slicing, this way the proteins will relax and give you the best flavor and texture possible.
You could make this for Sunday lunch when you know the family is coming over with all the trimmings, or for a quick midweek meal that essentially cooks itself while you set the table and the family gets washed up for dinner.
An easy, healthy meal that goes well with creamy mashed potato, veggies, or rice.
When I read that the recipe has both garlic and butter in the ingredients list I wanted to immediately try it. I love both ingredients so much and believe they add so much depth and richness to a meal like no other.
This dish takes about 15 minutes to make so there is no excuse not to have a tasty treat before dinner to keep the family hanging on and not dying from hunger while the supper is still cooking.
Season the cubes of meat and pop them into the fryer for 10 minutes. The rapid air circulation helps to seal in the moisture, lock in those juices and once they are cooked transfer the meat to the garlic butter mixture.
You could serve it as an appetizer sprinkled with fresh herbs for a nice pop of color against the dark meat, but I also like to add in a squeeze of lime and some spring onion for not only another color element but a tang to the overall flavor profile.
There are so many options and these easy beef air fryer recipes make meal preparations an absolute breeze. Who knew we would be relying on simple rapid air circulation for great tasting dishes, and since using the fryer it has become a staple in our home for speedy meals and snacks.
It is safe to say we have not looked back and only wish we had discovered it sooner rather than later.
My kids could eat meatballs for every meal if I let them but as much as I love meatballs there is a limit. I do, however, enjoy them more in the summer season because they are light, work into so many various dishes, and with the air fryer are so quick to pull together.
I always try to get the kids involved in helping me make the meatballs (I try to make it sound as fun as possible when it comes to making thousands of freezer-friendly meatballs, ha) but they don’t seem to mind.
Everyone gets to wear a snazzy pair of disposable gloves and we have trays lined all over the kitchen with parchment paper ready to be filled with little balls. I make a triple portion of the mixed mince filled with spices, herbs, garlic (of course, and I am generous with the amount too, you can never have enough garlic), eggs, and a touch of breadcrumbs for firmness and melt them all together.
Then while the kids are doing their conveyer belt of meatball prep ready to be portioned and frozen down for later in the month I get on with cooking that evening’s batch. I place a single layer of the balls into the fryer cook on high for about 10 minutes, I give them a quick shake, and look over and finish off with 2 more minutes, and voila, a ready portion. So easy.
Serve them with creamy mash, or even just have a big bowl of them on the table outside with a few dipping sauces and enjoy a delicious pre-dinner snack. I like to eat it with cranberry or blueberry jam because the sweet and savory balance works so well.
I had never considered trying cube steak in the air fryer because I thought it would end up being tough and chewy and I didn’t want to risk wasting a good piece of meat, but hearing a friend say it was so quick and easy but most of all moist and tender, I decided to jump in.
The marinade mix was for me the best part because you can smell all the flavors that are going to be absorbed by the meat so I was already excited to taste it, and it had one of my favorite dressing ingredients, balsamic vinegar, which does not only taste great on so many dishes but tenderizes the meat proteins and breaks down the muscles in a subtle way while retaining the flavor profile.
After a good hour of marinating in the fridge and having drained the steaks from the liquid, I popped them into the fryer for 5 minutes, checked on them, and added another minute or two to get an extra bit of char and color on the meat that my husband always enjoys.
They were a huge hit at the dining table that evening and have since become a regular meal on our supper rotation menu. I am so thankful I decided to give them a try, and once you do, you will be too.
You just can’t go wrong with a good old traditional beef and broccoli dish, and this one is quicker than ever before, and you can multitask without risking your food burning, win-win.
The longest part (all of 10 minutes) of this meal is the preparation, and from there on out it is all downhill and effortless, is there anything more you could want when making a meal for dinner.
Simply pop the seasoned and spiced beef into the fryer and brown, and then drained the broccoli you had steaming or boiling ready to mix with the beef. Once the meat is done, transfer it to a hot skillet with the broccoli and give it a generous mixing letting the meaty juices and goodness melt into the broccoli.
Serve with steamed rice for a hearty and filling meal, or serve as is with a loaf of fresh pita bread on the side for a lighter option when the hot weather just does not favor a heavy meal.
The pops of color work beautifully together and stand out on the rice, a humble dish that tastes even better than it looks.
If you have come home late from the office because the back to back meetings ran late and the hubby only just walked in himself with the kids back from football, the last thing you have on your mind is to cook a full-blown meal for dinner (why can’t cheese sandwiches suffice from time to time?).
Thankfully, these healthy beef convection oven recipes will come to save the day, and you don’t have to worry about a messy clean-up either because in the air fryer this element is taken out of the equation. Another perk to the air fryer.
Pop in a few steaks, fry till crispy and golden and serve with your favorite creamy mashed potatoes and a side order of veggies. You can also plate it with a filling salad for a lighter, healthier option.
I will say though, that to achieve the best results with easy meals like these, is that you want to get the best quality of ingredients you can afford, it makes all the difference (I learned the hard way). And at the end of the day you always want to eat a good grade of meat, preferably organic and grass-fed, so read packaging labels the next time you are out and about doing the grocery shopping.
I never really knew what meatloaf was until I tried this recipe, and it is literally what it says on the tin, a loaf of meat. Ha. And who doesn’t love a good slice of seasoned beef meat? The recipe is quite easy, I had all the ingredients on hand, so I decided to dive right in and give it a go for dinner that evening.
Once I had mixed the seasoning and egg and beef well to make sure every part had a bit of the flavor profile I placed the mix into a bread tin lined with parchment to essentially get the shape. You can also, just as easily, shape it with your hands if you don’t have a spare tin, but try to get the loaf shape which will be easier for slicing once it is cooked.
