Air Fryer Skirt Steak - Perfectly Cooked! • Low Carb with Jennifer

Name: Air Fryer Skirt Steak - Perfectly Cooked!
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 Pound skirt steak; 2 Tablespoons avocado oil (Click here for my favorite brand on Amazon); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon Cumin; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; zest and juice of one lime; 1/4 Cup chopped cilantro

Jump to Recipe Pin for Later

In a matter of minutes, I can show you how to cook flawless Skirt Steak in the air fryer using a quick marinade packed with full-of-flavor spices! Perfect for taco night, fajitas or use as a protein for a salad. Super tender and juicy, this Air Fryer Skirt Steak will be your new favorite way to cook this sometimes tougher meat.

skirt steak on a cutting board with lime wedges

Skirt steak sometimes gets a bad rap because it can be a tougher cut of beef. With this marinade, cooking method, and slicing method, you will have unbelievably delicious and tender skirt steak every time. Plus, this air fryer skirt steak will be the easiest method you have ever tried!

Ingredients needed

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this air fryer skirt steak recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For a printable recipe, see the recipe card below.

1 ½ Pound skirt steak - this is what is typically used for fajitas or steak tacos. It is different than flank steak in that it is longer, thinner, and richer in flavor.

2 Tablespoons avocado oil - feel free to use whatever cooking oil you like. Olive oil works!

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon Cumin

½ teaspoon smoked paprika

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

zest and juice of one lime

¼ Cup chopped cilantro

How to make air fryer skirt steak

This section explains how to make this skirt steak in the air fryer, step by step. For a full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.

In a small mixing bowl combine all the spices. Set aside. Line the air fryer basket or tray with aluminum foil, if desired.

In a larger mixing bowl, add your chopped cilantro, avocado oil, and zest and juice from one lime. Next, stir in your spices. Put the skirt steak in the bowl and coat evenly with the marinade. Cover and let marinate for about 15 minutes.

Preheat the air fryer to 400F.

Once marinated, add your skirt steak to your air fryer basket or tray. Set air fryer to 400F (425F if you air fryer will go that high) and let cook for about 5 minutes on each side...until internal temperature reaches 135F (medium-rare), or your desired level of doneness (use a probe meat thermometer).

Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for up to 10 minutes. Slice on the long end for the most tender bites of skirt steak.

Pro tip:

Skirt steak is a long strip of a tougher cut of meat. Our intuition is to cut it starting on one of the short ends. This would actually be cutting it with the grain, and would yield tough bites of meat. We actually want to cut the steak lengthwise. The easiest way to do this is to cut it in thirds width wise, then cut against the grain.

Do you need to flip steak in the air fryer?

Yes. Otherwise your steak will not cook evenly. One side will have a nice brown crust and the other side with be pale brown and not as appealing.

Is steak better in the pan or air fryer?

You can use this recipe to cook your skirt steak in a skillet, but I think the air fryer comes out on top when it comes to cleanliness and a smoky kitchen. I am not a fan of cooking steaks in a skillet just because of the mess it makes. Other than that, the results will be similar.

How do you know when the steak is done?

I am obsessed with using an internal probe meat thermometer. It guarantees perfectly cooked steak, or any meat. Insert the probe halfway through the thickest part of the steak. 135F is medium-rare.

What is the best way to reheat air fryer skirt steak?

Reheating steak is never going to be as good as freshly cooked. With that said, you can reheat in the microwave in 1 minute increments, or you can quickly heat it in a hot skillet.

Side dishes to serve with skirt steak in the air fryer

HUNGRY FOR MORE EASY RECIPES? Click here to subscribe to my newsletter and get my 80+ recipe e-cookbook absolutely FREE!