Air fryers hit exactly 400°F—the Maillard reaction's sweet spot that traditional ovens struggle to maintain consistently.
Air Fryer Cheat’s Roast Dinner
Savor the mouthwatering delight of tender pork and savory stuffing, all enveloped in a blanket of crispy bacon! This Air Fryer Cheat’s Roast Dinner comes together in just 15 minutes, making it the perfect quick and delicious meal for any night. With the magic of air frying, you’ll achieve that irresistible crunch and juicy flavor without the fuss!
Prep
15
min
Cook
15
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
The Story
This air fryer roast dinner is pure British Sunday tradition hijacked by American convenience culture—what started as a 4-hour Yorkshire family ritual involving proper ovens and generational timing has been compressed into 15 minutes of hot air wizardry, proving that even the most sacred culinary ceremonies can be fast-tracked without losing their soul, just their patience requirements.
Regional Twist
In Cornwall's Bodmin Moor region, they stuff the pork tenderloin with local sage mixed with crumbled Cornish yarg cheese instead of just dried herbs, creating a tangy counterpoint to the bacon wrapper.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 6-8 slices bacon
- 1 tsp (5 ml) dried sage
- 1 piece pork tenderloin
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- bread (to taste)
- butter (to taste)
- dried thyme (to taste)
- garlic (to taste)
- onion (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- salt (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Sauté the onions in a pot with the butter, then mix in the breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, and seasoning. Add a little extra butter or stock if too dry.
- 2
Cut the tenderloin into two pieces to fit in the Airfryer. Cut into the center of each piece to create a pocket and add a layer of stuffing inside, then fold it back over.
- 3
Wrap each piece tightly with streaky bacon, tucking the ends underneath. Season lightly on top with salt, pepper, and thyme.
- 4
Preheat your air fryer to 200°C and cook the pork for 15 minutes until it reaches at least 63°C.
- 5
Rest for a minute or two, then slice and serve with roast potatoes, roasted vegetables, and hot gravy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding the pork to ensure immediate Maillard reaction on the bacon, creating better browning and preventing the meat from steaming in its own juices.technique3-5 minutes preheat
- ✓Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches exactly 63°C (145°F) - pork tenderloin's lean muscle fibers become tough and dry if overcooked beyond 68°C due to rapid moisture loss.timing63°C internal temp
- ✓Stretch the bacon strips by 20-30% before wrapping to ensure they shrink back to proper tightness during cooking, preventing gaps that expose the pork to direct heat.technique20-30% stretch
- ✓Make stuffing slightly drier than traditional (breadcrumb to butter ratio 4:1) because the enclosed pocket will trap steam and soften the mixture during air frying.ingredient4:1 breadcrumb to butter ratio
- ✓Rest the wrapped pork for 3-4 minutes after cooking to allow muscle fibers to relax and redistribute juices - this prevents up to 25% moisture loss when slicing.timing3-4 minutes rest time
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
15
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Air fryers hit exactly 400°F—the Maillard reaction's sweet spot that traditional ovens struggle to maintain consistently.
Air Fryer Cheat’s Roast Dinner
Savor the mouthwatering delight of tender pork and savory stuffing, all enveloped in a blanket of crispy bacon! This Air Fryer Cheat’s Roast Dinner comes together in just 15 minutes, making it the perfect quick and delicious meal for any night. With the magic of air frying, you’ll achieve that irresistible crunch and juicy flavor without the fuss!
The Story
This air fryer roast dinner is pure British Sunday tradition hijacked by American convenience culture—what started as a 4-hour Yorkshire family ritual involving proper ovens and generational timing has been compressed into 15 minutes of hot air wizardry, proving that even the most sacred culinary ceremonies can be fast-tracked without losing their soul, just their patience requirements.
Regional Twist
In Cornwall's Bodmin Moor region, they stuff the pork tenderloin with local sage mixed with crumbled Cornish yarg cheese instead of just dried herbs, creating a tangy counterpoint to the bacon wrapper.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 6-8 slices bacon
- 1 tsp (5 ml) dried sage
- 1 piece pork tenderloin
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- bread (to taste)
- butter (to taste)
- dried thyme (to taste)
- garlic (to taste)
- onion (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- salt (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Sauté the onions in a pot with the butter, then mix in the breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, and seasoning. Add a little extra butter or stock if too dry.
- 2
Cut the tenderloin into two pieces to fit in the Airfryer. Cut into the center of each piece to create a pocket and add a layer of stuffing inside, then fold it back over.
- 3
Wrap each piece tightly with streaky bacon, tucking the ends underneath. Season lightly on top with salt, pepper, and thyme.
- 4
Preheat your air fryer to 200°C and cook the pork for 15 minutes until it reaches at least 63°C.
- 5
Rest for a minute or two, then slice and serve with roast potatoes, roasted vegetables, and hot gravy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding the pork to ensure immediate Maillard reaction on the bacon, creating better browning and preventing the meat from steaming in its own juices.technique3-5 minutes preheat
- ✓Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches exactly 63°C (145°F) - pork tenderloin's lean muscle fibers become tough and dry if overcooked beyond 68°C due to rapid moisture loss.timing63°C internal temp
- ✓Stretch the bacon strips by 20-30% before wrapping to ensure they shrink back to proper tightness during cooking, preventing gaps that expose the pork to direct heat.technique20-30% stretch
- ✓Make stuffing slightly drier than traditional (breadcrumb to butter ratio 4:1) because the enclosed pocket will trap steam and soften the mixture during air frying.ingredient4:1 breadcrumb to butter ratio
- ✓Rest the wrapped pork for 3-4 minutes after cooking to allow muscle fibers to relax and redistribute juices - this prevents up to 25% moisture loss when slicing.timing3-4 minutes rest time