Beef & Burgers
Air Fryer Roast Beef with Garlic Pepper Crust
Air fryer roast beef: 360°F for about 15–18 minutes per pound, flipped halfway. A garlic pepper crust, a doneness chart, and tips for prime rib and the best cuts.
Quick answer
Cook a 2–3 lb beef roast, such as eye of round, top round or sirloin tip, in the air fryer at 360°F180°C for about 15–18 minutes per pound, flipping halfway. Take it out at 130–135°F54–57°C for medium-rare or 140–145°F60–63°C for medium, then rest it for 10–15 minutes. A 2½ lb roast takes about 40–45 minutes. The USDA recommends 145°F63°C with a 3-minute rest.
- Time
- 15–18 min per lb
- Flip
- Yes, halfway
- Done when
- 130–135°F54–57°C medium-rare, rest 10–15 min
Garlic Pepper Air Fryer Roast Beef air fryer times
| What you're cooking | Temp | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye of round roast, 2 lb | 360°F180°C | 30–36 min | Medium-rare; flip halfway |
| Eye of round or top round, 2½ lb | 360°F180°C | 38–45 min | Medium-rare; flip halfway |
| Sirloin tip or top round, 3 lb | 360°F180°C | 45–54 min | Only if it fits |
| Small boneless prime rib (rib roast), 3 lb | 360°F180°C | 45–55 min | Brown at 400°F for the first 10 min |
| Beef tenderloin roast (center cut), 2 lb | 390°F200°C | 25–30 min | Tie it so it cooks evenly |
| Reheating sliced roast beef | 300°F150°C | 2–4 min | Wrap in foil with a splash of broth |
| Reheating prime rib slices | 300°F150°C | 3–5 min | Wrap in foil so it stays pink |
Times are for a preheated 5–6 quart basket air fryer with food in a single layer. Oven-style and very large air fryers can run 1–3 minutes slower. Always check doneness with an instant-read thermometer.
Roast beef is easier in the air fryer than you might think. A 2½ lb eye of round gets a deep garlic pepper crust and an even pink center in about 40 minutes, with no searing pan and no hot oven. Slice it thin for a holiday dinner, then use the leftovers for the best roast beef sandwiches.
How to cook roast beef in the air fryer
- Salt the roast ahead if you can, then rub it with oil and the garlic pepper seasoning.
- Air fry at 360°F180°C for about 15–18 minutes per pound, flipping halfway.
- Use a thermometer. Take it out at 130–135°F54–57°C for medium-rare.
- Rest for 10–15 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain.
Roast beef doneness chart
| Doneness | Take it out at | After resting |
|---|---|---|
| Rare | 120–125°F49–52°C | 125–130°F52–54°C |
| Medium-rare | 130–135°F54–57°C | 135–140°F57–60°C |
| Medium | 140–145°F60–63°C | 145–150°F63–66°C |
| Medium-well | 150–155°F66–68°C | 155–160°F68–71°C |
The USDA recommends cooking beef roasts to at least 145°F63°C with a 3-minute rest. Lean roasts like eye of round are most tender at medium-rare to medium.
The best cuts for air fryer roast beef
- Eye of round: lean, evenly shaped and affordable. Slice it very thin.
- Top round and sirloin tip: a little more marbling, and great for sandwiches.
- Beef tenderloin roast: the most tender and most expensive. Cook a 2 lb center-cut piece at 390°F200°C for 25–30 minutes.
- Small prime rib (boneless rib roast): see the FAQ below for timing. A bone-in rib roast is usually too big for a basket.
Skip chuck roast and brisket. They need hours of slow, moist cooking to become tender, so they’re better in the oven or a slow cooker.
For Christmas dinner
Roast beef with horseradish sauce is a classic Christmas main, and it cooks in under an hour. Make crispy roasted potatoes and green beans while it rests. For more ideas, see our air fryer side dishes guide, and our pork loin roast and glazed ham for other holiday mains.
Tips for tender roast beef
- Salt it early. Even 4 hours ahead seasons the meat all the way through.
