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Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground chicken; 1 cup Italian Breadcrumbs; 1 large egg; 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese; 1 cup Marinara Sauce; 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded ); 3 sub rolls (or Hoagie Rolls)

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Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Meatballs — If you love the taste of chicken parmesan, this Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Meatball recipe will be a hit! Not only is it a healthier version of classic chicken parmesan, but it’s also so much easier to make! It only requires a few ingredients and it’ll cook in your air fryer faster than making regular meatballs on the stovetop.

Why We Love this Chicken Parmesan Meatball Recipe

Meet the best of both worlds- chicken parmesan plus meatballs. I like regular meatballs but these meatballs have more flavor and less fat since we are using chicken. If you love chicken parmesan as much as my family, these are amazing.

If you are looking for an authentic Italian dinner, these Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Meatballs are a quick and delicious dinner that’s ready in no time at all.

Lightly seasoned with panko bread crumbs and stuffed with shredded mozzarella cheese, you will get the same flavors if you were eating a real Italian Chicken Parmesan dinner. You can use either them as a topping on a plate of spaghetti or, as I did with my family, stuffed them into a great hoagie for a fast and easy dinner option.

This is a very versatile dish; you can either serve it with a KETO-friendly option such as Air Fryer Zucchini Noodles or alone as an appetizer with some toothpicks to eat them with!

But if you are looking for a great Italian feast, serve this up with a healthy plate of Instant Pot Italian Spaghetti and end the meal with my homemade Air Fryer Cannolis.

Looking for even more Air Fryer Italian Recipes? Some of my favorites are AIR FRYER EASY ITALIAN CHICKEN TENDERS, AIR FRYER ITALIAN GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH, and AIR FRYER ITALIAN HERB-ROASTED OLIVES.

What is Chicken Parmesan?

Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Parmigiana is an Italian dish that is traditionally made with breaded chicken breasts, then covered with marinara sauce, and then covered in shredded mozzarella cheese. This is more of an American-Italian recipe than a traditional Italian recipe.

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Ground Meat: I used ground chicken but you can use ground turkey or beef if you prefer
Breadcrumbs: Panko or italian breadcrumbs work great
Egg: Holds together the meat mixture to make perfect balls
Italian Seasoning: Usually consists of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and marjoram
Salt and Pepper
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite store bought or make your own!
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
To Serve: Hoagie Rolls, shredded Zucchini, or Pasta

Check Out How To Make Chicken Parmesan Meatballs Air Fryer

How To Make Chicken Parmesan Meatballs in an Air Fryer

In a large mixing bowl, mix the ground chicken, bread crumbs, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the ground chicken, bread crumbs, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.

Using your hands, shape the meatballs into 1 to 2 inch balls. Either place them into a greased baking pan or place them into a greased air fryer basket.
Set the temperature to 350 degrees F, air fryer setting for 10-12 minutes. Flip halfway.

Form your meatballs, and then place them into a greased baking sheet.

Meatballs with Marinara sauce and cheese spread on top.

Spread the Marinara sauce over the cooked meatballs, and then sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top. Set back into the air fryer for a couple of minutes at 300 degrees F or until the cheese has melted.

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Meatballs done with cheese on top.

Serve finished meatballs on a hoagie or with some pasta and enjoy!

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs placed on a hoagie on a plate.

Pro Tips For Making Chicken Meatballs

You can switch this recipe out for ground turkey or ground beef.
Shake the basket several times during the cooking process, or use a pair of tongs to flip the meatballs, this way, both sides cook up perfectly.
Watch the air fryer while the cheese is cooking up; depending on the model of air fryer you own, it will go from undone to burnt in seconds.
Cook these chicken meatballs at a temperature of 350 F whether you are using an air fryer or an oven. If you use ground beef, you can increase the temperature to 375 F. After you add the cheese, decrease the temperature to 350 F so as to not burn your cheese.

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Meatballs ready to eat from the air fryer.

How long should I cook my meatballs?

The cooking time will depend on the type of meat you are using, how big your meatballs are, and if you are using an oven or an air fryer. I have made this recipe in The Instant Pot Vortex, The Instant Pot Crisp Lid, and Cosori Air Fryer. The cooking time is about a minute for each. So I cooked mine in the air fryer for about 12 minutes, but the best way to determine if your meatballs are done is to use a meat thermometer. The meatballs should be cooked to 165 F.

How can I make these meatballs in the oven?

This recipe can be easily converted to a regular oven recipe, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and bake for about 20-25 minutes. In the last 4 minutes of cooking, add the marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese, and return to the oven until the cheese is melted.

Can I use a meat other than chicken for these meatballs?

Absolutely! You can use ground turkey, ground beef or ground chicken. You could also use ground pork but I would recommend mixing pork with another ground meat. All pork meatballs can be quite fatty.

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