Try air fryer skirt steak with homemade chimichurri! It’s the easiest way to make a juicy and tender steak without a grill. So if you’re looking for a super quick way to prepare skirt steak, this is it!
Why Make Skirt Steak in the Air Fryer?
Discover how to make perfectly cooked skirt steak with an air fryer when grilling isn’t an option. And while you sacrifice some of the smokiness and grill marks, this delicious, no-mess meal more than makes up for it.
What is Skirt Steak?
It’s a delicious cut of beef from below the rib. It’s divided into two simple cuts: the inside and outside skirt. The outside skirt, cut from the outer part of the rib, is the more tender of the two and is often preferred. Meanwhile, the inside skirt, taken from the inner side, can be more tough and is better suited for stir-fry. So, if you want succulent and tender skirt steak, look for the outside skirt if you can find it!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Skirt Steak: For consistent cooking, choose inside skirt steak that’s not too thick. We use inside steak to make this recipe because that is what is most readily available in grocery stores. Look for a steak about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick with marbling for added flavor and juiciness.
- Olive Oil: Adding olive oil to a skirt steak before cooking enhances the flavor and prevents the steak from sticking to the air fryer basket.
- Salt + Pepper: Generously season the steak with kosher salt and coarse ground pepper.
- Chimichurri: Chimichurri is a classic pairing for skirt steak. Ours incorporates shallots, parsley, cilantro, Fresno chilies, garlic, and olive oil.
How to Make Air Fryer Skirt Steak
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
For the Chimichurri with Cilantro:
Step 1: Combine the shallots, chilies, garlic, parsley, and cilantro in a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice and salt; stir to combine.
Slowly pour in the olive oil while stirring the mixture. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
For the Skirt Steak:
Step 2: Pat the skirt steak with a towel to remove excess moisture. Then coat the steak in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Step 3: Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃). Add both or half of the skirt steak to the air fryer basket, depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping the steak halfway through.
Step 4: Cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping the steak halfway through.
Step 5: Remove the steaks and let them rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
- Pat dry the steaks to create a better crust in the air fryer. Excess moisture creates steam and reduces the likelihood of a nice sear.
- Since skirt steak doesn’t have a ton of fat, use high heat to cook the steak. Whether you’re grilling or cooking it in the air fryer, hot and fast is the way to go for the best-tasting skirt steak.
- Don’t skip resting the steak. After cooking, let it rest for 10 minutes; this allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a juicy, flavorful steak.
If you enjoy this recipe, try one of these air fryer favorites!
Serving Suggestions
- Asparagus, Corn on the Cob
- White Rice, Brown Rice, Vegan Mexican Rice, Quinoa, Rice Pilaf
- Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad, Cucumber Carrot Salad, Shirazi Salad
- Chimichurri Sauce with Cilantro, Chipotle Sauce, Skhug, Horseradish Cream Sauce, Lemon Dill Aioli, Bone Marrow Butter
- Roasted Potatoes
- Corn Tortillas
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate – Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze – Let the steak cool, then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe container or bag. Skirt steak will freeze for 2-3 months.
- Thaw – Defrost the steak in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat – Warm leftover steak in the microwave or air fryer at 350℉ (176℃) for 3 minutes.
- Repurpose – Slice the leftover steak and add it to a corn tortilla, along with fresh pico de gallo and top it with ancho aioli, serrano crema or BBQ aioli. Serve it as fajitas with sautéed peppers and onions. Add it to a salad with greens like romaine, spring mix, or arugula. Or, use it up to make quesadillas or nachos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between skirt steak and flank steak?
This article from Cook’s Illustrated breaks down the difference well. Skirt steak and flank steak are popular cuts of beef, and while they look similar, they have some differences. Skirt steak is a flat cut from the diaphragm muscle of the cow known for its intense beefy flavor.
Flank steak is a lean cut taken from the abdominal muscles of the cow, with a milder flavor than skirt steak. It also has less fat, making it an excellent option for those who prefer leaner protein. Both steaks cook best over high heat for a short period, and you can use them to make family-favorite meals like fajitas, stir-fries, and tacos like carne asada tacos.
More Steak Recipes:
Air Fryer Skirt Steak
- ½ cup fresh parsley, finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely diced
- 2 Fresno chilies or jalapeños, seeds and stems removed, finely diced
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup olive oil
- lemon juice, ½ lemon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound skirt steak, cut in half
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- kosher salt
- black pepper, coarse ground
- Combine the shallots, chilies, garlic, parsley, and cilantro in a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice and salt; stir to combine. Slowly pour in the olive oil while stirring the mixture. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
- Pat the skirt steak with a towel to remove excess moisture. Then coat the steak in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃). Add both or half of the skirt steak to the air fryer basket, depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping the steak halfway through.
- Remove the steaks and let them rest for 10 minutes before serving. Slice the skirt steak against the grain and top it with fresh chimichurri to serve.
- Pat dry the steaks to create a better crust in the air fryer. Excess moisture creates steam and reduces the likelihood of a nice sear.
- Since skirt steak doesn’t have a ton of fat, use high heat to cook the steak. Whether you’re grilling or cooking it in the air fryer, hot and fast is the way to go for the best-tasting skirt steak.
- Don’t skip resting the steak. After cooking, let it rest for 10 minutes; this allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a juicy, flavorful steak.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.