- Let it sit out for 30 minutes before cooking, so the center cooks more evenly.
- Pull it early. It keeps cooking while it rests.
- Slice thin, across the grain. This matters more than anything for lean cuts.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate leftover roast beef for up to 4 days. Reheat slices wrapped in foil with a splash of broth at 300°F150°C for 2–4 minutes, or serve them cold in sandwiches. See our reheating guide for other leftovers.
Garlic Pepper Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 42 min
- Total
- 52 min
- Air fryer
- 360°F180°C
- Makes
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 210 per serving, without the horseradish sauce
Ingredients
- 1 eye of round or top round roast (about 2½ lb)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1½ teaspoons coarse black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- For the horseradish sauce: ½ cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard and a pinch of salt
Instructions
Tap a step to check it off.
- Salt ahead. Pat the roast dry and season it all over with the salt. If you have time, refrigerate it uncovered for 4–24 hours. Take it out 30 minutes before cooking.
- Season. Rub the roast with the olive oil. Mix the pepper, garlic powder, rosemary and onion powder, and press the mixture all over the roast.
- Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F180°C for 3 minutes. Make sure the roast fits with about an inch of space around it.
- Air fry. Cook for 20 minutes, flip, and cook another 18–25 minutes. Start checking at 35 minutes total. Take it out at 130–135°F54–57°C in the center for medium-rare, or 140–145°F60–63°C for medium.
- Rest. Move the roast to a cutting board, tent it loosely with foil and rest for 10–15 minutes. The temperature rises about 5°F while it rests.
- Slice and serve. Stir together the horseradish sauce ingredients. Slice the beef as thinly as you can, across the grain, and serve with the sauce.
Notes
- Eye of round is very lean, so it's best at medium-rare to medium and sliced thin. Cooked well done, it turns tough.
- Leftovers make excellent roast beef sandwiches. Slice them cold for the thinnest slices.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.
Nutrition is an estimate calculated from typical ingredient values and will vary by brand and portion.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you cook roast beef in the air fryer?
At 360°F180°C, cook a 2–3 lb beef roast for about 15–18 minutes per pound, flipping halfway. A 2 lb roast takes 30–36 minutes and a 2½ lb roast about 38–45 minutes for medium-rare. Always check with a thermometer, because thickness changes the time.
What temperature should roast beef be?
Take it out at 120–125°F49–52°C for rare, 130–135°F54–57°C for medium-rare, 140–145°F60–63°C for medium and 150–155°F66–68°C for medium-well. It rises about 5°F while it rests. The USDA recommends cooking beef roasts to at least 145°F63°C with a 3-minute rest.
What's the best cut of beef to roast in the air fryer?
A lean, compact roast of 2–3 lb that fits the basket: eye of round, top round, sirloin tip or a small center-cut beef tenderloin. They roast evenly and slice well. Avoid tough cuts like chuck and brisket, which need hours of slow cooking.
Can you cook a chuck roast in the air fryer?
You can, but it won't turn tender like pot roast. Chuck roast needs 2½–3 hours of slow, moist cooking for the connective tissue to break down, which is a job for the oven, slow cooker or pressure cooker. For sliceable roast beef in the air fryer, use eye of round, top round or sirloin tip.
Can you cook prime rib in the air fryer?
A small boneless rib roast of about 3 lb works if it fits your basket. Brown it at 400°F205°C for 10 minutes, then cook at 360°F180°C for another 35–45 minutes, until 120–125°F49–52°C for medium-rare. Rest it for 15 minutes, during which it will rise to about 130°F54°C.
How do you reheat prime rib or roast beef in the air fryer?
Wrap the slices in foil with a splash of broth and heat at 300°F150°C for 3–5 minutes. The low heat and foil warm the meat without cooking it further, so it stays pink.
Do you need to sear roast beef before air frying?
No. The hot circulating air browns the outside as it cooks. For an extra-dark crust, start at 400°F205°C for the first 10 minutes, then lower it to 360°F180°C.
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