Name: Make these easy air-fryer sausage rolls for lunchbox fillers
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 70 min

Have hungry kids to feed? Or looking for an easy recipe that reminds you of those humble Aussie bakeries? These super-easy air-fryer sausage rolls have the perfect amount of crunch on the outside, thanks to a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds, and are filled with sausage meat and a mix of fragrant dried herbs.

The best part? You don’t even have to turn on your oven!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large brown onion, grated

1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs

3 slices white bread, crusts removed, chopped

2 tablespoons milk

1kg sausage mince

2 free-range eggs, beaten, plus 1 egg extra for glazing

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 x 25cm square sheets frozen butter puff pastry, partially thawed (see tip)

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional

Cooking oil spray

Tomato sauce, to serve

Method

Step 1

Heat oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 4 minutes, stirring often, until onion is soft but not coloured. Remove from heat. Stir in mixed herbs. Leave to cool.

Step 2

Place bread in a large mixing bowl, then pour in the milk. Leave to soak for 5 minutes. Use your fingers to crumble the bread into small crumbs. Add onion mixture, sausage mince and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Using clean hands, mix until well combined. Divide into six equal portions. Lightly beat extra egg until well combined.

Step 3

Place a pastry sheet on a clean surface. Arrange one portion of filling in a 4.5cm-thick sausage shape along the edge of the pastry closest to you. Brush the rest of the pastry sheet with egg. Roll over to enclose filling (you’ll have about 8cm of excess pastry). Trim excess pastry (see tip). Press roll to secure. Place sausage rolls onto a tray lined with baking paper and chill in the fridge or freezer. Repeat with the remaining sausage mixture and pastry.

Step 4

Brush top of rolls with beaten egg, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cut each long roll into three crossways.

Step 5

Preheat air fryer for 3 minutes on 180°C. Spray basket with oil spray. Air-fry sausage rolls, in batches, seam side down, for 16–18 minutes, until golden and cooked. You can also bake these sausage rolls in a 220°C/200°C fan-forced oven for 30–35 minutes. Serve with tomato sauce.

Mini air fryer sausage rolls — *(Credit: Photography: Con Poulos | Styling: Lucy Busuttil)*

Cook’s tips

No air fryer? You can bake these sausage rolls in a 220°C/200°C fan-forced oven for 30–35 minutes.
Sausage rolls can be frozen at the end of step 4.
Excess pastry can be turned into sweet palmiers. Sprinkle the pantry strips with raw sugar. Scroll up the pastry from each end so the edges meet in the centre. Cut into 1cm thick pieces. Air–fry in a well-greased basket at 180°C for 8–10 minutes.

Senior food editor Sarah Murphy Senior food editor

Sarah Murphy is a Senior Food Editor who has worked across leading Australian food magazines since 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Advertising and Public Relations) and has contributed to magazines including delicious., The Australian Women’s Weekly Food, Super Food Ideas and Woman’s Day. Sarah has also worked across multiple cookbooks for delicious. magazine and The Australian Women’s Weekly Cookbooks. Currently, Sarah is the Senior Food Editor for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine and oversees all food content, creating and developing achievable recipes for readers that still excite and impress.