My air fryer filet mignon cooks up tender and juicy using simple ingredients. I’ve perfected this recipe through over 20 trials to make sure my readers could achieve similar results with air frying such a premium cut of meat.
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My Best Recipe For Filet Mignon in the Air Fryer
I decided to try making air fryer filet mignon out of pure curiosity. I’ve had success making other steaks in the air fryer and wanted to see how it would turn out. I know filet mignon is such an expensive cut of meat, but I just wanted to try it once. Plus, it was too cold to grill outside and the oven would take too long.
My husband realized it was air fried right away, mainly from the fact that he saw me take the steak out of the air fryer during an at-home date night. So there’s no I tricked him story here, just what really happened.
I used an alarm thermometer so I could get the perfect medium rare and let it sit so those juices could absorb back into the steak. And oh, did they absorb. This piece of meat – it was tender, it was juicy, and it was rich. I caught a subtle “mmm!” from my husband eating it, and I smirked.
I’ve made this at least 20 more times since and can definitely say I love air frying it over grilling. It’s so much easier, and I’m always surprised at how tender it cooks up.
And, if you love a good steak recipe, try my recipes for air fryer steak bites, steak fajitas, 3 ingredient steak marinade, air fryer ribeye steak, air fryer London broil, sirloin steak in the air fryer.
Air Fry Filet Mignon Ingredients
- Filet mignon steaks – I usually pick a 5 to 6 ounce option at the store
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
How to Cook Filet Mignon in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Remove the steaks from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to bring them to room temperature.
STEP TWO: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
STEP THREE: Season the steaks liberally with salt and black pepper on both sides. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray.
STEP FOUR: Air fry them for 10-16 minutes, flipping once halfway through the cook time, until the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness.
STEP FIVE: Transfer the steaks to a cutting board, tent them with foil, and allow them to rest for 5 minutes.
Tips for making The Best Air Fryer Filet Mignon
- Let the steaks sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking them. I find a huge difference in how evenly steak cooks from room temperature compared to straight from the fridge.
- Make sure it’s thawed before air frying. I love to air fry a lot of foods from frozen, but with such a premium cut of steak, I only recommend air frying it from room temperature.
- Pat the steak dry with a paper towel before adding any seasoning on top of it. I find it gives the steak more of a crusting on top.
- Flip the steak halfway through the cooking time so it will cook evenly and get a beautiful crisp layer on all sides.
- Always let the steak rest so it has time to reabsorb the juices. I’ve cut into steaks before letting them rest and they bleed everywhere and turn dry.
- Keep in mind that the temperature of the steak will rise another 5 degrees or so while it rests.
Filet Mignon in the Air Fryer Variations and Substitutions
- Rub crushed garlic on the steak before cooking. I love this extra step because it makes the whole kitchen smell amazing.
- Spread a little butter or olive oil on the outside of the steak to really crisp up the exterior. I’ve used salted and unsalted butter and I have no preference.
- Season with fresh rosemary for an aromatic boost.
- Use beef tenderloin if filet mignon is unavailable. I’ve done this when the filet mignon cuts at the store didn’t impress me, and the tenderloin turned out delicious.
- Top the filet mignon with blue cheese crumbles post-cooking for a creamy, bright, slightly funky finish.
What to Serve with Air Fry Filet Mignon
I love to serve filet mignon with a good carb and veggie. My go-to’s are mashed potatoes, air fryer carrots, and air fryer garlic bread. Sometimes I will change it up with some Texas Toast in the air fryer and air fryer frozen broccoli when I want to make something super easy with less dishes.
Air Fryer Filet Mignon FAQs
How Do I Pick the Best Filet Mignon?
My trick is to look for steaks that are bright red with minimal marbling and fat. The meat should feel firm and cold to the touch, which means it’s fresh. I always check for uniform thickness as well so the steak will cook evenly in the air fryer.
What is the Difference Between Filet Mignon and Tenderloin?
Filet mignon and tenderloin are sometimes mentioned interchangeably, but there is an actual difference.
Tenderloin refers to the entire strip of meat along the spine, which is known for being very tender. Filet mignon refers to the thicker, smaller cuts taken from the tenderloin’s tip, which are extra tender and often considered more luxurious due to their size and texture.
How Long to Cook Filet Mignon in the Air Fryer
I find air fried filet mignon takes about 10 minutes at 400 degrees F in a preheated air fryer with a 5 ounce piece. Medium will take about 12 minutes while well-done can take up to 15 minutes.
I say filet mignon tastes the most tender when cooked to medium rare to medium and recommend always using a meat thermometer for checking meats.
- Rare: 120 degrees F
- Medium rare: 130 degrees F
- Medium: 140 degrees F
- Medium well: 150 degrees F
- Well done: 160 degrees F
How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Filet Mignon
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I then reheat it in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees F for about 3 minutes, until warmed.
More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
- Air fryer hot dogs
- Air fryer fried chicken
- Air fryer meatloaf
- Air fryer hamburgers
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Air fryer grilled cheese
- Air fryer pork loin
- Air fryer shrimp
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Easy Air Fryer Filet Mignon
Equipment
Ingredients
- (2) 5-6 ounce filet mignon steaks
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Remove the steaks from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Season the steaks liberally with salt and black pepper on both sides. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry them for 10-16 minutes, flipping once halfway through the cook time, until the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness.*
- Remove the steaks to a cutting board, tent them with foil, and allow them to rest for 5 minutes before cutting or serving.
Notes
- (10-12min) 120 degrees F/rare
- (11-13m) 130 degrees F/medium rare
- (12-14m) 140 degrees F/medium
- (13-15m) 150 degrees F/medium well
- (14-16m) 160 degrees F/well done
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
