Scotch Eggs - crisp, savory sausage encasing creamy soft-boiled eggs - are quintessential British pub faire; perfect for brunching, munching, and picnicking. Now you can easily make perfect Scotch Eggs at home in your air fryer!
What is a Scotch Egg?
In its most basic form, a Scotch egg is a soft or hard-boiled egg wrapped in ground sausage, then coated with bread crumbs and baked or deep fried.
Scotch eggs have a long history in London and beyond as a tidy, handheld snack item; perfect for pocketing and picnicking.
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The origin of Scotch Eggs is as foggy as a cold morning on Loch Ness, but that’s about as close to Scotland as they come.
While it is generally agreed that Scotch Eggs originated in London, theories - dating back as early as mid-18th century - abound as to the actual genesis of these savory, protein-rich balls-o-breakfast. Claims have been linked to everything from Indian koftas to Scots Guards stationed at London's Wellington Barracks. One particularly distressing account, from the Culinary Delights of Yorkshire, alleges they are a Yorkshire creation and were originally wrapped in fish paste rather than sausage meat. (Fish paste. That's a hard No for me.)
Today in the UK, you can buy Scotch eggs everywhere from pubs to grocery stores to gas stations. In the US, Scotch eggs are known more as a Sunday brunch item and Renaissance faire staple. They can be found on British-style pub menus as well, usually offered with dipping sauces on the side.
Until recently, for those who eschew deep-frying at home, Scotch eggs have been reserved for once in a blue moon. However, with the dawn of air-frying, making them at home has never been easier.
How to Boil a Perfect Egg for Scotch Eggs
Personal preference dictates how long to boil your eggs. Mr B and I typically eat Scotch eggs for breakfast (or brunch) with a knife and fork, and prefer our eggs creamy and runny: a 6-minute egg is usually perfect for us. Simply increase your boiling time if you prefer a more solid center.
How to make a Perfect 6-Minute Egg
- Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. (Do not remove your eggs from the refrigerator until your water has boiled.)
- Remove eggs from refrigerator and use a slotted spoon to carefully place them into boiling water. Do not crowd eggs in pan.
- Reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer for EXACTLY 6 minutes. While eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath for the eggs in a large bowl.
- After 6 minutes, use the slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the boiling water and immediately submerge them in the prepared ice bath for 10 minutes to halt the cooking process.
Now you're ready to cover the your eggs with sausage!
How Egg-Boiling Time Affects Scotch Eggs
Results of the eggy centers differ, depending upon how long you boil the eggs. A 6-minute Scotch egg is perfect for eating on a plate with a knife and fork. However, if you plan to pack your Scotch Egg for picnicking and eat it by hand (also perfectly acceptable!) you may want to increase the boiling time to somewhere between seven and nine minutes to avoid unwanted drips.
The Trickiest Step: How to Successfully Cover a Wobbly Soft-Boiled Egg with Sausage
Be sure to watch the demonstration in our Scotch Egg Video at the bottom of the recipe card to learn a simple technique for doing this step!
Covering soft, wobbly boiled eggs with sausage can be challenging, but it's easier if you know a few simple tricks.
First, divide the sausage into 6 equal portions, each weighing 2⅓ ounces [66 grams].
I encourage you to use a kitchen scale for this step: the cooking times for this recipe are calculated based on using a specific type and amount of sausage. If you use too much or too little, or use a sausage with a different fat content, your cooking times may be different.
Roll each portion into a ball, and place in refrigerator.
TIP: Slightly wetting your hands before forming the balls will keep the sausage from sticking as much. You want damp hands, but not so wet that they are dripping.
GENTLY peel the prepared soft-boiled eggs. Six-minute eggs require a delicate hand; unlike hard-boiled eggs, the yolk inside is too soft to offer any resistance against the white while being peeled, so they will break if you are too rough taking off the shell.
Once the eggs are peeled, rinse each one and use a paper towel to carefully pat it dry. (Sausage sticks much more easily to a dry egg than it does a slippery, wet one.) When eggs are dried, set aside.
The eggs I used here were fresher than I had hoped: older eggs are easier to peel. When I make deviled eggs, gnarly eggs are a real concern; however, I don't really worry about how the eggs look when making Scotch Eggs, because any rough spots will be covered up with sausage.
To cover an egg with sausage, start with one prepared egg and one cold sausage ball. (Watch Video below!)
- Place meatball in the center of a parchment square. Gently pat the meatball down until you have an oval that is about a ¼-inch thick, and roughly 3 eggs long and 2 eggs wide.
- Place the parchment square in your palm. Gently lay a cold, dry, soft-boiled egg on top of the sausage oval, with the ends of the egg perpendicular to the long sides of the oval.
- Carefully pull the sausage away from the parchment as you wrap it around the egg. Continue until the sausage has completely released from the parchment and the egg is covered with sausage. I do this by folding the two sides into the middle, and them pressing the meat out to the sides. Don't be too concerned about the oval being perfect; it's just a starting point.
- Pinch off the thick sausage points that will form at each end as the oval is sealed. Check the egg carefully for areas where the sausage may be too thin or too thick. Even them out using the sausage you pinched from the ends.
