This air fryer filet mignon recipe is a failproof way to cook tender and juicy steak in minutes! Afterward, slather your filet mignon with homemade compound butter for the ultimate steak dinner.
I love steak, but I’ve always been a bit hesitant when splurging on prime cuts like filet mignon. Mainly, that’s due to the fear of overcooking such a pricey cut (who’s with me?). I couldn’t believe my luck when I tried air fryer filet mignon for the first time. This is an easy, foolproof alternative to cooking filet mignon in a cast-iron skillet. The air fryer completely takes the guesswork out of cooking a perfectly tender and juicy steak!
What Makes This the Best Air Fryer Filet Mignon Recipe?
Perfectly cooked, every time. Cooking filet mignon in the air fryer guarantees succulent, cut-like-butter steak that cooks in minutes. There’s no need to worry about the heat of the pan, smoking oil, or questioning if the steak is burning instead of searing.
The steakhouse experience at home. It’s more affordable than eating out, and this air-fried filet mignon is just as flavorful as my favorite steakhouse order. Right down to the garlic butter and crispy baked potato on the side!
Homemade compound butter. I share my recipe for making garlic butter from scratch. It’s an easy way to elevate your home-cooked filet mignon, and you only need 4 common ingredients.
Ingredients You’ll Need
When it comes to tender cuts like filet mignon, I like to let the steak do the talking. This recipe keeps the ingredients list short! I’ve included notes below, and you’ll find the full, printable recipes for the steak as well as the compound butter in the recipe card after the post.
Filet Mignon – Filet mignon is an especially tender cut of steak from the beef tenderloin.
Olive Oil – Oil helps the outside of the steak sear in the high heat. I prefer the flavor of olive oil, but another vegetable oil, like avocado oil or canola, will also work.
Salt and Pepper – Filet mignon is a prime cut with a mild flavor, so it often doesn’t need more than good-quality salt and pepper for seasoning. You can be generous, though. I use about ¾ teaspoon of kosher salt (or flaked sea salt) and ½ teaspoon of freshly cracked pepper.
Easy Homemade Compound Butter
I like to prepare the garlic herb compound butter first, so it can chill and develop flavor in the fridge while I cook the steak. Bring your butter to room temperature before you start. To make the garlic butter:
Mix the butter with garlic and herbs.Wrap and chill until it’s time to serve.
Combine the ingredients. In a bowl, mash softened butter with salt, freshly minced garlic, and parsley (or your choice of fresh herbs; thyme or rosemary would also go well here).
Chill. Transfer the garlic butter to a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Then, wrap it up in a tight log and pop it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve the steak.
How to Cook Filet Mignon in Your Air Fryer
Take your steak out of the fridge 30 minutes ahead of cooking and let it rest at room temperature. This way, it cooks through evenly with a nice, even sear on the outside.
When ready, follow the steps below to cook your air fryer filet mignon. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable instructions.
Season the steaks.Add the steaks to the air fryer and cook.
Season the steaks. Using your hands, rub the filets all over with olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
Air fry. Place the steaks into a preheated 400ºF air fryer. Cook for about 13 minutes for medium-rare, or to your desired doneness (see below). Flip the steaks halfway through.
Rest the steak. After cooking, allow the filet mignon to rest for at least 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute into the meat.
Serve. Right before serving, top each steak with a pat of compound butter. See the section below for easy serving suggestions!
How Long Should I Air Fry Filet Mignon?
Since I’m familiar with my air fryer, I’ll normally go by cooking time alone to know when my filet mignon hits a juicy medium-rare. If you’re unsure or if you’d prefer another level of doneness, another way to check is to use a meat thermometer. Here’s a handy time and temperature guide for air frying steak:
11-12 minutes, or 125°F for rare
13-14 minutes, or 135°F for medium-rare
14-15 minutes, or 145ºF for medium
16-18 minutes, or 155ºF for medium-well/well-done
Recipe Tips
Keep the seasoning simple. While you can use other seasonings, like steak spice, on filet mignon, I’ve always found that it’s best to start with a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper and build from there. If you’re not serving with the garlic herb butter, you can add herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, and garlic to the steak seasoning to taste.
Preheat the air fryer. Make sure the air fryer fully preheats to 400ºF when cooking filet mignon. Just like pan-searing steak, it should sizzle when you place it into the basket. If the temperature isn’t hot enough, the meat takes longer to cook and risks becoming dry.
Leave space between the steaks. You may need to cook in batches depending on how many filets you’re cooking and the size of your air fryer. The key is to leave plenty of space between the steak pieces, so the air has room to circulate.
To flip, or not to flip? Technically, flipping filet mignon in the air fryer is optional, since the hot air circulates anyway during cooking. However, to really get a perfect sear, I like to set a timer and flip the steaks halfway through the cooking time.
Don’t slice right away. It’s super important to rest the steak after cooking. As tempting as it is to dig in right away, wait 5-10 minutes, and you’ll be rewarded with ultra-tender, succulent slices.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Refrigerate. Store your leftover filet mignon in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Thinly slice the steak to enjoy in French dip sandwiches, or reheat leftovers for another meal, see below.
Reheat. Reheat your filet mignon in the air fryer at 350ºF until it’s warmed through, or you can use the oven or microwave.
Make juicy, restaurant-quality filet mignon in your air fryer! Afterward, slather your air fryer filet mignon with homemade garlic compound butter for the ultimate steak dinner.
For the Garlic Butter
1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried parsley
For the Steak
1 to 1 1/2 pounds filet mignon
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste, be generous (I used 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt & 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper)
Prepare the Garlic Butter:
Combine butter, salt, garlic, and parsley in a small bowl. Mix well.
Form the butter mixture into a log shape using a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper. Wrap it tightly and refrigerate until the steak is ready.
For the Steak:
Remove the steak from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Coat the steak with the olive oil and sprinkle generously with kosher salt and black pepper.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
Place the steak in the air fryer basket, leaving space between the pieces. You may need to work in batches.
Cook until the steak reaches your desired level of doneness, flipping halfway through. (Rare 11-12 min, Med Rare 13-14 Min, Medium 14-15 min, Med Well 16 min, Well 17-18 min).
Once cooked, let the steak rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Top with a slice of the garlic butter and serve with your choice of side dish.
