Air Fried Beef Satay is a super fast, very authentic recipe that requires very little hands-on time. Marinate the meat, walk away, cook for 10 minutes and eat. See how easy it to make beef satay in an oven or air fryer.

Why You're Going To Love Beef Satay In The Air Fryer
- Fast. If you omit the time it takes to marinate this recipe, it is done in less than 30 minutes!
- Easy. A simple pour and cook recipe made in your air fryer.
- Low Carb. Only 10 net carbs per serving.
- High Protein. Packs an incredible 56 grams of protein per serving.
I have worked hard to make recipes that require very little work time. At the most, I want you to spend 10-15 minutes getting the meat ready and 10-15 minutes cooking.
The way to make this work, however, is to plan to marinate the meat for at least 30 minutes in between. So you could do this the night before while the rest of your dinner cooks, and have it ready and marinated for dinner the next day. Or you could get your side dishes ready while the meat cooks.
But if you like meal planning, this is a great way to approach air fryer cooking.
This Air Fried Beef Satay is one of those mix, marinade, and cook recipes that make dinnertime a breeze. You can, of course, use this very same beef satay marinade to make chicken satay or pork satay. As long as you cut the meat up into bite-size chunks, you shouldn't have a problem cooking it well all the way through.
Be sure to leave as much of the marinade behind in the bag as you can so you don't have a lot of white smoke coming out of your air fryer as you cook the meat.
What Does Satay Mean?
Satay is simply a meal made up of seasoned grilled strips of meat that are served with a flavorful peanut dipping sauce. They are often served on a skewer.
What Does It Taste Like?
Beef Satay is the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and smokey. It's an easy, flavorful recipe that pairs perfectly with a variety of side dishes because of the depth of flavor.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Beef Flank Steak- Thinly sliced into strips, it’s the star protein of the dish, perfect for soaking up the marinade and crisping beautifully in the air fryer.
- Oil- Helps coat the beef for even cooking and prevents it from drying out.
- Fish Sauce- Brings a salty, savory umami punch that’s essential in Southeast Asian flavors.
- Soy Sauce- Adds depth, saltiness, and a touch of umami to balance the marinade.
- Minced Ginger- Provides warm, zesty notes that cut through the richness of the beef.
- Minced Garlic- Adds aromatic, savory flavor that infuses the meat.
- Sugar- Balances the salty and spicy elements, while helping with caramelization.
- Sriracha Sauce- Introduces heat and a touch of tangy spice to the marinade.
- Ground Coriander- Offers earthy, citrusy undertones that complement the ginger and garlic.
- Cilantro- Half is mixed into the marinade for freshness, while the rest is sprinkled on top for a bright finishing touch.
- Roasted Peanuts- Provide a nutty crunch and traditional satay-style garnish.
How To Make Beef Satay In Your Air Fryer
I wrote this as an air fryer recipe, but you can also grill this outside if you prefer.
- Marinate. Place beef strips into a large bowl or a ziplock bag. Add oil, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, Sriracha, coriander, and 1/4 cup cilantro to the beef and mix well. Marinate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- Place in the basket. Using a set of tongs, place the beef strips in the air fryer basket, laying them side by side and minimizing overlap. Discard the marinade.
- Air fry. Set your air fryer to 400F for 8 minutes, flipping once halfway.
- Garnish and serve. Remove the meat to a serving tray, top with remaining 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, and the chopped roasted peanuts. Serve with Easy Peanut Sauce.
Tips And Tricks For Delicious Beef Satay
This Satay recipe is so simple most of these tips and tricks seem like they would be common sense. But hey, who doesn't want a recipe to come out perfect every time? Here are a few things that might help:
- Marinate. Marinate for at least 30 minutes to get perfectly flavorful, tender meat.
- Check Doneness. Use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of your beef. Overcooking this recipe will dry it out.
- Pick the right sides. Keep it low carb by serving over zoodles or riced cauliflower.
- Add sauce. Add in a punch of flavor by dipping in my delicious Peanut Dipping Sauce.
Variations
When it comes to Air Fryer Beef Satay, you can get creative with the flavors and adapt the dish to different preferences or dietary needs. Here are some tasty variations to try:
- Chicken- Swap the beef for thin strips of chicken breast or thighs for a lighter, leaner version.
- Pork- Use pork tenderloin or shoulder strips for a juicy, flavorful twist.
- Spicy- Increase the sriracha or add chili flakes for an extra kick of heat.
- Peanut-Free- Skip the peanuts and top with toasted sesame seeds or crispy shallots for crunch.
How Long Does It Last?
Air Fryer Beef Satay can last for about 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator when stored properly in an airtight container.
Allow the beef to cool completely before refrigerating to prevent excess moisture from building up, which can make it soggy.
Can You Freeze It?
If you want to extend its shelf life, you can freeze beef satay for up to 2 months.
Simply wrap the skewers tightly in foil or store the strips in a freezer-safe bag or container, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
When ready to enjoy again, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer or oven until warmed through.
More Recipes You'll Love
- Tavuk Shish - turns out great in your air fryer.
- Vietnamese Thit Nuong - perfect caramelized pork strips.
- Peanut Dipping Sauce - a great dipping sauce for this Beef Satay.
- Thai Cashew Chicken - another great Thai recipe!
If you love this Beef Satay recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can make it too!

Ingredients
- 1 pound beef flank steak, sliced thinly into long strips
- 2 tablespoons Oil
- 1 tablespoon Fish Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Minced Ginger
- 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Sugar Or Other Sweetener Equivalent
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Ground Coriander
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, divided
- 1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
Instructions
- Place beef strips into a large bowl or a ziplock bag.
- Add oil, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, Sriracha, coriander, and 1/4 cup cilantro to the beef and mix well. Marinate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- Using a set of tongs, place the beef strips in the air fryer basket, laying them side by side and minimizing overlap.
- Leave behind as much of the marinade as you can and discard this marinade.
- Set your air fryer to 400F for 8 minutes, flipping once halfway.
- Remove the meat to a serving tray, top with remaining 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and the chopped roasted peanuts.
- Serve with Easy Peanut Sauce.
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Nutrition
Originally Published May 15, 2018
And don't forget to check out my air fryer cookbooks! Every day easy air fryer, and Air Fryer Revolution.












Heather Schmitt
DELICIOUS!!!!! It took about 20 minutes in my air fryer... But maybe I sliced the meat too thick. We ate almost all of it, but I'm psyched to have a little leftover meat and peanut sauce to make a yummy salad tomorrow 🤤
Liz
I subbed Swerve for the sugar and left out cilantro. Cooking only took about 5 min in my air fryer. So delicious! I will definitely make it again and again.
Andrea
Can you omit or substitute the fish sauce? (Allergy concern)
TwoSleevers
A good seafood free option for substituting fish sauce is soy sauce. Check the nutrition facts and ingredients as the brands can vary significantly for being low carb or gluten allergy friendly.
Cynthia Mason
Would this work for chicken, and do you think monk fruit/erythritol could be successfully subbed for the sugar? I love your recipes!
URVASHI PITRE
Yes and yes! Enjoy