Air fryer meatballs are a tasty twist on a classic dish. Made with ground meat, breadcrumbs, herbs, and spices, they're cooked quickly and evenly using hot air circulation.
This method cuts down on oil, making them healthier. Whether as an appetizer, with pasta, or on their own, air fryer meatballs are a hit for any meal.
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Air Fryer Meatballs
Whether served as an appetizer, paired with pasta, or enjoyed solo, air fryer meatballs are sure to be a hit in your home.
Be sure to check other meatballs on this site, like baked meatballs, turkey Greek bowl and meatball casserole.
Why These Easy Air Fryer Meatballs Are The Best
💖 Perfectly Crispy Texture: Get a crispy texture with less oil using our air fryer meatball recipe, so each bite is crunchy outside and tender inside.
💖 Versatile and Flavorful: These healthy meatballs are made with lean ground beef and cooked quickly in an air fryer, perfect for busy nights or party appetizers. They're packed with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and Parmesan, adding savory flavor that pairs well with any sauce or dish.
💖 Healthy and Quick: Get a satisfying crunch with our air fryer meatball recipe, using minimal oil for a crispy outside and tender inside.
Recipe Ingredients
- Lean Ground Beef (or use Beef + Pork Mix) - Use lean ground beef for a healthier option.
- Bread Crumbs - Adds texture and helps bind the ingredients together, essential for forming meatballs.
- Egg - Acts as a binder, holding the meatball mixture together during cooking.
- Milk - Adds moisture to the meatballs, keeping them tender.
- Fresh Parsley - Adds a fresh, herbaceous flavor to the meatballs.
- Parmesan Cheese - Provides a savory umami flavor and helps bind the meatball mixture.
- Italian Seasoning - A blend of herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme, adding classic Italian flavor. I like to use this.
- Garlic Powder - Enhances the savory taste with a hint of garlic. or use fresh!
- Olive Oil Spray - I use it for spraying the meatballs right before air frying. This step helps the meatballs to turn out crispy and juicy.
Variations
🥩 Different Meats: Use a mix of beef and pork mince, ground turkey, or ground chicken for different flavor profiles.
🌿 Herb Variations: Experiment with different herbs such as basil, oregano, or thyme instead of parsley for varying herbaceous notes.
🧀 Cheese Options: Substitute Parmesan cheese with other cheeses like shredded mozzarella, cheddar, or even feta for a different taste.
🌶️ Spice Levels: Adjust the amount of garlic powder or add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicier kick.
🍞 Breadcrumbs: Swap regular breadcrumbs with panko breadcrumbs for a lighter, crunchier texture. Gluten free crumbs will work here too.
🍅 Sauce Options: Serve with quick marinara sauce, creamy Alfredo sauce, buffalo sauce, or a tangy barbecue sauce for different flavor profiles.
I also love these with Green goddess dip!
How to Cook Air Fryer Meatballs
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: Mix all the ingredients except the meat in a bowl, then add the ground meat and combine to form about 20 meatballs, each the size of 2 tablespoons.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Heat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Air Fry the Meatballs: Place the meatballs directly in a single layer in the air fryer, lightly spray with cooking oil. Don't overcrowd!
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes until browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Rest and Serve: Let the meatballs rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Serve homemade air fryer meatballs with your favorite pasta sauce or white sauce.
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Buy Now → 🥶 How to Prepare Frozen Air Fryer Meatballs
Preparing frozen air fryer meatballs is easy and convenient and similar to the method above.
Here's how you can do it:
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 375°F to preheat while you prepare the meatballs.
- Arrange Meatballs: Place the frozen meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even cooking.
- Cooking Time: Cook the frozen meatballs for 13-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking for even browning.
- Check Doneness: Once the cooking time is up, check the internal temperature of the meatballs. They should reach at least 165°F to ensure they are fully cooked.
- Serve: Let the meatballs rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy them plain or with your favorite sauce.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Meatballs
Here are some tasty options to serve alongside air fryer meatballs:
- Pasta: Serve with spaghetti or your favorite pasta and marinara sauce for a classic Italian meal.
- Salad: Pair with a fresh green salad tossed with vinaigrette for a lighter option. I recommend cucumber tomato salad, cabbage salad or Green Goddess salad.
- Vegetables: Serve with roasted vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or bell peppers for added nutrition.
- Mashed Potatoes: Enjoy with creamy mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
- Sub Sandwiches: Make meatball subs by placing the meatballs in a crusty roll with marinara sauce and melted cheese.
- Rice: Serve over rice pilaf, yellow rice or with a side of steamed rice for a complete meal.
Recipe tips
- If you've made larger meatballs, extend the air frying time by 2 minutes.
- Air fryers can vary, so check your meatballs a few minutes early to ensure they're cooked to perfection without becoming overdone. The internal temperature at the center should reach 165°F.
- There's no need to flip the meatballs in the air fryer, but if you notice they're browning too quickly, gently shake the basket or turn them over halfway through cooking.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the meatballs rest for a few minutes after cooking. This allows juices to be redistributed, resulting in juicier meatballs.
