I’m new to air fryer land. Our oven recently broke, and while we waited on a replacement I figured I’d finally give the much-hyped air fryer a try. Well, let me tell you these air fryer tuna steaks prove the hype is real. I’ve cooked chicken, potatoes, all sorts of breads, even eggs.
This tuna steak is one I’d normally make in a skillet, but the air fryer gave it a gorgeous crust and cooked it through just the way my family likes it. Want a pinker center? Just shave a few minutes off the cook time. Here’s your simple, step-by-step tutorial.
Ingredients (serves 2)
- 2 tuna steaks
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3 garlic cloves, grated
- ¼ cup green olives, chopped (I used anchovy-stuffed olives for an extra savory punch — any green olive works)
- 1 lemon
- Olive oil, for coating
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. First, stir together the Dijon, grated garlic, the juice of your lemon, and the chopped olives until it comes together into a spoonable paste.
2. Prep the tuna. Next, lightly coat both steaks in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and set them in the air fryer basket.
3. Start cooking. Set the air fryer to Air Fry at 390°F for 10–12 minutes total. You’ll flip and glaze them at the halfway mark.
4. Flip and glaze. At the 5-minute point, pull the basket out, flip each steak, and brush the tops generously with your mustard-garlic-olive glaze. Slide it back in.
5. Finish. Cook another 4–6 minutes, depending on how pink you like the center. Remember, fish keeps cooking a little once it’s out, so pull it just shy of done.
6. Serve. Plate immediately alongside couscous or grains, a fresh salad, or anything else that plays nicely with tuna. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cook tuna steaks in an air fryer?
Absolutely — and it might just become your new favorite way to make them. The air fryer’s circulating heat gives tuna steaks a beautiful golden crust on the outside while keeping the inside tender, all without babysitting a hot skillet. It’s faster, less messy, and the results are restaurant-worthy.
How long does tuna take in the air fryer?
Tuna steaks take about 8–12 minutes total at 390°F, flipping and glazing at the halfway point. Lean toward the shorter end (around 8-10 minutes) if you like your center pink and rare, and the longer end if you prefer it cooked through. Keep in mind that tuna keeps cooking a little after it comes out, so pull it just before it looks done.
How do I know when air fryer tuna steaks are done?
It comes down to how you like them. For a seared-outside, pink-and-rare center, pull them at about 10 minutes — the outside will be golden and firm while the middle stays rosy. For a fully cooked steak, give them the full 12 minutes until the center is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Thickness matters too, so thicker steaks may need an extra minute or two.
Make it a Full Meal
Here are a few of our favorite finds to complete the experience:
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- 💧 Complete the meal — Sodastream sparkling water
is the perfect pairing with a hearty dinner.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
- 🍳 The right air fryer makes all the difference — try this one from Newegg:
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