Air Fryer Meatballs –If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to frying, then the air fryer is what you need. This appliance uses hot air and convection technology to cook your food quickly and thoroughly so that it’s crispy on the outside but moist on the inside. Air fried meatballs are one of my favorite recipes because they come out perfectly tender every time!
Air Fryer Beef Meatballs —If you are looking for an authentic Italian Meatball Recipe that cooks up in the air fryer, this is the my go-to recipe.
It was initially my Sicilian Grandmother’s Recipe, passed down to my mother and now to me. I love the homemade and authentic taste. Today, Air Fryer Meatballs.
The meatballs are tender, juicy, always perfectly cooked, and extremely simple to make in the air fryer. The best part about cooking them in the Air Fryer is that you use hardly any oil, which produces a healthier meatball!
If you are looking for even more of my Grandmother’s Recipes, I have shared a few over the years, including AIR FRYER CANNOLI, AIR FRYER ITALIAN MEATLOAF, AIR FRYER EASY ITALIAN CHICKEN TENDERS, and her foolproof dough, which I use in bunch of my recipes, EASY HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH.
Air Fryer Air Fryer Meatball Recipe
The original recipe included a blend of pork and beef, but I have started using 100% ground beef over the years.
In the grocery store, they started selling a meatloaf mix of pork and beef. So, if you find one in your grocery store, pick up a package that will make a great batch of Air Fryer Beef Meatballs.
Ingredients In Air Fryer Beef Meatballs
- Ground Beef, Lean
- Italian Bread Crumbs
- Egg
- Milk
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Minced Garlic
- Fresh Parsley
- Dried Oregano
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cooking Spray
How To Make Air Fryer Beef Meatballs
Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray and set it aside.
Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl until just combined.
Form 14-16 meatballs from the mixture. Working in batches, place meatballs in a single layer into your air fryer basket.
Cook on the air fry setting at 380 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 11-14 minutes, until meatballs have cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 160F.
Serve as is or use for soups or meatball subs. Enjoy!
Pro Tips For Making The Perfect Meatballs:
- I started adding cheese because they give the meatballs so much flavor. One of my favorite cheeses to use is Parmesan cheese, but you can use any cheese you like. Another family favorite is shredded mozzarella cheese. This is great if you are serving it with marinara sauce.
- Once the meatballs are mixed, do not keep on mixing them, as they will end up air frying and coming out dry. Once they are mixed, stop working them and roll them into balls. The end product will be much better.
- Spray your air fryer basket so the meatballs do not stick.
- Do not crowd your air fryer basket, even if you have to do two or three better batches. If you overcrowd the basket, you will have meatballs sticking together and poorly air-fried because there was no space around them.
- Uniform sized. I usually use a cookie scoop because ensuring that they are equal in size means they will all cook simultaneously. They will end up cooking much better, all done at the same time. No guessing.
Why Do You Use Half Ground Beef and Half Ground Pork?
I think that it tastes better. Some supermarkets label it as a meatloaf mix. It is also great for meatloaves.
I used an all-beef recipe today, but you can easily switch out the pork for half of the beef. You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey.
Can You Use Fresh Herbs?
Yes, substitute them out using the exact amounts. I use fresh parsley in this recipe because it gives the dish a great color and freshness.
Can I use Ground Turkey or Ground Chicken?
Yes, of course, the cooking time will be slightly different. But feel free to switch out the meat for leaner varieties.
The key to making an excellent ground chicken or turkey meatball is to use extra moisture, usually milk, to stay tender during cooking.
Can I Make Them In Advance?
Yes, this is one of the meals I usually make on Sunday, and I have it on hand for the busy week ahead.
They will keep great in the refrigerator for about three days if you want to make a batch. You can either reheat them in the microwave or air fryer.
They make for a great mid-week meal of meatball sub or pasta and meatballs.
Can I Freeze These?
Yes, these freeze very well. Just make sure that they are fully cooked before freezing.
Let them cool to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container. They should last about two months.
To use from frozen, place the frozen meatballs into the refrigerator overnight to thaw.
More Air Fryer Recipes:
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Air Fryer Beef Meatballs
Description
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- ⅓ cup Italian bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray and set it aside.
- Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl until just combined.
- Form 14-16 meatballs from the mixture.
- Working in batches, place meatballs in a single layer into your air fryer basket.
- Cook on the air fry setting at 380F for 11-14 minutes, until meatballs have cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 160F.
- Serve as is or use for soups or meatball subs,
- Plate, serve, and enjoy!
Equipment
- Cooking Spray, optional
- Parchment Paper, optional
Notes
Nutrition
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