Churrasco is delicious and popular Brazilian meat cooked over a grill or flame. Here is how you can cook flank steak churrasco in an air fryer!
Churrasco is a popular Brazilian barbecue dish typically cooked over an open flame or grill. While an air fryer is not the traditional method for making churrasco, you can try to replicate the flavors and textures using an air fryer.
For this Churrasco in an Air Fryer recipe, I used flank steak which is a cut of beef with a rich, hearty flavor as well as moist and tender texture. With just a couple simple steps, you can cook this cut of meat in less than 20 minutes and have a delicious main dish for dinner without the fuss of a grill! Try pairing this juice flank steak with Brazilian Rice and flavorful Chimichurri sauce!
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Brazilian Origins of this recipe
Churrasco is a popular Brazilian barbecue or mixed grill typically cooked on a rotisserie or on spits over an open flame or grill. In the United States, you can see this wonderful style come to life at a number of Churrascarias that have popped up over the years. Servers walk around with giant spits of grilled meats and you can choose which you want and eat to your heart and stomach's content. Many Brazilian homes have these rotisserie grills built right into their indoor or outdoor kitchens. More and more people in Brazil are trying new kitchen gadgets, such as air fryers. It's not the same thing, but a convenient substitute to cook your meat and get a quick nice outside char while keeping the inside tender and moist.
Simple Ingredients and Substitutes
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- Flank Steak - For the air fryer, you want to use cuts of beef that are relatively quick cooking, such as thin cut filet, sirloin, flank steak, or skirt steak. I went with flank steak a cut of steak that has a richer flavor than filet and a slightly firmer texture compared to skirt steak. Skirt steak is a good option too with intense beefy flavor and loose, open grain. Note, that if you are cooking skirt steak, it is thinner than flank steak, so skirt steak cooks in less time.
- Olive Oil - Extra Virgin Olive Oil helps to prevent the steak from sticking to the air fryer basket. You can substitute in vegetable oil, canola oil, coconut oil, or other neutral oil that you have. You can also a cooking spray.
- Coarse Salt – Coarse salt, or sal grosso in Portuguese, is the go-to seasoning here in Brazil. I also added freshly ground black pepper. You can of course add other seasonings or even herbs to your meat before cooking. Some good simple additions are garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, dried oregano, or thyme.
See recipe card for quantities.
Simple Equipment You'll Need with Options
Well, this is a recipe for the air fryer, so you will need an air fryer. I used a 4-quart pull-out basket air fryer that I bought here in Brazil. There are many different air fryers and any of these air fryers will work.
How to Make Churrasco in the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 400 F degrees for about 5-7 minutes. You want to cook the meat at on high heat so that the outside gets nicely charred without the inside overcooking.
Cut (or not) the Flank Steak: depending on the basket size of your air fryer, you may need to cut your flank steak into pieces. You will want 1 large or 2-4 smaller pieces of flank steak to fit into the basket without touching the sides or each other. You can also cut the steak into thin slices before cooking, but if you do, then you will want to reduce the cooking time by about half.
TIP 1: If it does not all fit into the air fryer at once, you can save the remaining steak in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 9 months.
TIP 2: Let the meat sit to come close to room temperature so that it cooks evenly.
Flank steak can be marinated or seasoned before cooking to enhance its flavor and tenderness. This works well with air frying, as it can help infuse the flavors into the meat. I went with a simple coarse salt and touch of pepper.
Season both sides of the steak with a generous amount of salt and black pepper to taste.
Lightly coat the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Note: You can also add any additional seasonings or herbs to the flank steak. See below variations.
Place the seasoned flank steak in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Leave some space between the pieces to allow for proper air circulation.
Cook the flank steak in the air fryer for 8-14 minutes (flipping it halfway through the time), depending on your desired level of doneness.
Doneness of Flank Steak
For a medium-rare flank steak, cook it for around 8-10 minutes, 10-12 minutes for medium and 12-14 minutes for more well-done.
Since flank steak can vary, depending on the thickness of your steak it may need more or less time. So for best results, also make sure to also check the internal temperature for doneness using an instant read thermometer.
