Air Fryer Scotch Eggs

A tray with scotch eggs and a dipping sauce.

5 from 5 votes

A healthier twist on a British classic, Scotch Eggs are the perfect picnic snack and so easy to make. Whip up these Air Fryer Scotch Eggs in under an hour. I also give you the recipe for a tasty mustard dipping sauce.

Prep Time30

Cook Time25

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: British

Servings: Eggs

Calories: 556kcal

Author: Kate O'Malley

Ingredients

Scotch Eggs

2 pounds ground beef You can use pork. See notes
1 large yellow onion minced
½ bunch fresh parsley
1½ teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
salt to taste
9 eggs Hard boiled. See cook times for soft boiled

Bread Crumb Coating

¼ cup all- purpose flour
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
2 eggs beaten

Dipping Sauce

1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
3 small garlic cloves minced
A squeeze of lemon juice - about 1/2 small lemon
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Outer Meat Casing

Peel and coarsely chop the onion.
Place the onion in a food processor and blend until nearly smooth. Add 1-2 tbsp of water to help achieve a finer mix if necessary.
In a large bowl, add the ground beef, onions, spices, finely chopped parsley, and salt to taste.
Mix well until the ingredients are evenly combined. Set aside until the eggs are cooked.

Boil The Eggs

Place room-temperature eggs in a saucepan with enough water to cover the eggs. Add a teaspoon of salt, bring the water gently to a boil, and cook to your liking.
For soft-boiled eggs, 4-5 minutes. For hard-boiled eggs, 7-8 minutes.
Set the eggs aside to cool or plunge into cold water for easy peeling.

Shape the Scotch Eggs

Divide the ground beef mix into 9 balls, about 0.18 pounds each.
Flatten each ball evenly. Place a boiled egg in the center, and wrap the minced meat around the egg, covering it completely.
Shape each one into an egg or ball shape with your hands. Make sure the meat casing is even, and press out any air bubbles.
Tip: To avoid the meat sticking to your hands, keep your hand slightly damp (not wet) when shaping the Scotch Eggs.
Get 3 large shallow dishes large enough to roll the raw scotch eggs in. Place 2 beaten eggs in one, the panko bread crumbs in another, and the flour in another.
Roll each meat wrapped egg in the flour, ensuring they are well covered.
Roll the floured scotch egg in the beaten egg mix, ensuring it is well coated.
Roll the floured and egg-covered balls in Panko bread crumbs, ensuring even coverage.
Place the Scotch Eggs in the Air Fryer pan and bake at 390 F (200C) for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Do not overcrowd them while cooking.

Scotch Egg Dipping Sauce

Combine all the sauce ingredients – mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Sriracha sauce, garlic, lemon, and salt & pepper, in a bowl and mix well. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Serve the Scotch Eggs hot or cold with the sauce or on their own.

Notes

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Meat: There are many variations of Scotch Eggs. You can wrap the eggs in pre-seasoned sausage meat, plain ground pork, a mix of pork and beef, straight beef, or even ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.

Panko Bread Crumbs: I like Panko for a lighter, crisper casing. You can also use normal breadcrumbs.

Cooking Method: This recipe is for air-fried Scotch Eggs, but you can also bake them for 20-25 minutes in an oven at 375F or deep or shallow fry them for 8-10 minutes in vegetable oil.

Expert Tips

Keep an even thickness for uniform cooking when wrapping the egg with meat.
Press air pockets out between the meat and the egg to prevent the coating from separating or splitting during cooking.
Air Fryer Specifics: Preheat the air fryer briefly before cooking. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary to allow air circulation.

Nutrition