Air Fryer Beef Koftas

Spiced minced beef on skewers, charred outside and juicy through.

Prep Time20 mins
Air Fry12 mins
Temp190°C / 375°F
Yield8 koftas
The Air Fryer Cookbook, 100 recipes cover Loved this recipe? The Air Fryer Cookbook, 100 recipes Every ingredient in cups and grams, with a photo for every recipe. 206 pages, instant PDF. Get it $3+ →

Before You Start

Koftas fall off the skewer for one reason: the mince wasn't worked enough. Mixing it hard for a couple of minutes develops the protein and turns it tacky, and tacky mince grips. Fifteen percent fat mince is the other half of the answer.

Instructions

0 of 6 done

  1. Grate the onion and squeeze it dry in a towel. Wet onion is why koftas steam and slump instead of browning.

  2. Mix the beef, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, parsley and all the spices, then knead it hard for 2 minutes until it feels sticky and holds together in one mass.

  3. Shape into 8 sausages around flat metal or soaked wooden skewers, squeezing firmly along the length. Chill for 30 minutes so they set.

  4. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C / 375°F for 3 minutes and lay the koftas in with space between them.

  5. Air fry for 6 minutes, turn, then another 5 to 6 minutes until browned all over and cooked through at 70°C.

  6. Rest 3 minutes and serve with the yogurt, some lemon and warm flatbread.

Tap a step to check it off. Your place is saved on this device.

♨️ Air fryer notes

  • Cook at 190°C / 375°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
  • Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
  • Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.

💡 Cook's tips

  • Flat skewers stop the meat spinning when you turn them. On round ones the whole kofta rotates and only one side ever browns.
  • Lean mince below 10% fat makes dry, crumbly koftas. The fat is what carries the spice.

🔀 Make it your own

  • Use lamb instead of beef, which is more traditional, and add a teaspoon of dried mint.
  • Skip the skewers and shape them into patties for kofta burgers.

📦 Storing & reheating

Refrigerate for 3 days or freeze raw, shaped, for 3 months. Reheat at 170°C for 5 minutes, or cook from frozen with 5 extra minutes.

❓ Frequently asked

Why do my koftas fall apart in the air fryer?

Under-mixed meat, wet onion, or skipping the chill. Knead until the mixture is sticky, squeeze the onion dry, and rest the shaped koftas in the fridge first.

How many grams is a cup of breadcrumbs?

About 108 g per US cup for dried crumbs, so the ⅓ cup here is roughly 36 g. Fresh crumbs weigh about half that.

Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.

More air fryer recipes

Crispy Chilli Beef Beef Crispy Chilli Beef Takeaway-style crispy beef strips in a sticky sweet-and-sour sauce. Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites Beef Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites Seared, juicy steak cubes tossed in garlic butter. Air Fryer Italian Meatballs Beef Air Fryer Italian Meatballs Juicy herby meatballs, browned in the air fryer.
🛒 Our air fryer picks

Kit that makes this foolproof

A few inexpensive bits that get you crispier results with less mess.

A roomy air fryer A roomy air fryer A larger basket means fewer batches and crispier results. Available at Amazon Check price → Perforated liners Perforated liners Less sticking and mess, without blocking the airflow. Available at Amazon Check price → Silicone tongs Silicone tongs Turn and lift without scratching the non-stick basket. Available at Amazon Check price →

As an Amazon Associate, GramCups earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Play GramCups Café 🎮