Place in the fryer to cook and brown, and in the meantime you can mix the ingredients for the basting sauce which you will brush on once the meat is done cooking. If you aren’t a hundred percent sure it is ready, always use a thermometer to check the internal temperature at the thickest section.
It goes great with veggies or potatoes, and my husband has even eaten a slice of it sandwiched into a brioche bap which he loved, but that might just be him. Each to their own as my granny always liked to say.
Midweek dinners have never been easier or tastier than if you try these fail-proof, healthy air fryer beef recipes to get you over that hump in the middle of the work week, and they taste just as delicious (in my opinion more) as the ones you order in the restaurant when you go out to eat, only without the hefty price tag.
You can make these burgers in no time at all, have free reign on toppings, and even serve them with potato fries or sweet potato fries for an in-home, takeout dinner.
My kids particularly enjoy melted cheese on their burgers so at the last minute or two I place a few thin slices of cheese on the patties to melt before popping them onto the rolls with the salad ingredients. And if you can, get the kids involved in mixing the mince and shaping the patties, it makes for a great bonding moment and they love feeling the minced meat squeeze through their fingers in the gloves.
Serve with gluten-free buns for an even healthier version, or normal rolls are just as tasty.
When I know we are going to someone’s house for a BBQ, or have been asked to bring an appetizer to the school function, or most frequently when we have the family and friends popping around I always reach for these easy convection oven beef recipes because they never disappoint.
There is nothing you can fault with this dish. It ticks all the boxes and is the speediest meal to put together when time is of the essence. Like most of us, you more than likely have a good arrangement of vegetables in the fridge whether it be purposefully bought or left over from another dish, there are always bits to use up, and this is the perfect recipe for that.
Simply season all the meat and bits, and skewer the cubes and veggies alternating in colors and ingredients. This is another reason why I love this dish because the colors alone make you want to eat it. Place the skewers into the air fryer in a single layer because you want to ensure the rapid air circulation reaches every spot and space and you have an even cooking process.
Pile them high onto a serving platter with a nice dill and mint yogurt dipping sauce and your platter will be the talk of the town (or at least the school meeting or party). The versatility of the recipe is what makes it so appealing in that you don’t have to make a special trip to the shop to buy the ingredients, but rather substitute for the ones you have on hand.
#12. Crispy air fryer chimichanga with shredded beef
By far the best-tasting spring roll combined with a wrap meal I have ever put into my mouth. And if I could quit my job and make these all day for eating I would, but alas, they don’t pay the bills as well as I would have liked them to.
But they are quick to make so I am happy with that.
I had already cooked and shredded the meat the day before (also using the air fryer because it gives the meat that crispy edge but maintains the juiciness and moisture so you aren’t left trying to chew what seems like a piece of leather) so I had that ready to go.
Warming the tortilla wraps to make them a bit more flexible and placing a generous amount of the meat inside them, simply fold the wrap into a spring roll shape. Place the roll into the fryer, depending on the size you may only be able to do one or two at a time, brush with some olive oil to help with the browning process and to add a subtle touch of flavor, and leave to cook for about 10 minutes before turning it over, brushing again and leaving to crisp up.
Serve with a dollop of sour cream and fresh salsa, avocado dip, or my husband’s favorite, sweet chili mayo. Great for snacks, appetizers when sliced in half diagonally, and for lunch boxes with a pot of sauce. A winning recipe all around.
Yes, the name is a mouthful, but so is the dish, and for good reason too. This is a crowd-pleasing dish that will make you the star of the show and have people asking you for the recipe.
This is essentially a burger inside of a tortilla wrap, but when brushed with butter or oil, makes it the perfect grab-and-go snack food that is filling and delicious.
And a nice surprise element is the crushed tortilla chips (or Doritos as my child prefers) to add a good crunch. Layer the ingredients on top of the cooked minced beef on the tortilla, cover with a smaller tortilla round, and fold over the edges placing it seam side down into the fryer.
After a few minutes, and a quick flip, you have a perfectly meaty-filled parcel that always goes down a treat at our house.
You can swap out or add ingredients as you prefer, maybe the kids don’t like lettuce leaves and you can easily leave them out, or the hubby likes a bite to his food so adding in a few slices of jalapenos to his parcels will give him the heat he enjoys.
Everyone can tailor their parcel to their favorite ingredients.
Beautiful tender pieces of meat smothered in a zesty orange sauce that is sweet and tangy and sticky, dinner was well-received is the humble way to put it.
The little balls of fine meat crisp up so delicately in the air fryer, and combined with the sauce it melts in your mouth with each bite.
My youngest enjoys eating these on their own but it goes perfectly with rice or noodles, and a generous sprinkling of spring onion to elevate the flavors and add a nice zest to the dish.
What I love about this dish is that it is so easy that even the most beginner of chefs or cooking enthusiasts can prepare and make this successfully and has a total time of less than half an hour, so when time is limited you still have peace of mind you can eat great tasting food.
There is no telling what the day will bring, but knowing you have a great collection of air fryer beef recipes for tasty meals that are quick to make is a huge weight off and dinner is one less thing to have to stress about.
You can always create unique and delicious meals without breaking the bank, and with even more easy recipe collections which you can browse on our blog, you will always have a simple dish to pull together that your guests and visitors are sure to enjoy.
Born and raised in South Africa and being immersed in the rich culture, Candace soon found a passion for all things food related. Exploring and experiencing new flavors and taste profiles she pursued her career as a qualified chef in silver service specialized in fine dining.
