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We all have been making Meatloves for festivities and celebrations for ages! Be it our ovens or stovetop skillets, they get us a nicely done meatloaf. But ever since I made the meatloaf in an air fryer, I have forgotten all other methods. That crisp, golden exterior and soft inside simply melt away in the mouth, with all the delicious flavors and saucy texture. And this saves time too.
Ingredients Required
You will need:
- Minced Meat
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomato paste or Tomato ketchup
- Bread crumbs
- Milk
- Egg
- Dried herbs
- Salt and black pepper
Ingredient Notes
Minced Meat: The meatloaves are most commonly made out of ground lean beef. But you can choose your choice of meat such as ground lamb, minced chicken, or turkey as well.
Onion: Onion conceals the typical odor of meat and gives its own strong and bold aroma and flavor to the meatloaf. Use white onion for the perfect taste.
Garlic: Garlic’s flavor combines well with that of meat and onions. Using fresh garlic is the best option, but if you do not have it, you can opt for garlic powder as well.
Tomato paste: Tomato paste acts as a binder to keep the ingredients together. It also lends a tangy flavor and makes the inner texture soft and saucy. Alternatively, you can use tomato ketchup as well.
Soy Sauce: Soy sauce introduces a nice, mild to moderate flavor and adds to the soft inside texture. You can skip it if you don’t have it. If you have dark soy sauce, use it in less amount than suggested.
Bread crumbs: Bread crumbs make the exterior side of the meatloaf crisp and brown. Commercially available breadcrumbs are best, but if you make them at home, make sure to dry the bread before making crumbs. If you want to make your recipe gluten-free, look for gluten-free crumbs in the market.
Milk: Milk is soaked up by the breadcrumbs and gives a nice texture to the meatloaf. It also increases the volume and makes the loaf soft from the inside. You can use almond milk or coconut milk as lactose-free alternatives.
Eggs: Eggs help in the browning of the meatloaf and make the outer side crusty.
Dried herbs: Herbs like dried basil and oregano are flavor-creating agents. You can add these herbs as per your taste and preference. Adding dried rosemary and thyme also creates a beautiful flavor and aroma.
Salt and black pepper: Use kosher salt and black pepper as per your taste. To increase the spice level of the meatloaf, try adding red chili flakes, chopped green chilies, or red chili powder as well.
How to make Air Fryer Meatloaf?
1: Preparing the breadcrumb mixture
In a mixing bowl, add the bread crumbs and mix milk with them.
Set aside the mixture for a while until the breadcrumbs absorb the milk.
2: Making the mince mixture
When the breadcrumbs have absorbed the milk, add finely chopped onions, chopped garlic, tomato sauce, so sauce, dried herbs, salt, and black pepper to the same bowl.
Mix these ingredients thoroughly.
Add the minced meat to this mixture and mix well until all the ingredients get thoroughly incorporated into the mince.
Allow the mixture to rest in a refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
3: Air frying the meat loaves
Preheat the air fryer to 360F.
Place a silicone mold in the air fryer basket.
Divide the meat mixture into two portions and form equal-sized meat loaves.
Set them in the air fryer basket. If you have a smaller air fryer, do not overcrowd the basket. Air fry the meat loaves in separate batches.
Air fry the meat loaves for at least 30 minutes or until a crisp, golden crust is achieved.
You can also check for doneness by checking the inner temperature with a kitchen thermometer. It should be 70 to 75C.
Once they are ready, remove them from the serving platter and garnish with chopped cilantro or fresh basil.
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 pound minced meat
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste or tomato ketchup
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon dried herbs such as oregano or thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine minced meat, diced onion, minced garlic, tomato paste or ketchup, bread crumbs, milk, egg, dried herbs, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Divide the mixture into 2 portions and shape them into meat loaves.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Place the mini meat loaves in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching each other.
- Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Pierce a loaf with a fork; it should come out clean. The exterior should be golden brown.
- Carefully remove the meatloaves from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Serve with your favorite sauce or gravy. Enjoy these delicious and easy air fryer meatloaves!
