Air Fryer Meatballs

These easy Air Fryer Meatballs are slightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They feature a robust and savory flavor profile that makes them perfect for serving on subs, pasta or as an appetizer with warm marinara sauce for dipping. The result of making them in an air fryer is, they’re juicy, tender with a slightly crispy exterior and flavorful. Oven instructions included!

Ingredients to Make Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe

Italian meatballs are a beloved classic in Italian cuisine, known for their hearty, flavorful profile and versatility. This recipe honors the classic flavors, but skips the frying in oil for a lighter, but full flavored option. When perfectly cooked, Italian meatballs have a tender and juicy texture inside, thanks to the combination of ground beef and pork. These meatballs hold their shape well but remain moist. Ingredients to make juicy Airfryer Meatballs Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

Meat – A combination of ground ground beef and sweet or hot Italian sausage.
Whole Eggs – Large eggs bind the meat mixture.
Onion – Finely diced onion adds moisture and flavor.
Seasonings – Dry Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Basic seasonings have big impact.
Garlic Cloves – Fresh garlic enhances the onion and adds a hint of spice.
Breadcrumbs – One cup panko bread crumbs. You can use plain or Italian seasoned.
Liquid – Whole milk for a juicy texture.
Cheese – Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, finely grated not shreds.
Herbs – Chopped fresh parsley for the meatball mixture and additional for garnishing. You could also use fresh basil.
Serving – Warm marinara sauce, cooked pasta, rolls or pizza sauce for dipping the meatballs.

How Long Does it Take to Cook Meatballs in an Air Fryer?

These freshly made meatballs will cook in 15 minutes. Frozen meatballs will take longer to cook and the time should be adjusted cooking for 5-10 minutes longer and stopping halfway through to check the centers for doneness with a meat thermometer. The cooking time can also vary depending on if the meatballs are already cooked prior to being frozen, or if they’re uncooked.

How Do You Make Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe

Whisk Eggs – In a large bowl whisk the eggs. To the eggs add dried Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, onion, garlic, panko and milk. Stir to combine.
Beef and Sausage – To the bowl add the ground beef, sausage, Parmesan and chopped parsley. . Mix until just combined and the ingredients are evenly distributed.
Divide the Meatball Mixture – Using a meatball scoop or a tablespoon, form the meat mixture into 36 round meatballs.
Chill the Meatballs – Place the meatballs on a sheet pan and chill for at least 1 hour (or overnight) to allow the flavors to blend.
Cook – Preheat the airfryer to 375°F. Spray the basket with cooking spray then arrange the meatballs in the basket, without touching to allow air to circulate on all sides.
Turn Halfway for Even Browning – Cook in batches for 15 minutes, stopping to turn halfway through cooking. Cook until the meatballs are no longer pink or an instant read thermometer registers 160°F.
Serve – Garnish with the remaining parsley and serve immediately with picks as an appetizer, over pasta or on a hoagie roll covered with melty provolone cheese for a meatball sub.

Tips for Making Air Fried Meatballs

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: 6 quart or large air fryer, sharp knife and cutting board, cheese grater, measuring cups and spoons, large mixing bowl, whisk and meatball scoop.
Don’t Overwork the Meat for Tender Meatballs: It is important not to overmix the meat mixture or your meatballs will become tough when cooked.
Check For Doneness to Prevent Overcooking: Since all air fryers are different, it’s a good idea to check the meatballs at around 12 minutes to make sure they aren’t overdone.
Double the Recipe: This recipe can easily be doubled to feed a larger crowd, or if you’d like to cook half and freeze half for a future meal.
Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the meatballs in batches, if necessary. Check for doneness by cutting into one meatball to ensure it’s cooked through, especially if you’ve made larger meatballs.
Can I Make Meatballs Ahead of Time? Yes! These meatballs freeze very well. Simply place the meatballs (precooked or fully cooked) into an air-tight container. They will keep frozen for up to 3 months. Finish cooking them after thawing, if uncooked.
How Do I know If They’re Done? You can check with an instant read thermometer looking for an internal temperature of 165°F.
How to Serve Meatballs: You can enjoy these meatballs on spaghetti, on sub rolls topped with mozzarella cheese, with picks as a holiday starter or game day snacks, on slider rolls, family weekday meals or entertaining.

Recipe Variations

Spice Substitutions: If you would like to add some spice to the meatballs, you may choose to add ¼ teaspoon of crushed chili flakes to the egg mixture.
Seasonings: Feel free to add ½-1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes for a spice.
Protein Mixture: You can also do a mixture of three ground meats consisting of 2 parts ground beef, 1 part ground pork, and 1 part ground veal (which makes it a more Italian-style meatball).
Lighter Options: You can use ground turkey for turkey meatballs or make chicken meatballs using ground chicken. When doing so, check them for doneness halfway through cooking, as they may not take as long to fry. You can experiment with different seasonings and ground meats to customize the flavor to your liking.
Onion Substitution: You can use onion powder in place of the minced onion, although keep in mind the onion adds moisture to the meatballs. Use one teaspoon onion powder.
Breadcrumbs: You can swap out the panko and use dried Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, although the light airy texture you get with Panko won’t be the same using breadcrumbs.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftovers: Store Leftover meatballs in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a 325°F air fryer, on a sheet pan in a 350°F oven or in small portions in the microwave.
Freezer: You can freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.
Freezing Uncooked Meatballs: Place uncooked meatballs on a sheet pan in a single layer and freeze until solid. Once frozen, package in a freezer bag or container and store for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and cook per the recipe just before serving.

More Air Fryer Recipes to Make

This Air Fryer Meatloaf is comfort food done right!
Cajun spice rubbed Air Fryer Salmon.
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts feature a heavenly caramelized exterior.
Greek seasoned Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
Loaded Air Fryer Baked Potatoes.
Air Fryer Pork Chops are dredged in panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Air Fryer Macaroni and Cheese will free up the oven on busy days.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings from The Chunky Chef.

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