This air fryer scotch egg recipe is made with whole eggs wrapped in ground pork and spices, then breaded and air fried. They have a crispy coating on the outside and a deliciously cooked egg on the inside.
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Air frying scotch eggs are slightly healthier than deep frying because there is less oil saturation in the breadcrumbs. However, oil or fat is still needed to crisp the breadcrumbs.
Some recipes use an Instant Pot or a boiling pot of water as part of their air fryer scotch egg recipes, but this recipe calls for only an air fryer. The eggs are cooked over easy first, then carefully shelled, wrapped in a pork sausage layer, dipped in beaten egg, flour, panko bread crumbs, and placed back in the air fryer basket to air fry.
The idea is to still have a runny egg in the center at the end, but it can be difficult to shell the egg when it’s partially cooked at the beginning. If you have a hard-boiled egg, to begin with, the egg will be overcooked by the end and you’ll have a hard yolk.
What eggs should I use?
Older eggs are always better for shelling and I highly recommend using ones that are at least 1-2 weeks out from the time you bought them in the grocery store.
Eggs can last a lot longer than a lot of us realize, and we actually keep our fresh chicken eggs from our hen house at room temperature for several days before washing and refrigerating them for up to 6 weeks.
In many cultures, eggs are kept at room temperature until being cooked. They can do so by not washing off the thin membrane that is on the outer shell of a chicken egg that protects it from bacteria. It’s called a bloom or cuticle. It’s added to the shell just before the hen lays the egg and we often don’t even see this layer.
In US grocery stores, we already have them washed before packaged and hitting the shelves so they do need to be kept refrigerated.
Scotch Egg Origin
Scotch eggs are known to be a heartier picnic item or a popular item served in pubs that can be served hot or cold. According to Britannica, the scotch egg origin is not Scottish. They were actually created at a department store in London called Fortnum & Mason. They made them for wealthier customers that could take them on their travels.
Actually, scotching is a term used to describe minced meat, much like the ground meat used in this recipe.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Scotch Eggs
- Large Eggs
- Ground Pork or Pork Sausage
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Regular Breadcrumbs or Panko Breadcrumbs
- Olive Oil
- All-Purpose Flour
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
- Thyme
- Salt
- Black Pepper
How to Make Air Fried Scotch Eggs
- Allow 4 eggs to get to room temperature. Cold eggs will crack as they cook.
- Then, place the 4 eggs into the air fryer basket and cook at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. Once done, place eggs in an ice-cold water bath for 5 minutes. Carefully remove shells from eggs, they may be squishy and break easily. The egg whites should be set, but the inside is still soft because we’ll cook them more later.
- In a mixing bowl, combine together ground pork and Worcestershire sauce. Divide ground pork into 4 equal parts for each of the eggs, about ½ cup each. Either shape the pork into a thin patty in your hands or lay each portion in between two layers of plastic wrap and use a rolling pin to flatten the ground pork into a patty.
- Next, place cooked egg in the center of each pork patty. Wrap each egg in ground pork so that no egg is visible. It’s important to evenly distribute the pork around the egg so that it cooks evenly.
- Combine flour and all seasonings in a shallow dish. In a small bowl, scramble the remaining 2 eggs for the egg wash.
- In a microwave-safe dish combine 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and breadcrumbs. Microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until golden brown.
- Coat each pork wrapped egg in flour, egg mixture, and then panko bread crumbs. Shake off any excess between coatings.
- Spray oil into the air fryer basket and place each scotch egg into the basket. Cook scotch eggs at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway. If breadcrumbs look dry, spray with additional cooking spray.
- Slice in half to serve.
What to Serve with Scotch Eggs
We’ve always enjoyed some form of potato side with ours. Crispy breakfast potatoes, mashed potatoes, or potato pancakes are all favorites. Other side options would be easy fruit salad or spiced hot fruit bake to give a sweeter option.
For a dipping sauce, I recommend dijon mustard for a slightly spicier taste and honey mustard if you prefer sweeter.
Making Ahead
Make these scotch eggs ahead by completing all steps up to breading them. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours prior to cooking them.
Can You Freeze Scotch Eggs
I don’t recommend freezing scotch eggs. The egg whites become tough and inedible after being frozen and the quality of taste is poor.
How to Reheat Scotch Eggs
To reheat scotch eggs, set your air fryer temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3-5 minutes.
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Air Fryer Scotch Eggs
Ingredients
- 6 Large Eggs
- 1 pound Ground Pork or Pork Sausage
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs or Panko
- 2 tablespoon Cooking Oil
- ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Thyme
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Allow 4 of the eggs to reach room temperature. This prevents cracking as they cook.
- Add the 4 eggs to the air fryer basket and cook at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. Once done, place eggs in an ice-water bath for 5 minutes. Carefully remove shells from eggs, they may be squishy and break easy. The egg whites should be set, but the inside still soft because we'll cook them more later.
- Mix together ground pork and Worcestershire sauce. Divide ground pork into 4 equal parts, about ½ cup each. Either shape the pork into a patty in your hands or lay each in between two layers of plastic wrap and use a rolling pin to flatten the ground pork into a patty.
- Place cooked egg in the center of each pork patty. Wrap each egg in ground pork so that no egg is visible. It's important to evenly distribute the pork around the egg so that it cooks evenly.
- In a shallow dish, combine flour and all seasonings. Scramble the remaining 2 eggs in another bowl. In a microwave-safe dish combine 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and breadcrumbs. Microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until golden brown.
- Coat each pork wrapped egg in flour, egg wash, and then panko breadcrumbs. Shake off any excess between coatings.
- Spray oil into the air fryer basket and place each scotch egg into the basket. Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway. If breadcrumbs look dry, spray with additional oil.
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