Air Fryer Chimichurri Flank Steak

This air fryer chimichurri flank steak is one of those meals that looks and tastes like you spent a lot of time on it, but you really didn’t. The steak comes out perfectly cooked in the air fryer, and the fresh chimichurri on top takes it to a whole other level.

Flank steak is a great cut for this because it’s lean, flavorful, and cooks fast at high heat. Just season it simply, air fry it for a few minutes per side, and you’re basically done.

The chimichurri is a fresh herb sauce that you mix together in a bowl – no cooking needed. It’s bright, a little tangy, and pairs so well with steak.

You can have this whole meal ready in about 30 minutes, including the resting time for the steak. It’s a solid dinner option for any night of the week.

If you’ve been looking for a way to make restaurant-quality steak at home without firing up the grill, this is it.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Only 5 Ingredients for the Steak – The steak itself just needs olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to find, and nothing that requires a trip to a specialty store.

The Air Fryer Nails Flank Steak – Flank steak loves high, direct heat, and that’s exactly what the air fryer delivers. You get a beautiful sear on the outside while keeping the inside perfectly pink and juicy.

Ready in Under 30 Minutes – From seasoning the steak to spooning chimichurri over the sliced strips, this whole recipe wraps up in about 25 minutes. That includes the resting time, which honestly does all the work for you.

The Chimichurri Makes Everything Better – This fresh, garlicky, herby sauce is loaded with parsley, oregano, and a kick of red pepper flakes. It adds so much bright flavor to the steak that you won’t even think about reaching for a bottle of steak sauce.

Ingredients

For the Steak

• 1.5 lb Flank Steak
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder

For the Chimichurri

• 1 cup Fresh Parsley (packed, finely chopped)
• 1/4 cup Fresh Oregano (finely chopped)
• 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1/3 cup Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• 1/2 tsp Salt

How to Make

Step 1

Make the chimichurri by combining the parsley, oregano, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, and salt in a bowl. Stir well and set aside to let the flavors meld.

Step 2

Pat the flank steak dry. Rub with olive oil and season all over with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.

Step 3

Preheat the air fryer to 400F. Place the steak in the basket and air fry for 6-7 minutes per side for medium-rare, or 8-9 minutes per side for medium, depending on thickness.

Step 4

Transfer the steak to a cutting board and rest for 8-10 minutes – this is essential for juicy results.

Step 5

Slice the flank steak against the grain into thin strips. Spoon the chimichurri generously over the sliced steak and serve.

Tips

Pat the Steak Really Dry

Before you rub the olive oil and seasonings on the flank steak, use paper towels to pat it dry on both sides. Press firmly and don’t rush this step.

Any moisture left on the surface will cause the steak to steam instead of sear in the air fryer. That means you won’t get that nice browned crust on the outside, and the texture will be more gray and rubbery than you want.

It takes about 30 seconds but it makes a huge difference in how the steak turns out.

Make the Chimichurri First

Start by making the chimichurri before you do anything with the steak. The longer it sits, the more the flavors blend together, and you want that.

Even just the 20-25 minutes it takes to season the steak, let it rest at room temperature, and then cook it is enough time for the chimichurri to develop a much better flavor than if you made it at the last second.

If you can make it an hour or two ahead and keep it covered on the counter, that’s even better. The garlic and red wine vinegar really need time to soak into the herbs.

Let the Steak Sit at Room Temperature

Don’t skip the 15 minutes of resting at room temperature after you season the steak. If you put a cold steak straight from the fridge into the air fryer, the outside will overcook before the inside catches up.

A steak that starts at room temperature cooks much more evenly from edge to edge. You’ll get a consistent medium-rare or medium all the way through instead of a gray ring around the outside with a cold center.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak & Mushrooms
• Air Fryer Steak Bites with Garlic Butter
• Air Fryer Crispy Smashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
• Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different cut of steak instead of flank steak?

You can use skirt steak as the closest substitute since it has a similar texture and cooks well in the air fryer at the same time and temperature. Flat iron steak or sirloin will also work, but you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly depending on thickness.

Flank steak is ideal here because it’s lean, cooks fast, and soaks up the chimichurri beautifully once sliced thin against the grain.