- For rare: 120-130 degrees F internally.
- For medium-rare: 130-135 degrees F internally.
- For medium: for 135-145 degrees F internally.
Once the steak is cooked to your preferred level of doneness, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute and results in a more tender and flavorful steak.
Slice the flank steak against the grain of the meat into thin strips. This helps make the steak more tender. Serve it immediately and enjoy!
Variations on Churrasco in an Air Fryer
There are different meats that you can cook in an air fryer for churrasco, such as chicken, pork, or sausages. But if you want some different flavor ideas for cooking flank steak, check out these options.
- Korean steak - For a Korean-inspired marinade with amazing flavor, add 3 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons chopped ginger, ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup white wine or rice vinegar, ¼ cup Brown Sugar, and 3 tablespoon sesame oil to a mini food processor. Puree and then pour over the steak (or steak slices) and then mix to combine and coat the meat. Cover and store in the fridge for 1-24 hours to marinate. Damp with paper towel to dry the meat a bit before adding it to the air fryer.
- Cilantro and Garlic Marinade - For this marinade, add 3 garlic cloves, ¼ cup white wine or red wine vinegar or lime juice or lemon juice, and 3 tablespoon Olive oil to a mini food processor. Puree and then pour over the steak (or steak slices) and then mix to combine and coat the meat. Cover and store in the fridge for 1-24 hours to marinate. Damp with paper towel to dry the meat a bit before adding it to the air fryer.
- Dry Rub - In addition to salt and pepper, combine your favorite spices or favorite steak seasoning and then rub all over the steak before placing in the air fryer.
Churrasco in the Air fryer FAQs
You do not need to marinate the meat, but it can enhance its flavor and tenderness. You will want to marinate for at least 30 minutes or even overnight for better results. After marinating and before putting the meat in the air fryer, make sure to pat it dry so that nothing drips and burns. You can add a final sprinkle of salt right before cooking.
Yes, you can cook vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and zucchini with the meat in the air fryer. Just make sure they are cut to an appropriate size and coated with a little oil.
What to serve with this air fryer Flank Steak Recipe
Why have one meat when you can have two! It's very common in Brazil to serve a variety of meats, so think about chicken, sausages, or parmesan-crusted pork tenderloin!
Then, you can bring on the delicious side dishes. Of course, potatoes, pasta, roasted veggies, or a salad would all go great with steak. Here are a few of the traditional sides for churrasco.
Churrasco in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1-2 pound Flank steak
- 1 tablespoon Salt, coarse
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Ground Pepper (to taste)
- Olive oil or cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 F degrees for about 5-7 minutes.
- Cut (or not) the Flank Steak: depending on the basket size of your air fryer, you may need to cut your flank steak into pieces. You will want 1 large or 2-4 smaller pieces of flank steak to fit into the basket without touching the sides or each other. TIP: If it does not all fit into the air fryer at once, you can save the remaining steak in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 9 months.
- Season the Flank Steak with a generous amount of salt and pepper to taste on both sides. You can also add any additional seasonings or herbs you prefer.
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Place the seasoned flank steak in the preheated air fryer basket. Make sure to leave some space between the pieces to allow for proper air circulation.
- Cook the flank steak in the air fryer for approximately 8-14 minutes (flipping it halfway through the cooking time), depending on your desired level of doneness and the thickness of the steak. For a medium-rare flank steak, cook it for around 8-10 minutes, 10-12 minutes for medium and 12-14 minutes for more well-done.
- Once the steak is cooked to your preferred level of doneness, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute and results in a more tender and flavorful steak.
- Slice the flank steak against the grain into thin strips. This helps make the steak more tender. Serve it immediately and enjoy!
Notes
-
Flank Steak Doneness: For a medium-rare flank steak, cook it for around 8-10 minutes, 10-12 minutes for medium and 12-14 minutes for more well-done. Make sure to also check the internal temperature for doneness.
- For rare: 120F-130 F degrees internally.
- For medium-rare: 130F-135F internally.
- For medium: for 135F-145F internally.
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