Okay, so I tried something new the other day – cooking tri-tip in my air fryer. I gotta say, I was pretty stoked about how it turned out. So, of course, I had to share it with you all.
First things first, I grabbed my tri-tip from the fridge. Now, you want to let that bad boy sit out for a bit and get to room temperature. It helps it cook more evenly, you know?
While the meat was getting comfortable, I preheated my air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Gotta get that oven nice and hot.

Next up, seasoning. I kept it simple with salt and pepper. But hey, you can totally go wild with your favorite spices. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika… whatever floats your boat. I rubbed that seasoning all over the tri-tip, making sure it was nicely coated.
- Season the steak generously. Don’t be shy!
Then, I just popped the seasoned tri-tip into the air fryer basket. Make sure there’s some space around it so the air can do its thing.
- Place the seasoned tri-tip in the air fryer basket. It’s like giving it a little hot tub.
Now, for the cooking time. I went for about 10-12 minutes per side. This gave me a nice medium-rare. If you like it more done, just leave it in a little longer.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes per side. Keep an eye on it!
Boom
After that time, I pull out my tri-tip and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing it up and chowing down. It turned out tender and juicy.
Cooking tri-tip in the air fryer turned out to be a total win. It was quick, easy, and the results were delicious. If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot.