We’ve all been there, its 3pm and the meat for dinner is still in the freezer. Enter the air fryer and a few simple steps, you can defrost mince in just minutes!
This recipe for air fryer defrosted mince is the perfect way to quickly prepare ground beef for spaghetti or another pasta dish. Ready to assemble in just 5 minutes, this meal is quick, easy and perfect for those busy nights.
In this recipe, I use mince for spaghetti because that’s what I was cooking that evening – So when I took it out it was about 80% cooked. If you need it fully cooked for example for burritos leave it in for an extra 3-4 minutes.
Ingredients
1 lb (454g) ground beef
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Place frozen ground beef in the air fryer basket and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Set the temperature to 350°F (177°C) and timer for 12 minutes. Make sure to shake or stir the mince halfway through cooking.
Once cooked, stir in garlic powder, salt and pepper.
If youre making sauce for spaghetti, add the defrosted mince to a skillet with olive oil and sauté until the beef is cooked through. Add some canned tomatoes, herbs of your choice (oregano, basil) and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Here is a recipe for bolognese sauce if you need specific instructions for the sauce:
-Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet.
-Add ½ cup of chopped onion, ½ teaspoon minced garlic and cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
-Stir in the defrosted mince and cook for 3-4 minutes or until browned.
-Pour in a can of crushed tomatoes with juice, one teaspoon of dried oregano and one bay leaf. Simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened.
-Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar before serving over your favorite pasta.
Recipe Tips
-If the mince is still frozen, add 2 minutes to cooking time or until it’s thoroughly defrosted.
-To make a delicious taco filling, add ½ cup of tomato salsa and ¼ cup of diced jalapeños to the mince when cooking.
-For an extra flavourful sauce, stir in fresh basil leaves at the end of cooking.
-You can also use this recipe with ground turkey or chicken mince. Just make sure to adjust cooking times accordingly!
FAQs
Air fryer defrosted mince is versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes including spaghetti, tacos, burritos and more! You can also use it as a protein-packed meal prep option for easy lunches or dinners.
The easiest way to check if your mince is fully cooked is to cut into one of the pieces. If the meat is still pink, it needs more time in the air fryer. If there are no traces of pink, then it’s ready to go! Make sure also to check for any large pieces that may need more cooking time.
Leftover mince can be stored in an airtight container or zip-lock bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply place it back into the air fryer basket and heat until warmed through. Alternatively, you can also freeze the defrosted mince in a freezer bag for up to three months. Be sure to let it completely cool before freezing!
Yes – you can defrost mince on the stovetop by heating it in a pan over medium heat until it’s no longer frozen – just make sure that you stir it often so it cooks evenly throughout!
Serve your air fryer defrosted mince with any type of spaghetti sauce and noodles – yum! You can also serve it with tacos, burritos, or over a bed of lettuce as a salad. Enjoy your meal!
We hope you enjoyed this air fryer defrosted mince recipe! If you have any other questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we are always here to help! Happy cooking! 🙂
Air Fryer Defrosted Mince (for Spaghetti)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Place frozen ground beef in the air fryer basket and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Set the temperature to 350°F (177°C) and timer for 12 minutes. Make sure to shake or stir the mince halfway through cooking.
- Once cooked, stir in garlic powder, salt and pepper.
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