Air Fryer Skirt Steak With Lime and Garlic

Air fryer skirt steak with lime and garlic makes a bright, savory dinner without heating a grill. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 4 minutes, then cook the steak for approximately 8–12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Because skirt steak is thin and air fryers vary, use a thermometer rather than the clock to decide when it’s done. A short lime-garlic marinade adds flavor, while a careful slice against the grain makes each bite easier to chew.

Ingredients

• 1 pound skirt steak, trimmed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Lime wedges, for serving

How To Make It

1. Cut the steak crosswise into two or three pieces if needed to fit the basket. Notice which direction the muscle fibers run before cooking; you’ll slice across them later.
2. Stir together the oil, lime juice, garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Coat the steak and refrigerate it, covered, for 20 minutes. Drain off the excess marinade and pat the surface lightly so it can brown. Discard the used marinade.
3. Preheat the empty air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 4 minutes. Place the steak directly on the basket grid in a single layer, leaving space around each piece. Cook in batches if it won’t fit without overlapping; no pan or liner is needed.
4. Air fry for approximately 8–12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Begin checking early: insert an instant-read thermometer from the side into the thickest part. Cook until the steak reaches at least 145°F (63°C) before removing it, adding time as needed.
5. Rest the steak on a clean board for at least 3 minutes. Slice thinly across the visible fibers and serve with lime wedges.

Tips

Skirt steak can vary in thickness, so thinner ends may be ready before thicker pieces. Remove each piece only once it reaches the measured temperature; color alone isn’t a reliable doneness check. If the steak is too long for your basket, cut it into shorter sections rather than folding or stacking it. Keep the basket’s perforations uncovered so hot air can reach the underside, and don’t put loose parchment in the empty air fryer during preheating.

For tacos, tuck the sliced steak into warm tortillas with crunchy cabbage. It’s just as good over rice with a squeeze of fresh lime.