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    Home > Air Fryer > Air Fryer Meatballs

    Air Fryer Meatballs

    ↓ Jump to Recipe · By: Julia Foerster · Posted: 02/03/20 · Updated: 02/03/20

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    Air Fryer Meatballs are tender, juicy, and so flavorful. They make a perfect, easy appetizer but also taste delicious with spaghetti and marinara sauce!

    Meatballs in a bowl

    Meatballs are one of my favorite things to make in the Air Fryer. Just like our Air Fryer Churros and Air Fryer Pickles, this recipe is so easy to make and tastes amazing. They are loaded with flavor, juicy on the inside, and perfect for serving with marinara sauce.

    Cooking the meatballs in the Air Fryer is easier than cooking them on the stove or in the oven. They will not fall apart because you have to handle them less, they stay perfectly ball-shaped, and brown evenly. It’s also less messy because you don’t have any oil splattering from the pan.

    This recipe doesn’t even use any additional oil! The meatballs fry in the own fat, just like our Air Fryer Chicken Wings, which are an all-time reader-favorite. You need to give them a try. I’m sure you will love them!

    How to make Air Fryer Meatballs

    How to Make Meatballs in the Air Fryer

    1. In a bowl, combine ground meats. Add minced garlic, egg, grated cheese, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Add bread crumbs and blend into mixture. Add milk.
    2. Use a cookie spoon to make evenly sized balls (about 1 1/2-inches in diameter).
    3. Place meatballs in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket and cook on 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Cook in batches if necessary.
    4. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. If you don’t have a thermometer, check for doneness by cutting into a meatball.

    Tips and Tricks for Making the Best Meatballs

    • Avoid over-mixing the mixture since that usually results in tough meatballs. I recommend using your hands to combine the ingredients.
    • Instead of plain breadcrumbs, you can also use Italian-style breadcrumbs.
    • I prefer to preheat my Air Fryer. Cooking times are more accurate this way, and food cooks more evenly.
    • You don’t need to use additional oil in this recipe. The meat mixture contains enough fat, so the meatballs fry in their own fat.
    • This recipe can easily be halved, use the servings slider in the recipe card.
    • Instead of using only ground beef and ground pork, you can also use 1 pound ground beef, 1/2 pound ground pork, and 1/2 pound ground veal. This combination is what authentic Italian meatball recipes usually call for.
    • You could also only use ground beef, the taste will be slightly different, and you need to spray them with cooking spray because ground beef contains less fat than ground pork.

    When are they cooked through?

    How long the meatballs have to cook in the Air Fryer until they are done depends on the size. At 400 degrees F golf-ball-sized meatballs take about 10-12 minutes. The meatballs are cooked through when they reach 160 degrees F internally. I recommend using an instant-read thermometer because it helps to avoid overcooking, which results in dry and tough meat.

    Meatballs garnished with parsley

    Can you freeze Meatballs? Yes, you can! I recommend freezing the cooked meatballs – perfect for a quick dinner or snack.

    Here is how to do it: Let the cooked meatballs cool to room temperature, then put in a ziplock bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat frozen meatballs in marinara sauce on the stove until they are heated through.

    Meatballs in a bowl
    Servings: 8

    Air Fryer Meatballs

    Air Fryer Meatballs are tender, juicy, and so flavorful. They make a perfect, easy appetizer but also taste delicious with spaghetti and marinara sauce!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Calories: 420kcal
    Author: Julia Foerster
    5 from 5 votes
    Print PIN RECIPE Rate

    Ingredients

    Cups – Metric
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 pound ground pork
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, (3/4 cup if using pre-grated)
    • 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp tsp freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
    • 1/2 cup milk

    Instructions

    • Preheat Air Fryer to 400 degrees F.
    • In a bowl, combine ground meats. Add minced garlic, egg, grated cheese, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper.
    • Add bread crumbs and blend into mixture. Add milk. Shape into 1 1/2-inch meatball.
    • Place meatballs in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket and cook on 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Cook in batches if necessary.

    Notes

    • Avoid over-mixing.
    • Instead of using only ground beef and ground pork, you can also use 1 pound ground beef, 1/2 pound ground pork, and 1/2 pound ground veal. 
    • Instead of plain breadcrumbs, you can also use Italian-style breadcrumbs.
    • Preheating your Air Fryer is recommended. 
    • Give the Air Fryer basket a light spray with light olive oil spray.
    • Test with an instant-read thermometer for doneness. The internal temperature should be 160-165 degrees F.
    General Notes:
    To change the number of servings, hover with your mouse or finger over the servings, a little servings slider will appear.
    To switch to metric/weight measurements, click the button in the recipe card.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 731mg | Potassium: 425mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Comments

    1. Jackie says

      March 04, 2021 at 7:40 am

      5 stars
      These meatballs are SO good! My family loved them!! I don’t have an air fryer but used the convection on my oven, followed the same temp and amount of time and they came out perfect. This recipe is a keeper, thank you!

      Reply
    2. Tracey says

      January 28, 2021 at 9:22 pm

      5 stars
      SO AMAZING!!!! Will definitely make again!

      Reply

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    Welcome!

    Julia Foerster from Plated Cravings

    Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions. ➝ Visit my about page!

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