- When the sausage appears to be distributed uniformly around the egg, gently pass the egg carefully from one hand to the other a couple of times, allowing the warmth of your palms to smooth the outside surface a bit and the gentle pressure to even out any bumps or rough spots on the surface.
Scotch Eggs Breading
You will need three small bowls.
Bowl 1: Wondra & garlic powder. (Stir to combine.)
Bowl 2: Beaten egg.
Bowl 3: Panko crumbs, brown sugar, and chili powder.
Roll each sausage-covered egg in flour mixture [Bowl 1] and shake off excess, then dip in the beaten egg [Bowl 2], and finally roll in the Panko crumbs [Bowl 3].
When I finish rolling the eggs in the last bowl, I like to pass it carefully from one hand to the other a couple of times, to help form and structure the outside crust a bit; much like you would form a meatball, but exerting far less external pressure.
Place breaded eggs on a plate until you have enough done for one batch. (2-6 depending on the size of your air-fryer.).
Air Frying
Preheat air fryer at 380°F [193°C] for 10 minutes.
Set the scotch eggs on the bottom of your air fryer basket. Be sure to leave generous space around each one for air to circulate.
Air-fry eggs for 12 minutes, turning halfway through for more even browning.
See NOTES for alternate cooking times.
Scotch Egg Cooking Times (Soft-cooked Center)
In all cases, follow instructions for 6-minute soft-boiled eggs, as shown above.
These cooking times are based on using a specific size egg, and type and amount of pork sausage. If you change any of these factors, you may need to adjust your cooking times.
Once eggs are boiled and have had their 10-minute ice bath, you may [A] wrap and bread the scotch eggs immediately, [B] prepare them to be cooked up to 24 hours later, or [C] refrigerate the prepared eggs and wrap, bread, and fry them up to three days later.
A. For Eggs completely prepped right before Air-Frying [No Refrigeration], cook 12 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking.
B. For Eggs completely prepped and then refrigerated up to 24 hours before Air-Frying , cook 13 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking.
Note that prepping ahead of time will result in a slight change in the egg white's color (it will turn a bit gray), but has no affect on flavor or texture.
C. For Eggs boiled and refrigerated in shell, then wrapped and breaded right before air-frying] , cook 13 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking.
Always allow Scotch Eggs to stand for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Serve Scotch Eggs as is, or with your favorite dipping sauce (i.e., Whole Grain Mustard, Sriracha-Mayo, or Honey-Mustard Sauce, etc.).
Scotch Egg Ingredient Notes
Eggs
This recipe is based on using USDA large eggs [EU size M]. If you use different size eggs, the boiling and cooking times may need to be adjusted.
Jimmy Dean Sausage
The cooking times are based on using one pound of Jimmy Dean regular pork sausage. If you use more or less, or use a sausage with a different fat content, cooking times and/or temperatures may vary.
Wondra
Wondra is finely ground flour that has been pre-cooked and dried. Ultra-light, Wondra is lower in protein and gluten than all-purpose flour, which all translates into a light and crispy crust for fried foods.
You can use all-purpose flour in place of the Wondra in this recipe, but your results may not be as crispy.
Panko Breadcrumbs
The texture of panko makes it especially suited for fried food because it absorbs less oil than regular breadcrumbs, keeping food more crisp and crunchy. Panko crumbs brown up evenly and consistently, even in an air-fryer!
Perfect Soft-Boiled Scotch Eggs (Air Fryer Recipe)
Equipment
- 3 Small Bowls
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 1 pound Jimmy Dean Regular Pork Sausage or your favorite ground breakfast sausage; SEE INGREDIENT NOTES
Seasoned Flour [Bowl 1]
- ¼ cup Wondra
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Beaten Egg [Bowl 2]
- 1 large egg beaten
Breading Mix [Bowl 3]
- 1 cup Panko crumbs
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
How to Make 6-Minute Soft-Boiled Eggs
- Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove cold eggs from refrigerator and use a slotted spoon to carefully place them into boiling water. Do not crowd eggs in pan. Reduce heat and cover pan. Simmer for EXACTLY 6 minutes.
- While eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath for the eggs in a large bowl. After 6 minutes, use the slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the boiling water.Immediately submerge cooked eggs in the prepared ice bath for 10 minutes. The purpose of this step is to halt the cooking process; vital to achieving creamy, runny Scotch Egg centers.
How to Successfully Apply the Sausage Cover
- Divide the sausage into 6 equal portions, each weighing 2⅓ ounces [66 grams]. I strongly suggest using a kitchen scale for this step: the cooking times are based on using a specific type and amount of sausage. If you use too much or too little, or use a sausage with a different fat content, your cooking times may be different. Roll each portion into a ball and place in refrigerator.
- GENTLY peel the prepared soft-boiled eggs. Patience is rewarded in the recipe. Six-minute eggs require a delicate hand; unlike hard-boiled eggs, the yolk inside is too soft to offer any resistance against the white while being peeled, so they will break if you are too rough taking off the shell. Rinse each egg, and then use a paper towel to carefully pat it dry. Set aside.
