Quick and Easy Air Fryer Meatballs
The air fryer is a great way to make perfectly cooked, flavorful meatballs that your whole family will love! Make air fryer meatballs for your next pasta night, for delicious meatball sandwiches, or as a fun appetizer!
Homemade meatballs are easy using the air fryer! They can be made quickly and they cook up juicy and delicious! These meatballs are one of our staple air fryer recipes, the whole family loves them and they are so versatile!
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FAQ & Tips for This Easy Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe
Can I make these different meat?
Absolutely! For these tender meatballs I like to use lean ground beef but you can use other ground meats if you’d like. They are delicious made with a mix of beef and ground pork. If you prefer you can make air fryer chicken meatballs with ground chicken, or turkey meatballs with ground turkey.
Can I make air fryer meatballs ahead of time?
Absolutely! These meatballs are great to make ahead. You can refrigerate or freeze them cooked or raw so that they you have tasty meatballs on hand! I like to make a large batch of meatballs and freeze some for later. They are great for meal prep or to have on hand for a busy night.
To freeze the meatballs- Meatballs freeze well but it is important that you freeze them correctly for the best flavor and so they don’t stick together. Place a single layer of meatballs evenly spaced on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze until solid. Transfer frozen meatballs into zip top freezer bag and freeze until ready to use.
To reheat cooked meatballs– From refrigerated- Place the meatballs in the air fryer at 375 degrees and cook for about 10 minutes or until they are heated through. From frozen- Place meatballs in the air fryer at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
To cook raw meatballs – If you have made the meatballs ahead of time you can just place them in the air fryer and cook according to the recipe instructions. To cook uncooked meatballs that have been frozen you can either allow them to thaw and then cook them according to the recipe or you can cook them in the air fryer from frozen. Just preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees place the frozen meatballs into the air fryer and cook for 12 minutes, flip and continue cooking another 12-15 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165.
How to serve air fryer meatballs-
Air fried meatballs are perfect for making the classic spaghetti and meatballs with your favorite pasta sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. But you can make any pasta you love! We love these with rotini, penne or even ravioli. These homemade air fryer meatballs are also great for putting in your favorite roll, topping with mozzarella cheese and making tasty meatball subs. You can also make them smaller and serve air fryer meatballs as a tasty appetizer. They are also great mixed with pasta and sauce, placed in a casserole dish and baked with cheese on top.
How to store air fried meatballs-
You can store leftover meatballs refrigerated in an airtight container.
Tips for making these quick and easy air fryer meatballs-
Don’t overcrowd the basket of your air fryer– When you cook air fryer meatballs you want to make sure there is room for the hot air of the air fryer to circulate around the meatballs. This helps the meatballs cook evenly so they are crisp on the outside and moist on the inside.
Check your meatballs as they cook –
Air fryer meatballs are crisp on the outside and moist and soft on the inside, you want to make sure not to overcook them. I recommend checking them with a meat thermometer as they cook and remove them once they are cooked through. Your cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer, how big your meatballs are and what kind of meat you’ve used. Air fryers can vary depending on their basket type, size etc so it is important to keep an eye on your meatballs when you make them for the first time.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Meatballs
1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
1/3 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
4 Tbsp Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Large Egg
1 Medium Size Onion – diced
4 Tbsp Chopped Parsley
1 tsp Old Bay Spice
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Cup Marinara Sauce
How to Make this Air Fryer Meatball Recipe
Place the ground beef in a large mixing bowl, add in the diced onion, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, salt and spices.
Add in the egg and chopped parsley.
Thoroughly mix together all of the ingredients until they are evenly mixed.
Preheat the air fryer to 400.
Using you hands shape the meatball mixture into 10- 12 meatballs about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Place evenly spaced in the air fryer basket.
Air fry the meatballs for 12 minutes.
Using a spatula or tongs flip the meatballs and continue to air fry for 8 minutes. Or until thoroughly cooked, the internal temperature of the meatballs should be 165
Transfer the meatballs to a large skillet, add the tomato sauce, bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Serve warm with your favorite pasta.
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Meatballs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
- 1/3 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- 4 Tbsp Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 Medium Size Onion – diced
- 4 Tbsp Chopped Parsley
- 1 tsp Old Bay Spice
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Cup Marinara Sauce
Instructions
- Place the ground beef in a large mixing bowl, add in the diced onion, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, salt and spices.
- Add in the egg and chopped parsley.
- Thoroughly mix together all of the ingredients until they are evenly mixed.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400.
- Using you hands shape the meatball mixture into 10- 12 meatballs about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Place evenly spaced in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry the meatballs for 12 minutes.
- Using a spatula or tongs flip the meatballs and continue to air fry for 8 minutes. Or until thoroughly cooked, the internal temperature of the meatballs should be 165
- Transfer the meatballs to a large skillet, add the tomato sauce, bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Serve warm with your favorite pasta.
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