These Air Fryer Meatballs are a healthier alternative to the traditional pan fried meatballs and may just become your new favorite way to cook them! With a simple ingredient list and 3 basic steps, you can skip the excess oil and embrace the magic of the air fryer!
Easy Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe
I am absolutely in LOVE with my air fryer! The best part is that you can recreate all your favorite fried treats, without any of that excess fatty oil. Now I may be biased, but these air fryer meatballs are the BEST! Made with a short list of basic kitchen staple ingredients, I am certain this recipe will make it into your weekly rotation.
- Simple, Short Ingredient List
- Easy To Make
- Healthier Alternative to Frying
- Delicious & Versatile
Meatballs have to be one of my favorite things to make. If you’ve been cruising the blog, you know I have a plethora of meatball recipes in my repertoire, but none are as easy as this! The meatballs themselves are very basic, and the air fryer does all of the work for you. No more getting splattered with hot grease, no more worrying about excess calories, no more dry meatballs!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Beef – I used only ground beef for these meatballs. Feel free to use your preference of protein, or a combination. See FAQs & Expert Tips for more info!
- Onion – White or yellow, shredded or finely chopped.
- Breadcrumbs – Use your preference, either Panko or Italian breadcrumbs will work.
- Egg – I used a large egg to bind everything together!
- Seasoning – A simple combination of Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Parsley – I used fresh parsley, chopped.
How To Make Meatballs In The Air Fryer
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.
- Combine Ingredients: Combine all the meatball ingredients together in a large bowl. Shape into 16 equal size meatballs.
- Cook: Spray the air fryer basket with a bit of cooking spray. Place the meatballs into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the meatballs as well with a bit of cooking spray. Cook for 12 minutes or until the center of the meatball reaches 165°F degrees.
How Do I Know When My Meatballs Are Done?
My best recommendation when cooking any type of meat is to purchase an instant meat thermometer. Your meatballs will be done when the center reaches 165°F degrees.
What If I Don’t Have An Air Fryer?
If you don’t have an air fryer, but still want to keep these on the healthier side, you can bake them! Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 400°F for about 20-25 until done to your liking. And if you aren’t afraid of the extra oil, you can use the traditional method of frying them up in a skillet!
Can I Make These In Advance?
Absolutely! Meatballs are great to make in advance. Not only can you made them a few days in advance, you can also freeze them for future meals! Scroll down to “Freezing” section for full instructions.
Expert Tips
- You can use whichever protein you’d like for these meatballs! Feel free to try any of or a combination of ground chicken, turkey, pork or veal. Keep in mind, when using a different protein, the cook time may vary.
- Of course, classic spaghetti and meatballs is an obvious choice, but you can serve these meatballs for a variety of different dishes! They work with different marinades, sauces, glazes, etc. The possibilities are endless!
- Feel free to play around with different spice combinations to make these meatballs your own.
Storing Leftovers
These air fryer meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing
These meatballs also freeze quite well! Transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up 3 months.
More Great Recipes To Try
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Air Fryer Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 medium onion shredded or finely chopped
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.
- Combine Ingredients: Combine all the meatball ingredients together in a large bowl. Shape into 16 equal size meatballs.
- Cook: Spray the air fryer basket with a bit of cooking spray. Place the meatballs into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the meatballs as well with a bit of cooking spray. Cook for 12 minutes or until the center of the meatball reaches 165°F degrees.
Video
Recipe Notes
- You can use whichever protein you’d like for these meatballs! Feel free to try any of or a combination of ground chicken, turkey, pork or veal. Keep in mind, when using a different protein, the cook time may vary.
- Of course, classic spaghetti and meatballs is an obvious choice, but you can serve these meatballs for a variety of different dishes! They work with different marinades, sauces, glazes, etc. The possibilities are endless!
- Feel free to play around with different spice combinations to make these meatballs your own.
- These air fryer meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- These meatballs also freeze quite well! Transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up 3 months.
These were absolutely divine. I love using my air fryer and this recipe was great for it. Definitely a keeper. Thank you for sharing Jo.
So glad you liked it!
I’m defiantly going to give this a try!! So many of your recipes are excellent that I have made. My only question is for your AirFryer recipes …..can they also be adapted to the Instant Pot Duo & AirFryer? Are the cook times and temperatures the same?
Yes! They should be the same, but I would check your manufacturer’s guide to be sure!