Cook the most perfect beef tenderloin quickly and effortlessly in the air fryer. Cooked with a mayonnaise, garlic and and herb rub, it's perfectly tender and so easy to cook to exactly your tastes. If you want to impress, this is foolproof!
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If cooking beef perfectly feels like a daunting task, then you need to try this easy air fryer method for beef tenederloin. Yes, you read that right...I roasted beef in my air fryer!
It's so easy to cook the beef exactly to your tastes and extra juicy. It takes minutes to prep too and is quick to cook, so as well as being a great effortless holiday dinner, you can easily enjoy this after a busy day too.
Rubbed and seasoned with garlic, herbs, and mayonnaise, which helps to add richness and lock in the juices, the perfect beef tenderloin has never been easier!
Be sure to try my Air Fryer Steak and Air Fryer Steak Fajitas too!
How to make air fryer beef tenderloin
- Gather your ingredients.
- Remove beef tenderloin from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Combine mayonnaise, kosher salt, rosemary, thyme, garlic cloves and black pepper in a bowl and stir to combine. Rub mixture all over the beef tenderloin.
- Place tenderloin in the air fryer basket and cook on 250 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature of the middle of the filet reaches the desired temperature as listed below. It should take about 30 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit for a medium-rare roast.
- Once the tenderloin reaches the desired pull temperature (refer to chart below), remove the tenderloin from the air fryer basket and tent with foil. Allow tenderloin to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
How long do you cook beef tenderloin in an air fryer?
As with a lot of recipes, especially meats, it's best to use an instant-read thermometer to make sure that it is cooked exactly to your liking. In this recipe, the beef is cooked at 250F and the cooking times for doneness are listed below. We pull the beef from the air fryer slightly before it reaches the top temperature as it will continue to cook as it rests.
| Doneness | Pull Temp. | Doneness Temp. | Approx. cook time |
| Rare | 115F-120F | 120F-125F | 27 minutes |
| Medium rare | 125F-130F | 130F-135F | 30 minutes |
| Medium | 135F-140F | 140F-145F | 33 minutes |
| Medium well | 145F-150F | 150F-155F | 35 minutes |
| Well done | 155F or higher | 160F or higher | 38 minutes |
What's the best seasoning for beef?
You can of course mix up the seasonings you use to rub the beef if you like. I used garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. I rubbed the tenderloin with mayonnaise, which for me is a must. It adds a really rich flavor and also helps to form a delicious crust. You could also use butter or simply season it without any additional fat.
What do you serve it with?
This is a great main course as an alternative to Thanksgiving turkey, or it's a perfect centerpiece for your Christmas dinner. Top it with a homemade horseradish sauce or serve it up with all of your favorite sides like:
Recipe Notes and Tips
- I suggest cooking the tenderloin anywhere between a medium-rare or medium temperature for tender roast.
- Allow the beef to come up to room temperature before cooking. I like to take it out of the fridge at least half an hour before rubbing it.
- Once cooked, place the beef on a chopping board and cover loosely with foil for at least 10 to 15 minutes before slicing it.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Watch this video tutorial and see how I make this beef tenderloin from start to finish.
Air Fryer Beef Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef tenderloin roast
Rub
- 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon fresh Rosemary minced (or 2 teaspoons dried Rosemary)
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme minced (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Remove beef tenderloin from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Combine mayonnaise, kosher salt, rosemary, thyme, garlic cloves and black pepper in a bowl and stir to combine. Rub mixture all over the beef tenderloin.
- Place tenderloin in the air fryer basket and cook on 250 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature of the middle of the filet reaches the desired temperature as listed below. It should take about 30 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit for a medium-rare roast.
- Once the tenderloin reaches the desired pull temperature (refer to chart below), remove the tenderloin from the air fryer basket and tent with foil. Allow tenderloin to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- I suggest a quick read thermometer to check on the temperature of the roast to determine doneness. You’ll want to remove the roast from the air fryer when it’s about 5 degrees below your desired doneness temperature. The temperature of the roast will continue to rise once it’s removed from the air fryer.
- I suggest cooking the tenderloin anywhere between a medium-rare or medium temperature for tender roast.
- Refer to the chart below for desired temperature. The times provided are approximate times and will vary depending on the roast, air fryer brand, etc. Start checking the temperature of the roast at about 30 minutes.
| Doneness | Pull Temp. | Doneness Temp. | Approx. Cook Time |
| Rare | 115F-120F | 120F-125F | 27 minutes |
| Medium rare | 125F-130F | 130F-135F | 30 minutes |
| Medium | 135F-140F | 140F-145F | 33 minutes |
| Medium well | 145F-150F | 150F-155F | 35 minutes |
| Well done | 155F or higher | 160F or higher | 38 minutes |
Jeremiah says
I made this beef tenderloin in the air fryer yesterday and it was sooo amazing! The simple rub created a nice crust that was so good!
Tanya says
Thank you for the feedback Jeremiah! So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Jeremiah says
The directions don’t mention anything about flipping the meat halfway through cooking. Should it be flipped?
Tanya says
Hi Jeremiah, I did not flip this tenderloin.
Jeremiah says
@Tanya, Thanks! I’m making it this weekend. Looking forward to it!
Tamara Hopkins says
I made my beef tenderloin steak like you would do a tenderloin. I tighted each steak with string, then rubbed mayonnaise with fresh garlic chopped salt and pepper along with my secret ingredient. It was off the charts100% . Also had baked sweet potato and turnip greens. The whole meal was excellent 👍.