Air Fryer Tuna Steaks

Name: Air Fryer Tuna Steaks
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 garlic cloves ((minced)); 1 inch ginger ((grated or finely chopped)); 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 tablespoon oil ((vegetable, canola or olive oil)); ¼ cup soy sauce; 2 tuna steaks

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Marinated in an Asian inspired soy sauce, ginger and garlic mix, these tuna steaks come out perfectly in the air fryer. Simple to make with a few ingredients and so quick to cook, they make for one delicious and easy meal.

Two air fryer tuna steaks garnished with sesame seed and chives.

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We do try and have fish at least a couple of times a week, and I'll be honest, salmon is my usual go to. Tuna has a milder flavor compared to salmon and a meatier texture, so it's a great way to mix up your fish dinner.

Tuna steaks are so quick and easy to cook in the air fryer and they come out so beautifully. You can serve them up as a quick and easy weeknight meal with your favorite sides, or serve sliced, sushi style.

Marinated in soy sauce, this asian style seared tuna steaks are wonderfully flavorful.

Be sure to try my Air Fryer Halloumi Fries and Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs too!

Why you will love this recipe!

So flavorful: The Asian inspired soy sauce marinade adds so much flavor to these air fried tuna steaks.
Quick: The tuna steaks only require a short marinade and they cook so quickly in the air fryer. You can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Easy: This recipe is so straight forward, but the results are delicious! Just marinade the tuna and let your air fryer do the rest. This is a super easy meal, but a great go to if you want to impress!
Simple ingredients: You only need a few basic ingredients to make this recipe, most of which i'm sure you'll have to hand already.
Dietary info: These tuna steaks are low in fat and high in protein. It's a great low carb and low calorie dinner and tuna is a great source of healthy Omega-3s, B vitamins and lots of other essential nutrients.

An air fryer tuna steak sliced into pieces and garnished.

Ingredients

Garlic and ginger: Use fresh garlic and ginger for the best flavors. In a pinch, you can use powdered, about a teaspoon of each will do the job.
Brown sugar: A little brown sugar helps to balance out the saltiness of the soy sauce.
Oil: A small amount of oil is essential in marinades. It helps the flavors to penetrate the fish steaks, as well as helping it to cook more evenly in the air fryer.
Soy sauce: Soy sauce is the main ingredients for the tuna marinade. It adds a delicious rich, umami and salty flavor. If you are gluten-free, then you can swap this for Tamari sauce.
Tuna steaks: If you can, use whole loin tuna steaks. Fresh tuna steaks should look moist, but not wet, and be shiny in appearance.

How to make air fryer tuna steak

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Marinate the tuna steaks (photo 1).
Place in the air fryer basket (photo 2).
Cook on both sides to your desired doneness (photo 3).

Three step by step photos to show how to marinate and cook the tuna.

Other Cooking Methods

If you don't have an air fryer, don't fret as you can still cook the tuna using different methods.

Stovetop: Place a skillet on a medium high heat and cook on both sides for a total of 6 to 10 minutes for desired doneness.
Grill: Preheat your grill, oil the grates and cook the tuna on each side.
Oven: Place on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 400F for 12 to 15 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to cook tuna steaks in the air fryer?

The thing I love about air fryers is that it's so easy to cook your food exactly to your desired doneness.

I prefer my tuna on the rarer side, and that takes around 5 minutes, if you prefer yours well done, then allow 10 minutes.

Can you use frozen tuna?

When it comes to fish and seafood, fresh is usually best, as when frozen it can absorb a lot of water. However, frozen is often much more convinient. You can still get great results using frozen tuna for this air fryer recipe.

Make sure that the tuna steaks are fully defrosted and pat them dry with kitchen paper before marinating them. If they are clogged with water they will steam when they are cooked.

How long do you marinate for?

The soy sauce marinade for these tuna steaks is super flavorful, and you really don't need to marinate them for more than 10 to 15 minutes. If you want to get ahead of tings, you can marinate them earlier in the day, bu I wouldn't do it for more than 4 to 6 hours, or the fish can start to become a bit soggy and chewy.

Overhead shot of two soy marinated tuna steaks on a circular cutting board.

Serving Suggestions

These air fryer tuna steaks can be served as an appetizer or a main. As an appetizer, slice thinly and serve sushi style. I like to sprinkle them with some sesame seeds and chives or green onion for a little freshness. It can also be served over a fresh salad.

As a main, they are great to serve with a rice and vegetable side. Try them with:

Recipe Notes and Tips

Because the tuna only requires a short amount of time in the marinade, you can marinate them at room temperature.
Air fryer models can run slightly differently so the timings are a guideline. At 5 minutes the tuna steaks were a medium-rare. Increase the time to up to 10 minutes if you prefer them well done.
Preheat your air fryer before adding the steaks. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat function, let it run at 360F for 5 minutes.
Flip the tuna halfway through cooking, so that they cook evenly.

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