These air fryer savoury tarts are like a Christmas flavour explosion in your mouth! Flaky puff pastry, sausage mixed with hearty stuffing, wrapped in smoky bacon and baked to perfection in your air-fryer. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? The best part is that you can whip these up in your own kitchen in just minutes. Creating a taste sensation that will have your mouth watering and your taste buds singing with holiday cheer. This was a idea I had for a Christmas Day starter, and it was delicious. It turned out to be a fantastic way to use up leftovers from the holiday feast.
These air-fryer tarts would also make incredible canapés for any holiday gathering. Just make them a little smaller, as they are quite filling and perfect for serving as finger foods. If you’re anything like us, then Boxing Day and beyond are all about “picky” foods and making the most of leftovers so nothing goes to waste. If you’re not planning to serve these tarts as a Christmas starter, I would highly recommend making a batch using leftover ingredients. They’d be a fantastic addition to your Boxing Day buffet, light and delicious, and so easy to customize based on what leftovers you have on hand.
The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. You can make these tarts as big or small as you like, depending on the silicone moulds you have and the amount of leftovers to work with. I loved adding them to our Christmas Day meal – they brought something a little different to the table (no pun intended!) and were a real crowd-pleaser. These tarts will definitely make an appearance again in holiday celebrations!
PREP 10 minutes
COOK 10 minutes
MAKES 4 tarts
KIT you will need an air fryer and 4 silicone moulds.
Ingredients for air fryer savoury tarts
1/2 a pack of puff pastry
1 large sausage
1 egg, beaten
1/2 a pack of stuffing
4 rashers of smoky bacon
Cranberry sauce to serve
Method
To start, I prepared my stuffing the day before, giving it plenty of time for the flavours to develop overnight. I ended up with some leftover, so I decided to make good use of it. I removed the skins from a couple of sausages and mixed the sausage meat into the stuffing, creating a rich and savoury filling. To enhance the flavour, I added a little extra seasoning – just a pinch of salt, some cracked black pepper, and a touch of dried sage for that classic stuffing aroma.
Next, I rolled out a sheet of ready-made puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Rather than aiming for perfect shapes, I cut the pastry into rough circles – I love the rustic, rugged look it gives the finished product. I then lined my silicone muffin moulds with the pastry discs, gently pressing them in. Around the inner edges, I wrapped strips of smoky bacon, letting them hug the sides of the moulds.
I spooned in generous portions of my sausage and stuffing mix into each tart, packing them well to get a nice hearty bite. Then I brushed the exposed pastry with a little beaten egg to help it go golden and crisp during baking.
Into the air fryer they went at 185°C for around 10 minutes. I recommend checking them halfway through cooking, as times can vary depending on your air fryer model and size. You’re looking for golden pastry and sizzling bacon.
Once done, I let them cool for a couple of minutes before serving. Each savoury tart was rich, flaky, and full of flavour. I finished them off with a dollop of cranberry sauce on the side – the sweetness paired beautifully with the savoury filling. A perfect bite-sized treat for any occasion!
Tips for Air fryer Savoury Tarts
1. Choose the right pastry
Use ready-rolled puff pastry or shortcrust for ease and consistency. Puff pastry gives a golden, flaky finish, while shortcrust offers a firmer, more rustic base. Let it thaw fully if frozen before handling.
2. Pre-cut to fit
Make sure your tart base fits the air fryer basket. Either cut the pastry into smaller rounds or squares, or use mini tart tins that fit comfortably with room for airflow.
3. Dock the base
Before adding fillings, prick the pastry with a fork to prevent puffing in the centre. You can also weigh it down with a bit of parchment and beans for the first few minutes if blind baking.
4. Pre-cook wet ingredients
Sauté mushrooms, onions, or any vegetables with high water content before adding them to your tart. This helps avoid a soggy base and enhances flavour.
5. Keep fillings balanced
Avoid overloading the tart but aim for a thin, even layer of ingredients. Great combos include goat’s cheese and beetroot, caramelised onion and cheddar, or spinach and feta.
6. Use beaten egg or cream
Pour a little whisked egg or cream mixture over the filling to help bind everything together and give a lovely set finish.
7. Cook low and slow-ish
Set your air fryer to 160°C–170°C (320°F–340°F) and cook for 10–15 minutes, checking often. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
8. Cool before serving
Let your tart rest for 5 minutes before slicing to allow it to set and avoid a runny middle.
Crispy, golden and endlessly versatile, these air fryer savoury tarts are a winner every time!
Similar recipes
So if you love my simple air fryer savoury tarts then you might also like these air fryer goats cheese tarts, my air fried sausage burgers or the air fryer asparagus wraps recipe. And if you’re really in the festive spirit why not try my slow cooker mulled wine recipe!
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