Air Fried Steak & Fried Lobster Tail – Surf and Turf Recipe

Juicy steak in air fryer with fried lobster tail is an amazingly flavorful surf and turf recipe perfect for a special occasion.

Total Time: 25 mins

You need to try this surf and turf recipe! Air fried steak with luscious fried lobster tails topped off with herby garlic butter sauce makes an unforgettable dinner.

Beautifully seasoned and perfectly cooked steak with buttery lobster tails is SO easy to make in the air fryer! Juicy steak in air fryer with fried lobster tail is an amazingly flavorful surf ‘n’ turf perfect for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day!

What is surf and turf?

Surf and turf meaning: A surf and turf recipe is a meal of beef and seafood, usually shellfish such as shrimp or lobster.

In the case of this surf and turf recipe, I use lobster and steak. It’s a classic made even better with homemade garlic butter sauce!

You can also make surf and turf recipes using other seafood, like shrimp or crab. For more recipes to add to your surf and turf menu, find a list of my favorite mixed seafood recipes and best steak recipes at the bottom of this post!

Easy Keto Recipe

Air fryer surf and turf is a great addition to a keto dinner menu! With less than 30 minutes of prep and cook time, this is one of the easiest, most simple keto recipes you can make.

Surf and Turf Recipe Ingredients

The ingredients for this surf and turf recipe are simple! Cooking steak in air fryer with air fried lobster tails and garlic butter brings out so much flavor in each ingredient.

Get our Garlic Butter Recipe

Steak Air Fryer Ingredients

• 2 6 oz. beef tenderloin filet mignon steaks
• 2 Tbsp. Chicago steak seasoning or seasoning of your choice (just salt & pepper works well also)
• 2 Tbsp. garlic butter
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Air Fryer Lobster Tails Ingredients

• 2 4 oz. lobster tails
• 4 Tbsp. garlic butter
• 1/2 lemon cut into wedges
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

What is filet mignon?

The filet mignon cut is from the small end of the beef tenderloin, and is thought to be one of the best, most tender cuts of beef. It is my favorite beef cut for this recipe.

For air fryer steak recipes, you can also make air fryer ribeye following the same instructions.

Can I use frozen lobster tails?

Yes! The trick to cooking frozen lobster tails well is properly thawing them.

How to Thaw Frozen Lobster Tails

Thaw your lobster tails the night before you plan on cooking them. Place the tails in bags (with the air pressed out) on a plate or towel, and allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

To thaw the lobster tails the same day as you plan to cook them, place the tails in zip-lock plastic bags and press all of the air out. Make sure the bags do not have any holes. Allow them to thaw under cold running water for 30 minutes to an hour.

After thawing and before preparing to cook, pat your lobster tails completely dry.

How to Fry Steak in Air Fryer

1. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp. Chicago steak seasoning or seasoning of your choice on each side of 2 6 oz. filet mignon steaks. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
   
2. Brush each side of both steaks with 1 Tbsp. of olive oil each.
   
3. How to cook steak in air fryer: Place the filets in the air fryer and cook for approximately 4 minutes at 390°F.
4. Flip the filets and cook for approximately 4 minutes more.
   
5. Remove from the air fryer and top each filet with 1 Tbsp. garlic butter
6. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

Frying Steak Tips

• If using thick steaks: If your steaks are on the thicker side, you may need to cook them for 1 minute longer on each side.
• Cut against the grain: Always cut filet mignon against the grain. The grain of a cut of beef refers to the direction the muscle fibers run in.

How to Cook Lobster Tail in Air Fryer

Start your lobster tail recipe by preparing lobster tails. Do this by butterflying the tails. Butterflying means carefully cutting the shell to reveal the lobster meat.

Lobster recipes generally call for butterflying the tails, and it’s super easy to do!

How to Prepare Lobster Tails

1. How to butterfly a lobster tail: Butterfly 2 4 oz. lobster tails by using kitchen scissors to cut lengthwise through the center of the shells. Give it a good cut through 3/4 of the lobster, but do not go all of the way through.
   
2. Carefully spread the shell open where you cut. Place your fingers under the meat in the shell and firmly, but gently, pull it out in one piece.
3. Close the shell so that the lobster meat rests on top of the shell.

