Filet mignon has always been my favorite cut of steak. My go-to cooking method has always been stovetop-to-oven filet mignon, but recently I tried cooking filet mignon in the air fryer and I am sold! It only takes 10-15 minutes, and the best part is it’s completely hands off. Just like my air fryer lobster tail, there’s no initial searing step and no babysitting it. Let me show you how to a cook a perfect air fryer filet mignon, including my top 5 tips for amazingly delicious steaks.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for filet mignon in an air fryer, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Filet Mignon Steaks – I prefer to use grass-fed beef for best flavor and nutrition, but any filet mignon cuts will work. The main thing to know is that the thickness of your steaks will impact the cook time. Mine were 8 ounces each and about 1.5 inches thick, so the cook times are based on that. You can also use the same recipe for beef tenderloin, which the filet mignon is part of. Because tenderloin is larger, though, it may take an extra couple of minutes to cook.Sea Salt & Black Pepper – The only seasonings you really need! This cut of steak is so perfect that simple seasoning is best. For salt, a good rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon per pound of meat. If you use kosher salt instead of sea salt, you may need an extra 1/4 teaspoon per pound.Compound Butter – You don’t even have to have compound butter on your air fryer filet mignon, but I highly recommend it! It only takes a few minutes to make with butter, fresh herbs, garlic, and salt. It gives the steak incredible flavor along with a restaurant feel.
Other Seasoning Ideas: You can keep it simple with salt and pepper, but you can also add your favorite steak seasoning (I love Montreal steak seasoning!), garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and/or red pepper flakes. Some people like to brush their steak with olive oil before air frying, but I don’t find it necessary.
How To Cook Filet Mignon In The Air Fryer
This section shows how to air fry filet mignon, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Bring steak to room temperature. About 30 minutes before cooking, take steaks out of refrigerator to come to room temperature.
TIP: You can skip this if you forget, but highly recommend it if you can. This ensures that the steaks cook evenly.
Mix garlic herb butter. In a small bowl, make compound butter according to instructions here. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Preheat. Preheat your air fryer (I love this one because it has a large basket!) to 400 degrees F.Prep & season. Trim any extra tissue or fat from steaks. Sprinkle generously with sea salt and black pepper on both sides.Air fry. Place filet mignon steaks in the air fryer basket, so they are not touching each other (cook in batches if necessary). Air fry until they reach your desired doneness. (See below for cook times.)Rest. Top the steaks with a tablespoon of compound butter each (it will start to melt). Rest for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain. (You can cover with foil while resting to keep warm, if you like.)
How Long To Cook Filet Mignon In The Air Fryer?
Air fryer filet mignon cook time will vary depending on the thickness of your steaks and the air fryer temperature. I recommend cooking at 400 degrees F, and for 1.5 inch steaks, use the time chart below for the estimated cook times based on your preferred doneness. For perfect filet every time, use a probe thermometer, which you can set to your desired temperature, insert before cooking, and it will beep when your steak is ready. If you don’t have one, you can also use a regular instant-read thermometer and check on it. The final steak temperature will rise by another 5 degrees F while resting.
Tips For Success
Follow these reminders for juicy steak filet mignon in the air fryer — and these tips actually apply for any steak, no matter how you cook it.
Bring to room temperature. Take the steak out 30 minutes before cooking so it can come to room temperature. This helps the steak cook evenly. Season generously. A good seasoning helps to create that desirable crust.Don’t overcook. Use a meat thermometer to ensure you cook your steak to perfection.Let the steak rest. I know it’s tempting to cut into the steak right away, but let it rest for 5 minutes, so the juices have time to redistribute into the steak and don’t .Finish with butter. Filet mignon is a lean cut of steak, so a pat of compound butter helps add rich flavor.
Storage Instructions
Filet mignon is such a tender and expensive cut of meat that it’s really best to eat it fresh as much as possible. However, if you need to store leftovers or freeze your steaks, here is how to do it:
Store: Keep leftover filet in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.Reheat: For best results, lightly heat the steak in a hot skillet, or use the low-temperature oven method with broth that I describe for reverse sear steak. Microwaving is not recommended. Freeze: If possibly, freeze filet mignon raw, before air frying (or cooking in any other way). You can freeze cooked steaks for 3-4 months if you have to, but they won’t be as tender after thawing and reheating, so will be best used in soups or in a salad with dressing.
What To Serve With Filet Mignon
Serve this filet mignon air fryer recipe with one of these classic steak sides. My fave is the mashed cauliflower (you’ll be surprised how much it tastes like potatoes), or roasted broccoli and cauliflower, which is pictured above.
More Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
If you like this air fryer steak recipes like this one, you might also like some of these other air fryer recipes: Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it!
