Air Fryer Tuna Steaks

Making air fryer tuna steaks has become one of my favorite quick meals. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it honestly tastes like something you’d order at a restaurant.

The whole recipe comes together in about 20 minutes, including a short marinade and a simple sesame seed crust that gives the outside an amazing crunch.

You don’t need a long list of hard-to-find ingredients either. Everything here is pretty common and you can find it all at most grocery stores.

I like to serve these sliced into strips with a homemade dipping sauce on the side. The sauce has a nice balance of salty, tangy, and slightly spicy flavors that pairs perfectly with the tuna.

Whether you’re cooking for yourself or making dinner for two, this is a recipe worth trying. It’s one of those meals that looks and tastes impressive but is actually really simple to pull off.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Restaurant-Quality Sear in Minutes – The air fryer gives you a perfectly crispy sesame crust with a silky rare center just like a fancy restaurant.

Ready in Under 15 Minutes – From start to plate this entire recipe takes less than 15 minutes so it is perfect for a quick impressive dinner.

Incredible Sesame Crust – The mix of white and black sesame seeds creates a nutty crunchy coating that looks stunning and tastes even better.

The Dipping Sauce Is Next Level – The sweet and tangy ginger-sriracha dipping sauce pairs so perfectly with the tuna that you will want to put it on everything.

Ingredients

For the Tuna

• 2 (6 oz each) Ahi Tuna Steaks (about 1 inch thick)
• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
• 3 tbsp White Sesame Seeds
• 2 tbsp Black Sesame Seeds
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• Cooking Spray

For the Dipping Sauce

• 3 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1 tbsp Rice Vinegar
• 1 tsp Sesame Oil
• 1 tsp Honey
• 1/2 tsp Fresh Ginger (grated)
• 1/2 tsp Sriracha

How To Make

Step 1

Pat the tuna steaks completely dry with paper towels. In a shallow dish, combine the soy sauce and sesame oil. Place the tuna in the mixture and turn to coat all sides. Let it marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Step 2

On a plate, mix together the white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, and garlic powder. Remove the tuna from the marinade and press each steak firmly into the sesame mixture, coating all sides generously.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated ginger, and sriracha until the honey dissolves. Set the dipping sauce aside.

Step 4

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray. Place the tuna steaks in the basket with space between them.

Step 5

Air fry for 3 minutes, then carefully flip using a thin spatula to keep the sesame crust intact. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes for a beautifully seared outside with a rare to medium-rare center. Add 1 to 2 extra minutes if you prefer medium.

Step 6

Let the tuna rest for 2 minutes, then slice against the grain into half-inch strips. Fan the slices on a plate and serve alongside the dipping sauce.

Tips

Dry the Tuna Really Well

This is the most important step for getting a good sear in the air fryer. If the surface is wet, the sesame seeds won’t stick properly and you’ll end up with bare spots all over the steak.

Use a few paper towels and press down firmly on every side. You want the surface to feel completely dry before it goes into the marinade.

The marinade itself is only soy sauce and sesame oil, so it’s thin enough that the seeds will still grab onto the fish. But any extra moisture from the fish itself will work against you.

Press the Seeds On Firmly

Don’t just dip the tuna into the sesame seed mixture and call it done. You need to actually press each side down into the seeds with some force so they stick and form a thick, even crust.

After you press one side, use your hands to scoop up loose seeds from the plate and pat them onto any spots that look thin. The edges of the steak are easy to miss, so give those extra attention too.

A good thick coating is what gives you that satisfying crunch on the outside once it comes out of the air fryer.

Don’t Skip the Preheat

Preheating to 400 degrees F before the tuna goes in makes a huge difference. A hot air fryer will immediately start crisping the sesame crust the second the fish hits the basket.

If you put the tuna into a cold air fryer and let it come up to temperature, the fish cooks more slowly and you lose that contrast between the crispy outside and the rare center. You’ll end up with overcooked tuna and seeds that aren’t as toasted.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Blackened Mahi Mahi
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
• Air Fryer Everything Bagel Salmon
• Air Fryer Lemon Butter Cod
• Air Fryer Tuna Melts

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen tuna steaks for this recipe?

Yes, but you need to thaw them completely first. Place the frozen steaks in the fridge overnight or use the cold water method by sealing them in a bag and submerging them in cold water for about 30 minutes.

Once thawed, pat them extra dry with paper towels before marinating. Any leftover moisture on the surface will prevent the sesame seeds from sticking properly and keep you from getting that nice crust.