How to Make Lobster Tails

1. Melt 4 Tbsp. garlic butter sauce over medium heat in a small saucepan.
2. Transfer 2 Tbsp. of the garlic butter sauce to a small bowl and brush the lobster tail meat with it.
   
3. Season the lobster tails with salt and pepper to your preference.
4. How do you cook lobster tails: Place the lobster tails in the air fryer basket with the cut lobster meat facing up. Cook at 380°F until the lobster meat is opaque, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
   
5. Squeeze 1/2 a lemon (cut into wedges) over the lobster tail.
   
6. Serve the additional 2 Tbsp. garlic butter sauce in a small dish to use as a dip for the lobster and steak.

Best Way to Cook Lobster Tail – Tips

• How long to cook lobster tails: For 4 oz. lobster tails, cook approximately 5 to 7 minutes. The meat will be white and opaque when it’s done.
• How to eat lobster: For the best flavor, lemon and garlic butter are perfect choices for how to eat lobster tail recipes. Reserve a little extra garlic butter sauce to dip the lobster meat in.

What to Serve with Lobster and Steak

• Air Fryer Asparagus
• Fresh Vegetable Salad with Creamy Balsamic Dressing
• French Onion Green Beans Recipe
• Moscato Sangria Recipe (Moscato Wine Cocktail)

More Surf and Turf Menu Ideas

Best Steak Recipes:

• Reverse Sear Ribeye Steak
• Grilled Picanha Steak
• Grilled Chuck Steak with Compound Butter
• Juicy Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Easy Seafood Recipes:

• Shrimp Scampi
• Chinese Prawns Recipe
• Steamed Crab Legs
• Shrimp Creole

And try our Easy Paella Recipe with Beef and Shrimp and one of our favorite easy air fryer recipes: Air Fryer Mushrooms!

📌 Pin Surf and Turf Recipe

Surf and Turf Recipe

Juicy steak in air fryer with fried lobster tail is an amazingly flavorful surf and turf recipe perfect for a special occasion.

4.86 from 7 votes

Print Pin Comment

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fried steak, fried lobster tails, lobster tail recipes, surf and turf recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 2

Calories: 493kcal

Author: Isabel Laessig

Equipment

• Air fryer

Ingredients

Steak Air Fryer Ingredients

• 2 6 oz. filet mignon steaks
• 2 Tbsp. Chicago steak seasoning or seasoning of your choice (just salt & pepper works well)
• 2 Tbsp. garlic butter recipe link in post
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Air Fryer Lobster Tails Ingredients

• 2 4 oz. lobster tails
• 4 Tbsp. garlic butter
• 1/2 lemon cut into wedges
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

How to Fry Steak in Air Fryer

• Sprinkle 2 Tbsp. Chicago steak seasoning or seasoning of your choice on each side of 2 6 oz. filet mignon steaks. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Brush each side of both steaks with 1 Tbsp. of olive oil each.
• Place the filets in the air fryer and cook for approximately 4 minutes at 390°F.
• Flip the filets and cook for approximately 4 minutes more.
• Remove from the air fryer and top each filet with 1 Tbsp. garlic butter.
• Let the steak rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

How to Cook Lobster Tail in Air Fryer

• Butterfly 2 4 oz. lobster tails by using kitchen scissors to cut lengthwise through the center of the shells. Give it a good cut through 3/4 of the lobster, but do not go all of the way through.
• Carefully spread the shell open where you cut. Place your fingers under the meat in the shell and firmly, but gently, pull it out in one piece.
• Close the shell so that the lobster meat rests on top of the shell.
• Melt 4 Tbsp. garlic butter sauce over medium heat in a small saucepan.
• Transfer 2 Tbsp. of the garlic butter sauce to a small bowl and brush the lobster tail meat with it. Season the lobster tails with salt and pepper to your preference.
• Place the lobster tails in the air fryer basket with the cut lobster meat facing up. Cook at 380°F until the lobster meat is opaque, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
• Squeeze 1/2 a lemon (cut into wedges) over the lobster tail. Serve the additional 2 Tbsp. garlic butter sauce in a small dish to use as a dip for the lobster and steak.

Notes

• If using thick steaks: If your steaks are on the thicker side, you may need to cook them for 1 minute longer on each side.
• Find a link to our garlic butter recipe highlighted in-post!

Nutrition

Calories: 493kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 313mg | Potassium: 162mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 8mg

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