- Uniform Size: To promote even cooking, ensure the meatballs are similar in size. Aim for meatballs around 1 to 1 ½ inches in diameter.
- Single Layer: Arrange meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking, so cook in batches if necessary.
- Spray with Oil: Lightly spray or brush the meatballs with cooking oil before air frying. This helps them brown and crisp up nicely.
Storing Leftovers
- To Store. Allow the meatballs to cool completely at room temperature before storing. Place leftover meatballs in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To Freeze. For longer storage, arrange cooled meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag, removing as much air as possible. Frozen meatballs can be stored for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat, put the meatballs in a single layer in a preheated 350°F air fryer and heat for 4-6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before serving.
If you use your air fryer often, you can also browse my Amazon storefront with my favorite air fryer tools and kitchen gadgets here, where I've collected many of the accessories I personally use.
More Air Fryer Favorites
This is the air fryer that I love to use for a lot of recipes. The size of the basket is always perfect for 2-3 servings.
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Recipe Card
Extra Juicy Air fryer Meatballs
Ingredients
Method
- Mix all the ingredients except the meat in a bowl. Stir everything together.⅓ cup bread crumbs, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons milk, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Add the ground meat and mix it all up until it's combined. Make about 20 meatballs, each about the size of 2 tablespoons.1 ½ pound lean ground beef
- Heat up the air fryer to 375°F.
- Put the meatballs in the air fryer in a single layer. Lightly spray them with cooking oil.
- Cook the meatballs for 10-12 minutes until they're browned and the inside reaches 165°F.
- Let them sit for 3 minutes before you eat them. Serve with more freshly chopped parsley.
Nutrition
Notes
- If you've made larger meatballs, simply extend the air frying time by an additional 2 minutes.
- Air fryers can vary, so check your meatballs a few minutes early to ensure they're cooked to perfection without becoming overdone. The internal temperature at the center should reach 165°F.
- Cool Completely: Allow the meatballs to cool completely at room temperature before storing.
- Refrigerate: Place leftover meatballs in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: For longer storage, arrange cooled meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag, removing as much air as possible. Frozen meatballs can be stored for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: To reheat, thaw frozen meatballs overnight in the refrigerator if frozen, then microwave, bake, or reheat in the air fryer until heated through.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Air Fryer Meatballs: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can cook raw meatballs in an air fryer.
Cook the meatballs in air fryer and always make sure the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165°F.
Both baking and frying meatballs are tasty options. Baking is healthier because it uses less oil, while frying gives a crispy outside.
Air frying is a great method that combines both benefits, using minimal oil for a crispy texture.
No, meatballs should be fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Eating pink or undercooked meat can be risky due to bacteria like E. coli or Salmonella.
Purple meatballs can happen because of a reaction between the meat's myoglobin and oxygen.
This can occur if the meat was stored improperly.
Meatballs can get hard if you overmix the meat mixture, causing the proteins to pack tightly.
Using very lean ground meat or overcooking can also make meatballs dry and tough.
To reheat fully cooked meatballs in an air fryer, preheat it to 350°F.
Put the meatballs in a single layer and heat for 4-6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before serving.
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Daniel K.
It’s fascinating how air frying can retain the juiciness of meatballs while reducing the overall fat content compared to traditional frying methods. That being said, preserving the flavor profile is crucial. I wonder if there's a particular mix of herbs recommended in this recipe to enhance the taste.
Ellie H.
made these meatballs in my dorm's communal kitchen and they were a hit with everyone thanks for the easy recipe julia gonna make them again for sure
Max J.
Does anyone have a good idea for what sides to pair with these meatballs for a low-carb meal? Trying to keep things interesting without ruining my macros. Thanks!
Ron T.
i don't get why everyone is so obsessed with air fryers. can they really be better than oven-baked meatballs? seems like a lot of hype for nothing to me.
Jenna P.
Hey Ron, I thought the same until I tried it for myself. The air fryer really does make them more juicy and it's faster than the oven. You should give it a shot!
Julia
easy and deliciously juicy air fryer meatballs!
Leon R.
The best, my favorite recipe !
Tina M.
I've been looking for easy air fryer recipes, and this one sounds interesting. Worried about the cleanup though. Is it a hassle to clean the air fryer after making these?
Chris T.
So, air fryer meatballs are the peak of culinary innovation now? Can't wait to see what's next, air fryer caviar?
Jordyn W.
tried making these with my roommate but burned them lol. gotta watch them more closely next time. still tasted good though.
Alex J.
Looking at the ingredients, is there a way to make these meatballs with less fat? Trying to keep things lean. Maybe sub turkey for beef?
Becky G.
Alex J., you can definitely swap for turkey. Add a bit of grated zucchini for moisture!
Samuel P.
But won't turkey make them too dry? Beef's fat is key for juicy meatballs, I think.
Maddie K.
Just tried the air fryer meatballs recipe and wow, they turned out so juicy! Huge hit with the kids. Saved me so much time compared to the oven. Thanks for sharing, Julia! Not sure why I never tried air frying meatballs before. Any tips on keeping them juicy?