15 Minute Air Fryer Scotch Eggs (2024)

March 4, 2020March 18, 2024

Making Homemade Scotch Eggs is super easy with the help of your air fryer or Ninja Foodi! In just 15 minutes, you can create a tender scotch egg that’s high in protein and can be served for breakfast, snack, or at an Easter brunch! A great way to use leftover hard boiled eggs!

I always thought this way to cook eggs looked a bit intimidating to make, kind of like Beef Wellington. I just didn’t understand how to get the sausage around the egg perfectly cooked in a way that was easy.

Making scotch eggs in the air fryer is a perfect way to get a crispy cooked sausage without it falling apart. The air fryer uses circulating dry heat which helps them cook faster and gets them a nice crispy outside while keeping the egg tender on the inside.

This traditional dish is usually served as a snack or breakfast, but I love making them during Easter when we have a lot more hard boiled eggs on hand from decorating!

🥚Cooking The Eggs

For this recipe, the eggs are cooked beforehand. The perfect texture for Scotch eggs is firm but slightly soft boiled with creamy yolks and tender egg whites. I make all of my hard boiled eggs in the instant pot because its way too easy, but you can also boil them.

Alternatively, you could make hard boiled eggs on the stovetop in boiling water or by baking the eggs in the oven for 25 minutes at 350 (I swear this works too!)

🐖Sausage For Scotch Eggs

The next step is to take ground sausage and form it into thin patties to be wrapped around the egg. For this you could purchase pre-made breakfast sausage made of pork or beef or make your own breakfast sausage. For a lighter version, use ground turkey sausage instead.

🍞Scotch Egg Breading

Once your cooked egg is wrapped in sausage, you then coat it in breading to make sure it has a crispy crust when it’s cooked. There are a few breading options.

• Breadcrumbs – traditional bread crumbs or panko can be used
• Almond Flour – coat your scotch egg in almond flour for a Whole30 or Paleo scotch egg that is also gluten free!
• Pork Rind Crumbs – this is simply pork rinds that are crushed into a course meal, this can be done in the food processor or you can purchase them pre-made if you choose to coat them in pork rind crumbs, these scotch eggs will be keto diet friendly and carnivore diet friendly
• Bacon wrapped – add a layer of smoky flavor, crunchy texture, and even more protein by wrapping each egg in bacon instead of using breading.

📖How To Air Fry Scotch Eggs

1️⃣ Make sausage patties: Form 1 pound of ground sausage into 6 thin patties that are large enough to wrap around a cooked egg.

2️⃣ Wrap the egg: Place the cooked egg in the middle and wrap sausage patty around it closing any gaps and gently shaping it like you would a meatball.

3️⃣ Dip in breading: Dip the sausage wrapped egg in breading of choice. This recipe uses crushed pork rinds to keep it keto and carnivore friendly but you can also use breadcrumbs or almond flour.

4️⃣ Air fry scotch eggs: Place sausage wrapped eggs in air fryer basket in a single layer making sure there is space between them. Cook at 400 degrees for 15 minutes flipping halfway through.

5️⃣Serve and enjoy: Once cooked, remove with tongs and let them sit for 5 minutes. Cut through the center with a serrated knife lengthwise and serve while hot.

⏲️How long to air fry scotch eggs depends on how thick your sausage is around the egg along with your individual air fryer. 15 minutes is a great starting point but check around the 10 or 12 minute mark to see if your sausage is too cooked or undercooked and adjust the time as needed.

🧊Storing & Reheating

Storage instructions: After cooling, store the Scotch eggs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, individually wrap them and freeze in a freezer bag for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. Note that the texture may be a bit rubbery when thawed.

Reheating in air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the Scotch eggs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway, until heated through and crispy.