How to Cook Filet Mignon in an Air Fryer

Including our recipe for the most flavorful garlic and herb butter to melt on top.

Filet mignon and steamed broccoli
Photo:

Rachel Marek

Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
4

There are several ways to cook a filet mignon but one of the easiest and most foolproof is cooking it in the air fryer. Filet mignon cooked in the air fryer comes out crisp on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. Here's how to cook steak in an air fryer including tips for properly resting the meat before serving.

Air Fryer Filet Mignon Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need to cook filet mignon in an air fryer including our recipe for a garlicky compound butter topping.

Filet Mignon

  • Filet: This air fryer steak recipe calls for four 2-inch thick beef tenderloin steaks. Filet mignon steaks are cut from beef tenderloin.
  • Oil: Our Test Kitchen used a brush to evenly spread olive oil on both sides of the steak.
  • Seasonings: A sprinkle of salt and pepper is all you'll need to help the flavor of the steak shine.

Compound Butter for Steak

  • Butter: Make sure your butter is completely softened before stirring in the rest of the ingredients.
  • Garlic: Finely mince the garlic so it becomes evenly distributed when mixed. Our Test Kitchen recommends using a microplane.
  • Rosemary: For the best flavor and texture, use fresh rosemary rather than dried.
  • Lemon Zest: Just a teaspoon of lemon zest brightens up the entire dish and helps cut through the richness.

How to Cook Filet Mignon in the Air Fryer

A few simple steps will help your filet mignon come out flavorful and juicy. Here's a quick look at how to cook filet mignon in the air fryer.

  1. Prep the compound butter first and allow it to chill while you prep and cook the steak. We like to make the butter ahead and keep it in the fridge.
  2. Brush the steaks with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. Allow the steak to come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before adding to the air fryer.
  3. Air-fry the steaks for 9 minutes and then turn and cook for 6 more.
  4. Let the steaks rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute through the meat.

How to Serve Air Fryer Filet Mignon

Once your filet has rested, serve it topped with a slice of the compound butter. There are so many side dishes that work with steak. Keep it classic with steakhouse sides like baked potatoes, creamed spinach, and potato gratin. Or, try something fresh like steamed broccoli or a green salad.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter, softened

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary

  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

  • 4 (2-inch) beef tenderloin steaks (filet mignon), about 1 1/2 lbs.

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, stir together butter, garlic, rosemary, and lemon zest. Spoon onto a sheet of waxed paper. Form into a cylinder and roll up. Chill until ready to serve.

  2. Brush steaks with oil. Sprinkle with pepper and salt. Let stand to come to room temperature, about 15 minutes.

  3. Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Place steaks in the air fryer basket. Cook 9 minutes, turn and cook 6 minutes more or until 135°F for medium-rare. Place steaks on a serving platter. Cut compound butter in four pieces. Place one piece atop each steak, tent with foil and let rest 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

591 Calories
44g Fat
1g Carbs
45g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 591.2
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 44.1g 56%
Saturated Fat 19.3g 96%
Cholesterol 195.5mg 65%
Sodium 340.9mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 1.4g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0.5g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 45.4g 91%
Vitamin D 0.5mcg 3%
Vitamin C 0.9mg 1%
Calcium 45.3mg 3%
Iron 3.1mg 17%
Potassium 588.6mg 13%
Fatty acids, total trans 0.5g
Vitamin D 18.7IU
Alanine 2.8g
Arginine 2.9g
Ash 2.6g
Aspartic acid 4.1g
Caffeine 0mg
Carotene, alpha 0.2mcg
Choline, total 174.5mg
Copper, Cu 0.2mg
Cystine 0.6g
Energy 2476.6kJ
Fluoride, F 39mcg
Folate, total 14.6mcg
Glutamic acid 6.8g
Glycine 2.8g
Histidine 1.4g
Isoleucine 2.1g
Leucine 3.6g
Lysine 3.8g
Methionine 1.2g
Magnesium, Mg 40.8mg
Manganese, Mn 0.2mg
Niacin 12mg
Phosphorus, P 355.9mg
Pantothenic acid 0.9mg
Phenylalanine 1.8g
Phytosterols 9.1mg
Proline 2.2g
Retinol 95.2mcg
Selenium, Se 49mcg
Serine 1.8g
Theobromine 0mg
Threonine 1.8g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 1.6mg
Tryptophan 0.3g
Tyrosine 1.4g
Valine 2.3g
Vitamin A, IU 368IU
Vitamin A, RAE 97.7mcg
Vitamin B-12 2.7mcg
Vitamin B-6 1mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 8.5mcg
Water 98.7g
Zinc, Zn 8.1mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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