Air Fryer Kofta Kabab is a low-carb kebab dish made with ground beef, kofta kabab spice mix, garlic, parsley, oil, and salt. It’s quick and works well for a weeknight keto/paleo-friendly dinner, since the kababs cook in about 10 minutes. Unlike traditional kofta kebabs that rely on skewers and grilling or deep frying, this version air-fries the kofta (no skewers needed) and uses a stand-mixer method to make the meat sticky so it holds its shape.
Where Do Kebabs Come From?
Every country has its own version of kababs or meatballs. And I think you can never have too much grilled, meaty, spiced goodness, so I'm all for this! More kababs, I say! All the time! Especially if they are Keto Meatballs. I have some amazing Greek Meatballs that are to die for. They make for the perfect easy Keto dinner.
In fact, I do have several kabab recipes myself. Whether it's the Indian Mint and Chile kebabs, the chicken bratwurst, the African Merguez meatballs, or heck, even the Keto Wontons, I love them all. I'm guilty of calling them all my best meatball recipe.
This Kofta Kabab recipe is based on the kofta kabab spice mix I make. So I can't really tell you what country these are from--they're just...delicious kababs. Just eat them.
The good news with these kofta kababs is that they are spiced, but not spicy. This makes them very family-friendly. My son Alex, who was a super picky eater, devours these, as have every kid I've ever fed them to.
To make these air fryer kofta kababs, you need to make the kofta kabab spice mix and, using a stand mixer, blend together the meat, spice mix, and parsley. Do not skip this step--you need the meat proteins to bind together and become sticky so that the kofta holds its shape.
WHAT KIND OF MEAT DO YOU USE?
I used 80% ground beef, but you can use any kind of meat you’d like, including ground chicken, ground lamb, or a combination of beef and lamb, which would be fabulous.
If you use lean ground meat such as venison, bison, or turkey, you may need to add a little more oil and/or cook until just done, and be very careful not to overcook.
TO SKEWER OR NOT TO SKEWER THESE AIRFRYER KOFTA KABABS?
Typically, skewers serve two functions. Primarily, the metal inside the kabab helps cook the meat on the inside a little faster. Skewers also help the cook to transport and flip meats and vegetables.
The problem is that they don’t make great metal skewers for the air fryer. If they do, they’re not flat which is the right shape for these kababs. And let’s be honest—I suck at getting ground meat to obediently lie still on a skewer.
But in an air fryer, I wasn’t sure the little bamboo skewers would do any good with respect to either cooking or flipping. So I tried it both ways. No difference in taste—and a lot easier to make without skewers.
Then again, meat eaten off a stick always tastes better, so if you want to use 8-inch bamboo skewers, feel free. But they’re not needed for this kofta kababs air fryer recipe.
WHAT TO EAT WITH THESE KETO MEATBALLS
While these taste so delicious, you may want to make a meal out of only the kababs; offering a side dish is always nice when you're cooking for the rest of your family. Here are some of my recipes that would complement them to make an easy Keto dinner.
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Jalapenos- tastes so good you won't even miss the carbs.
- Keto Creamed Spinach- a delicious Keto side dish in the air fryer.
How To Make Kofta Kababs
- Add all of the ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer.
2. Using a stand mixer, blend together all ingredients. I also use this method to make my gyro meat. If you have time, let the mixture sit in the fridge for 30 minutes. You can also mix it up and set aside for a day or two until you're ready to make the kababs
3. Although I tried this with and without skewers, it really makes no difference to the final product. Since it's a lot easier to simply shape the kababs by hand, divide the meat into four and make four long sausage shapes (or Pokémon shape or whatever you want).
4. Place the kababs in your air fryer and cook at 370F for 10 minutes.
5. Check with a meat thermometer to ensure that the kababs have an internal temperature of 145F.
EQUIPMENT YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE THIS KABAB RECIPE
- Gowise Air Fryer or Breville Smart Oven Air or Philips Avance XL
- Measuring Cups
- My favorite Cutting Board
- Good set of Kitchen Knives
- Coffee grinder to make the kofta kabab spice mix
- Stand mixer to beat the heck out of the meat to make it sticky
If your air fryer kofta kabab is falling apart, it’s usually because the mixture isn’t binding well. Common causes are using meat that’s too lean (low fat), not mixing long enough to get that sticky kofta texture, adding too many wet mix-ins, or shaping the logs too loosely.
For keto air fryer kofta kebabs (no breadcrumbs), mixing is even more important. Work the ground meat until it turns tacky, then rest/chill the mixture 15–30 minutes so it firms up, and shape tight, even kofta logs (or patties) before cooking.
Also, avoid flipping too early. Let the first side set so the kofta releases cleanly and holds its shape.
Yes, you can prep air fryer kofta kabab mixture the night before, and it often turns out better. The kofta kebab seasoning blend has time to hydrate, and the meat firms up for easier shaping.
Mix until the meat gets sticky (key for no-breadcrumb keto kofta), then cover airtight and refrigerate overnight. When you’re ready, shape the kofta logs or patties cold and air fry as usual. If the mixture looks a little wet the next day, give it a quick re-mix to tighten the bind before cooking.
To keep air fryer kofta kabab juicy, start with a fattier grind (around 80/20 beef or use lamb), and avoid overcooking. Shape evenly so the centers finish at the same time.
Mix the meat just until it turns sticky for binding, then chill 15–30 minutes so the kofta holds moisture and shape, and air fry in a single layer so hot air circulates without drying the surface.
Pull the kofta as soon as it’s cooked through, then let it rest a few minutes so the juices redistribute. This is the easiest way to get juicy keto air fryer kofta kebabs instead of dry ones.
If you love this Air Fryer Kofta Kabab recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook and Instagram so they can try it too! Don't forget to Pin it so you can make it again soon.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Oil
- 1 pound (453.59 g) Lean Ground Beef
- ¼ cup (15 g) Chopped Parsley
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Minced Garlic
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) kofta kabab spice mix
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer, blend together all ingredients. If you have time, let the mixture sit in the fridge for 30 minutes. You can also mix it up and set aside for a day or two until you're ready to make the kababs
- Although I tried this with and without skewers, it really makes no difference to the final product. Since it's a lot easier to simply shape the kababs by hand, divide the meat into four and make four long sausage shapes (or Pokémon shape or whatever you want).
- Place the kababs in your airfryer and cook at 370F for 10 minutes.
- Check with a meat thermometer to ensure that the kababs have an internal temperature of 145F.
- Sprinkle with additional parsley for garnishing and serve with tzatziki, a cucumber tomato salad, and pita bread.
To make in an oven
- Preheat the oven to 375F as you begin preparations.
- Line a small baking pan with foil and then place a rack inside the pan. Your kababs should be placed on the rack so that the fat drips down.
- You may choose to finish them off with a broil.
- To make on the grill
- Preheat grill to 375F as you begin preparations.
- Mix together ingredients in a stand mixer
- Place meat on skewers
- Grill until kababs reach an internal temperature of 145F
Watch The Video
- I used 85% ground beef but you can use any kind of meat you'd like including ground chicken, ground lamb, or a combination of beef and lamb which would be fabulous.
- If you use lean ground meat such as venison, or bison, or turkey, you may need to add a little more oil and/or cook until just done and be very careful to not overcook.
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Nutrition
And don't forget to check out my air fryer cookbooks! Every day easy air fryer, and Air Fryer Revolution.
Sandy
Do we place these into a cold airfryer, or preheat it? I am anxious to try this! Sounds delicious!