Air Fryer Eye of Round Roast

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Air Fryer Eye of Round Roast

A lean eye of round roast seared hard in the air fryer, then finished low, so it slices thin and stays pink and juicy in 35 minutes.

Course Dinner, Main, Main Course, sandwich

Cuisine American, gluten-free

Keyword air fryer eye of round roast, dinner, gluten-free, main, main course

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 43kcal

Author Ksenia Prints

Equipment

Air Fryer
Paper towels
Small mixing bowl
Meat thermometer
Aluminum foil
Cutting Board
Chef's Knife or carving knife

Ingredients

2 to 3 pounds eye of round roast
2 tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning or steak seasoning blend
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika

Instructions

Pat the roast dry with paper towels, then rub it all over with oil.
Mix garlic salt, black pepper, steak seasoning, onion powder, and paprika together in a small bowl.
Rub the seasoning evenly over the roast, pressing it in well.
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes.
Place the roast in the air fryer basket and cook at 375 degrees for 15 minutes to sear the outside.
Reduce heat to 325 degrees and cook 20 to 25 minutes more, until the internal temperature reaches 125 degrees for rare, 135 degrees for medium-rare, or 145 degrees for medium.
Remove from the air fryer, tent loosely with foil, and rest 10 to 15 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.

Notes

Pat the roast dry before oiling and seasoning. This helps everything adhere and gives a better crust.
Use a meat thermometer. Eye of round moves from perfectly tender to overcooked quickly, and the temperature will rise a few more degrees while resting, so pull it early.
Always slice against the grain. This cut is naturally tough, and cutting against the grain is what keeps it tender.
Don't skip the high-heat sear at the start. That first 15 minutes at 375 degrees is what caramelizes the crust.
For the thinnest slices, chill the roast before slicing. Especially useful for sandwiches.
Substitutions: plain salt plus garlic powder for the garlic salt, any steak rub or a mix of coarse pepper, salt, and paprika for the Montreal seasoning, canola or vegetable oil or melted butter for the olive oil, and smoked paprika or a pinch of chili powder in place of regular paprika.
Add dried rosemary or thyme to the seasoning mix for an herb-crusted version, or rub the roast with fresh minced garlic before seasoning for a stronger garlic flavor.

Nutrition