Juicy Air Fryer Meatballs in 30 Minutes

These air fryer meatballs come together in just 30 minutes with simple ingredients you might already have on hand. They’re juicy and tender on the inside with a slightly crisp crust on the outside. Perfect for a big bowl of spaghetti, creamy Italian meatball soup, or meatball subs!

 

Easy Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe

• These savory Italian air fryer meatballs make pasta night a breeze and the best part is that the air fryer does all the work for you!
• No need to stand over the stove, constantly turning meatballs in a pan of sputtering oil, only to end up with meatballs that are anything but round.
• These meatballs cook up perfectly juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside with completely hands-off cooking time for you. And they come out perfectly round every time!

Ingredients for Air Fryer Meatballs

Italian Breadcrumbs 

Italian breadcrumbs are already seasoned, typically with Italian seasoning. You can also use plain breadcrumbs and add a little extra Italian seasoning.

Whole Milk

Pouring milk over the breadcrumbs creates a paste-like mixture called panade. This adds moisture to the meatballs and ensures that they hold together well and cook up perfectly tender. I prefer whole milk but you could also use 2% milk or even half and half.

Ground Beef

I usually grab 80/20 or 85/15 ground beef. Fat adds flavor and the higher the fat content, the juicier and more tender your meatballs will be. Skip the 90/10 and 93/7 ground beef for this recipe.

Parmesan Cheese

I like freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best flavor. You could also use Asiago or Romano cheese.

Yellow Onion

Yellow onion works best for this recipe but you could sub with white onion or even red onion.

Fresh Parsley

Freshly chopped parsley adds tons of bright flavor to these meatballs and contrasts perfectly with the dried herbs. Feel free to switch it up and add other fresh herbs in place of the parsley. You can also use dried parsley but add half the amount called for in the recipe as the flavor of dried herbs is more concentrated.

Italian Seasoning

If you don’t have Italian seasoning on hand, substitute with dried thyme, dried oregano, dried basil, dried rosemary, and dried marjoram. And remember, add extra dried herbs if you’re using regular breadcrumbs instead of Italian breadcrumbs.

Garlic

Finely minced or grated garlic adds delicious flavor to the meatballs. I love to use a microplane to grate the garlic because it takes just a minute and allows the garlic to really be incorporated throughout the meatballs. You can also substitute with 1/2-3/4 of a teaspoon of garlic powder.

Egg Yolk

Egg helps bind everything together so the meatballs don’t fall apart while cooking. The white doesn’t add much benefit so in this recipe you can leave it out and just use the yolk.

How to Make Meatballs in the Air Fryer

Heat the air fryer to 375 degrees. Pour milk over breadcrumbs in a small bowl and let them soak for a bit while you prep the other ingredients.

Add Parmesan cheese, onion, parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic, egg yolk, and a few large pinches of salt and pepper to a large bowl. Add milk-soaked breadcrumbs as well.

Mix until well combined.

Add ground beef to the bowl and use your hands to thoroughly combine the ingredients but do not over-mix.

Use a cookie scoop to scoop meatballs. Lightly oil hands and roll meatballs into round, uniform meatballs.

Place them in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray, spacing them out so there’s about a half inch between them. Cook for 6-12 minutes or until they are cooked through.

Serve with a big bowl of spaghetti or add them to creamy Italian meatball soup and enjoy!

Tips for Making the Best Meatballs

• Don’t forget to soak the breadcrumbs. This will help create another binding element that works in tandem with the egg, and it adds extra moisture so the meatballs don’t dry out. 
• Add the meatballs in a single layer. When you place the meatballs on the air fryer tray or in the basket, make sure they are in a single layer and spaced out a bit. This will ensure that they cook evenly.
• Cooking time will vary depending on what type of air fryer you have. I use the Instant Vortex and find that about 6-8 minutes is enough for my meatballs when I use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop.

Meatball Flavor Variations

• Try using different proteins instead of beef. Ground chicken, ground turkey, or a mixture of ground beef and ground Italian sausage are all great options. Just keep in mind that the leaner meats are going to have a bit less flavor because they have less fat.
• Feel free to switch out the Italian seasoning or parsley for your favorite dried or fresh herbs.
• Add a cube of mozzarella cheese to the center of each meatball for cheesy stuffed meatballs!

FAQs

Is it better to bake or air fry meatballs?

While both are delicious, air fryer meatballs cook much quicker and you don’t have to preheat the oven! They also come out perfectly tender and juicy on the inside with an extra crispy crust that you just can’t get from baking in a traditional oven.

What temperature do you cook meatballs to?

Meatballs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. You can use a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the meatball, or you can carefully cut a meatball in half to check that the center is no longer pink.

How do you know that meatballs are cooked through and done?

The best way to know if your meatballs are cooked through is to test the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Once it reaches 165 degrees, they’re done. They should also be browned on the outside and firm to the touch.

Why do meatballs come out dry?

Typically meatballs end up being dry because they are overcooked. Because all air fryers are different, it’s important to check your meatballs throughout the cooking process and make sure they don’t overcook. Use a meat thermometer or carefully grab a meatball out of the air fryer and cut it in half. Once it’s no longer pink in the middle, it’s cooked through!

What to Make with Leftover Meatballs

• creamy Italian meatball soup (pictured below)
• baked meatball sub sandwiches
• homemade spaghettios
• 20-minute baked ravioli
• baked tortellini casserole
• penne Pomodoro
• baked rigatoni
• copycat Noodles and Co. penne Rosa

Making Air Fryer Meatballs Ahead of Time

These air-fried meatballs are the perfect make-ahead protein for meal prep or just to prepare an easy meal for a busy week ahead! Cook as directed, toss them in your favorite sauce, and pop them in the fridge. When you’re ready for a spaghetti dinner all you have to do is boil the pasta and reheat the meatballs!

Storing Leftover Air Fryer Meatballs

Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Freezing Leftover Meatballs

Freeze leftover meatballs in an airtight, freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Freezing Raw Meatballs

Place raw meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop them in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until frozen. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then cook according to recipe instructions, adding a bit of extra cooking time to account for the cold meatballs. Or you can cook from frozen – see instructions below.

Air Frying Frozen Meatballs

• If you’re cooking meatballs from frozen, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
• Place frozen meatballs on the air fryer tray or in the basket.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through in the center and have a dark brown crust on the outside.

Reheating Air Fryer Meatballs

Reheat meatballs in the air fryer at 350 degrees until warmed through. Or bake in a 350-degree oven until warmed through. Or cook in a large saute pan over medium heat until warmed through. You can also microwave them in 30-60 second increments until warmed through.

Try these air fryer recipes next!

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