- Start with a COLD sausage ball, straight from the fridge. Place meatball in the center of an 8x8 parchment square. Gently pat the meatball down until you have an oval that is about a ¼-inch thick, and roughly 3 eggs long and 2 eggs wide.
- Place the parchment square in your palm. Gently lay a cold, dry, soft-boiled egg on top of the sausage oval, with the ends of the egg perpendicular to the long sides of the oval. Gently pull the sausage away from the parchment as you wrap it around the egg.Continue until the sausage has completely released from the parchment and the egg is covered with sausage. Removed the thick sausage points at each end. Check the egg carefully for areas that might be too thin or too thick, and use the excess removed from the points to seal the edges and even out any thin spots.
- When the sausage appears to be distributed uniformly around the egg, gently pass the egg carefully from one hand to the other a couple of times, allowing the warmth of your palms to smooth the outside surface a bit and the gentle pressure to even out any bumps or rough spots on the surface. If the sausage is too sticky, wet your hands with cold water and then gently dry them. You don't want to use "wet" hands, but slightly damp hands will discourage the sausage from sticking to them.
Scotch Egg Breading
- You will need three small bowls.Bowl 1: Wondra & garlic powder. (Stir to combine.)Bowl 2: Beaten egg.Bowl 3: Panko crumbs, brown sugar, and chili powder.
- Roll each sausage-covered egg in flour mixture [Bowl 1] and shake off excess, then dip in the beaten egg [Bowl 2], and finally roll in the Panko crumbs [Bowl 3].When I finish rolling the eggs in the last bowl, I like to pass it carefully from one hand to the other a couple of times, to help form and structure the outside crust a bit; much like you would form a meatball, but exerting far less external pressure. Place breaded eggs on a plate until you have enough done for one batch. (2-6 depending on the size of your air-fryer.).
Air Frying
- Preheat air fryer at 380° for 10 minutes. Set the scotch eggs on the bottom of your air fryer basket. Be sure to leave generous space around each one for air to circulate.
- Air-fry eggs for 12 minutes, turning halfway through for more even browning. See NOTES for alternate cooking times.
- Serve alone, or with your favorite dipping sauce (i.e., Whole Grain Mustard, Sriracha-Mayo, or Honey-Mustard Sauce, etc.).
Video
Notes
Scotch Egg Cooking Times (Soft-cooked Center):
In all cases, follow instructions for 6-minute soft-boiled eggs, as shown above. The cooking times listed here are based on using a specific size egg, and type and amount of pork sausage. If you change any of these factors, you may need to adjust your cooking times. Once eggs are boiled and have had their 10-minute ice bath, you may [A] wrap and bread the scotch eggs immediately, [B] prepare them to be cooked up to 24 hours later, or [C] refrigerate the prepared eggs and wrap, bread, and fry them up to three days later. A. For Eggs completely prepped right before Air-Frying [No Refrigeration], cook 12 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking. B. For Eggs completely prepped and then refrigerated up to 24 hours before Air-Frying , cook 13 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking. Note that prepping ahead of time will result in a slight change in the egg white's color (it will turn a bit gray), but has no affect on flavor or texture. C. For Eggs boiled and refrigerated in shell, then wrapped and breaded right before air-frying] , cook 13 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking. Always allow Scotch Eggs to stand for 3-5 minutes before serving.Nutrition
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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Cassandra H says
Wow, you had instructions for all options. I plan on boiling my eggs the night before and was wondering how I’d have to change the recipe but you already figured that one out! I’ll be making for Easter morning. Hope it turns out great!
Tara says
Such amazing eggs! They look absolutely incredible with that sausage coating and the texture from the air fryer. Love all the tips too!
Renée says
I'm thrilled with how they turn out in the air-fryer, and it makes them a 10-times easier to make. (Or rather, it makes the "clean-up" a 10-times easier.)
Aimee says
Okay, I confess I've never had Scotch eggs, but this is the second time I've seen them recently and you make them look and sound so delicious. I know I've got to try them now! What a fun brunch idea.
Renée says
Making them in the air-fryer makes all the difference to me: it makes them so much easier and more "accessible."
veenaazmanov says
This is such a lovely party recipe. Simple yet so delicious and unique. Would love to check it out on a weekend.
Cathleen says
I have always wanted to try making scotch eggs, so this is perfect for me!! Making it this weekend. Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
Renée says
Making them in the air-fryer is a game-changer! Enjoy!
Mitchell says
Worked brilliantly. The tips on wrapping etc are spot on. I am British and therefore a scotch egg connoisseur (😉) and this recipe is the most user friendly I've come across so far. I put the boiled eggs in the freezer for ten minutes before removing the shell as it firms the soft eggs up.
I prefer the air fryer method the colourist quite as good as deep frying but it's just as crispy and far less greasy.
Thanks for sharing this great recipe.
Renée says
What a wonderful way to wake up - to a comment like yours! I'm so glad everything worked well for you, and I sincerely appreciate your connoisseur's endorsement, too! Thank you fo advice about putting the boiled eggs in the freezer for 10 minutes: we will definitely give it a try next time we make them.
Jessie says
Yum! I am thinking that I will be making these for brunch tomorrow.