Cooking meatballs in the air fryer is a fast way to get dinner on the table. The circulating hot air browns the outside of the meat evenly while keeping the center tender. You avoid the mess of frying in oil on the stovetop.
This recipe takes about thirty minutes from start to finish. Mixing the ground beef with milk soaked breadcrumbs helps the meatballs hold their shape without drying out. Simmering them briefly in marinara sauce at the end gives them a classic flavor.
Why is Air Fryer Meatballs a Must-Try?
Soaking the breadcrumbs in milk creates a panade that prevents the ground beef from drying out during the fast cooking process.
Cooking the meatballs on a crisper plate allows excess fat to drain away from the meat.
Finishing the cooked meatballs in a warm marinara sauce coats them evenly and melts the mozzarella cheese right on top.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Meatballs
• Ground beef: An 80/20 blend provides enough fat to keep the meat tender without causing excessive grease in the air fryer basket.
• Breadcrumbs: Italian-style breadcrumbs come pre-seasoned with herbs. You can use plain breadcrumbs and add an extra pinch of Italian seasoning.
• Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan blends into the meat mixture much better than the powdered variety.
• Marinara sauce: Choose a smooth or chunky jarred sauce depending on your preference.
• Cooking spray: Use a propellant-free oil spray to protect the nonstick coating on your air fryer basket.
Exact quantities are in the recipe card below.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatballs
Step 1: Prepare the meat mixture
Start by soaking the breadcrumbs in milk. This step adds moisture to the ground beef. Add the rest of the meatball ingredients and mix everything together gently with your hands.
Step 2: Shape the meatballs
Roll the mixture into even portions. Keeping the meatballs the same size ensures they cook at the same rate in the air fryer.
Step 3: Air fry the meatballs
Arrange the meatballs in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Cook them until they are browned and reach a safe internal temperature.
Step 4: Simmer in sauce
Warm your marinara sauce on the stove while the air fryer runs. Toss the cooked meatballs into the sauce to coat them in tomato flavor before serving.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Meatballs
Serve these meatballs over a bowl of spaghetti or stuffed into a toasted hoagie roll. A side of garlic bread and a crisp green salad round out the meal.
Expert Tips for Air Fryer Meatballs
For food safety, always cook ground beef to a minimum internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Check the temperature by inserting a meat thermometer into the center of the largest meatball.
Overmixing the ground beef can make the meatballs tough. Stop mixing as soon as the wet and dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
If you have a smaller air fryer, you will need to cook the meatballs in two batches so they have enough room to brown evenly.
How to Store and Freeze Air Fryer Meatballs
Store leftover meatballs and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can freeze the cooked meatballs without sauce for up to three months. Reheat them in a saucepan over medium-low heat until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe FAQs
Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?
Yes, ground turkey works well in this recipe. Choose a blend with some fat, like 93/7, so the meatballs do not dry out.
Do I have to preheat the air fryer?
Preheating helps the meatballs develop a brown crust immediately. If you skip preheating, you might need to add one or two extra minutes to the cooking time.
Can I freeze the meatballs before cooking them?
You can freeze the raw shaped meatballs on a baking sheet. Once solid, transfer them to a freezer bag. You will need to add a few extra minutes to the air frying time when cooking them from frozen.
Air Fryer Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground beef 80/20 blend, 680g
- 0.5 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs 60g
- 0.25 cup whole milk 60ml
- 1 large egg
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese 45g
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray
- 2 cups marinara sauce 470ml
- 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 55g
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir the breadcrumbs and milk together. Let the mixture sit for five minutes so the breadcrumbs soften.
- Add the ground beef, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Mix gently with your hands until the ingredients are just combined.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C).
- Scoop the meat mixture and roll it into one and a half inch balls. You should get about twenty meatballs.
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the meatballs in a single layer with a little space between each one. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Air fry at 380°F (190°C) for 10 minutes. Shake the basket gently halfway through the cooking time. The meatballs are done when they are browned on the outside and reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) on a meat thermometer.
- While the meatballs cook, pour the marinara sauce into a saucepan and warm it over medium heat.
- Transfer the cooked meatballs into the warm sauce and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Top the meatballs with shredded mozzarella cheese and extra parsley before serving.
Notes
