Air Fryer Meatballs
Air Fryer Meatballs will be your new favorite meatballs recipe! Juicy, tasty, easy and quick meatballs! Serve them as is, or over your favorite spaghetti and meatballs. We went with the classic flavors of Italian meatballs today and they were absolutely a HIT with family and friends! Be sure to watch the video for TIPS and how to.
Ingredients
Beef
- 2 lbs ground beef
Meatballs
- 1 onion grated and squeezed from excess liquid`
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1/3 cup bread crumbs we use panko
- 1/4 cup bell peppers grated
- 2 Tablespoons parsley minced
- 2 Tabelspoons oregano fresh, minced
- 1 teasooons each salt and pepper
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
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In a large bowl you'll add all the ingredients over the ground beef.
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We love using gloves to mix all the meatballs ingredients together. You want to break down the egg, blend the meat with the flavors so that the mixture looks evenly mixed.
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Once the meatballs mixture is ready, you can either pop it in the fridge until ready to shape, or you may proceed right away. This is a great prep in advance step that you can make the day before for dinner the next day 💛
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Our favorite tool and secret to evenly shaped meatballs is using an ICE CREAM SCOOP! YES you read that. Just like you would with cookie dough, the scoop created evenly shaped and perfectly portioned meatballs.
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When you have evenly sized meatballs, then your cooking time is easy to control. You also ensure juicy meatballs every time you make them.
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This step is optional. I take every scoop of meatballs and roll it between my hands for just a 5-8 seconds to make sure it's an even round shape. This is purely aesthetic, but we LOVE it.
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Repeat the same process with all the mixture and arrange the meatballs on a lined baking sheet as shown above.
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Now it's time for the magic. Place the meatballs in the basket of your air fryer. I have a large air fryer here which is about 8 quart. You don't need that size as you can see it's nearly half empty.
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As with all our Air Fryer Recipes, we love a spray of avocado oil right before cooking. This helps the meatballs not stick to the air fryer basket, and furthermore, it helps with a nice delicate crisp crust on the meat.
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Another crucial step is shaking the air fryer halfway. Remember the main source of heat comes from the top coil and it circulates in the basket area, so shaking ensures even exposure to heat.
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A final sprinkle of parsley and your recipe is ready! Have a look at how perfect these are!! If you have a meat thermometer, you should aim for 165 degrees F.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips for Air Fryer Meatballs
- Choose your favorite type of meat to start with, you can make it with chicken too!
- You have a choice to make them as lean as you want to.
- Make sure to mix the ingredients well into the ground beef, also make sure to squeeze out any extra liquid from the onions and bell peppers. Watery meatballs will fall apart when cooking.
- The meatball mixture can be made two days in advance and stored in the fridge, and shape them on the day you're cooing them.
- Use an ice cream scoop for even meatballs.
- Even meatballs will cook evenly which is ideal for meatballs to remain juicy and not dry out.
- Preheating your air fryer for 3 minutes will save you some time, but it's NOT a must.
- We love shaping the meatballs for a few second extra into perfect round shape, but this is optional.
- Spraying your air fryer with avocado oil will ensure the meat doesn't stick to the basket.
- Avoid overcrowding the basket for the meatballs to cook evenly.
- Make sure to shake halfway because that way the heat distributes evenly among the meatballs
- The meatballs are ready when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, or when golden brown.
Air Fryer Meatballs Variations
- Italian Style Meatballs: parmesan cheese, basil pesto , oregano and serve with marinara sauce.
- Mediterranean Meatballs: lamb or beef, parsley, cumin, garlic and serve with yogurt or tahini sauce.
- Spicy Meatballs: Add chili flakes or harissa for heat and serve with Harissa Aioli
- Turkey Meatballs: Use ground turkey and extra olive oil or grated zucchini for moisture.
Why Did My Meatballs Turn Out Dry
Possible causes are very lean meat, overcooking the meatballs, too few breadcrumbs or egg in the mixture. To avoid dry meatballs, use slightly higher fat meat and reduce cooking time slightly.
Why did The Meatballs Fall Apart
Possible causes are not enough binder (egg and breadcrumbs), or the meatball mixture was too wet. To avoid this, add additional breadcrumbs or egg and mix gently.
How did Meatballs Cooked Unevenly
The most possible cause is that the meatballs are different sizes, or the air fryer basket was over crowded. To avoid this, make sure the meatballs are shaped uniformly and that they are arranged in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Why are Meatballs Sticking to Basket
Possible cause is that your air fryer basket is not a good non stick enough material, and you haven't greased it. To avoid this, always spray or grease your air fryer basket. You can also use parchment liners designed for air fryers.
Why are My Meatballs Too Dense
The most common cause for this is over mixing the meat mixture. To avoid this, always mix gently and stop once ingredients are combined.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Meatballs/Make in Advance
- Refrigerator: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs in a ziploc bag up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer for about 3–4 minutes to restore crisp edges.
- Make in Advance: You can premix the beef and all the ingredients and keep that in the fridge for two days max in your fridge. Scoop and air fry the day you're serving it. On busy days, we blend the mixture the night before, so after a long of work, dinner would be ready in minutes.
Food Safety
Use a thermometer if you're unsure, and follow these safe internal temperatures for cooking meatballs:
• Beef or Lamb meatballs: 145 °F
• Poultry meatballs: 165°F
How long do meatballs cook in the air fryer?
Most meatballs cook in about 10–12 minutes at 380°F depending on the size.
Do you need to flip meatballs in the air fryer?
Shaking the basket halfway helps them brown evenly.
Can meatballs be cooked from frozen in the air fryer?
Yes, frozen meatballs usually take 12–15 minutes.
Are air fryer meatballs healthier?
They use less oil than pan frying while still achieving browning.