Air Fryer meatballs are quick and easy to make and super flavorful, with crispy edges on the outside. Use fresh or frozen meatballs!
I will get into the details of how to make Air Fryer meatballs shortly, but you should just know some of these recipe take-aways up front!
Recipe Highlights:
- Cook homemade meatballs or store-bought
- Includes a recipe but most ANY meatballs will work
- Times included for fresh and frozen meatballs
- Reheat meatballs to perfection
Yup, this is going to be a game changer! More meatballs for everyone!
I’ve tested this recipe with countless variations of meatballs and settings so I could be sure this would work for you in your kitchen.
Basically, it’s been meatball heaven around here!
So let’s dive into the nitty gritty.
Cooking meatballs in the Air Fryer is oh so quick and easy.
They got hot and cooked through, with little crispy bits around the edges.
Plus, there’s less mess than frying them on the stove and having to turn them all the different ways. And it’s faster than baking them in the oven.
(Though if you like softer meatballs without the crisp edges, go for baked ones.)
OK, let's get cooking.
Now, I've got some tips and tricks coming up below on how to cook meatballs in an Air Fryer.
Just tryin' to be helpful. Like I said, I've made these lots and lots of ways!
If you'd rather skip on down to the recipe card, just keep scrolling. It's at the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Recipe Tips & Tricks:
- Don’t crowd the meatballs. They should be evenly spaced in the Air Fryer so there is air on all sides of each one. Work in batches if needed.
- Cook fresh meatballs in the Air Fryer at 350 for 10 minutes. Beef, turkey and chicken meatballs all work.
- Frozen cooked meatballs, homemade or from the store, should be cooked at 350 for 12 minutes. Add 1-2 minutes if needed to ensure they are heated through.
The recipe in the recipe card below is for my baked turkey meatballs, just remade with instructions specifically for the Air Fryer.
I also have tested several other kinds of meatballs, including my cheesy chicken meatballs. They leaked out a little in the Air Fryer, just like they do in the oven. So if you’re using a cheesy meatball, that might happen. (Not a huge mess, no big deal, just wanted to point that out.)
Still, whether you’re making Air Fryer turkey meatballs or trying to heat up or cook frozen meatballs in the air fryer, these cook times will work.
(Caveat: Of course, all Air Fryers are different, so if yours cooks hot or runs a little slow, you may need to make adjustments. Thankfully, that will be super easy.)
Also, all of these meatballs were about the same size. I’d call them medium, about 1 inch or so in diameter. We’re talking golf ball sized.
If you’ve got tiny meatballs the size of a grape or huge ones that are more like a baseball, you’re gonna need to significantly adjust your cook times.
Oh, and if you are working in batches, here's how you can keep the already heated meatballs warm.
Place them on a plate lightly tented with foil or place them on a baking sheet in an oven at 250 degrees F.
Don’t just put them on a plate and cover them all the way or they will steam and soften and you’ll defeat the purpose of using the Air Fryer to get those crispy edges.
OK, now, let’s get ready to eat.
Ways to use meatballs:
- Spaghetti and meatballs (duh)
- Meatball subs
- Meatball pizza (cut each meatball in half)
- Meatball lasagna
- Meatball and veggie noodle bowls
- Meatballs and a dip for an appetizer
There are lots of ways to get your meatball game on.
Finally, let’s tackle what to do with leftovers.
Cause it’s great to have some meatballs on hand in the freezer for busy nights.
Freezer Tips:
- I cook all of my meatballs before freezing, so then they are ready to reheat and serve. Feels easier and safer than dealing with raw meat.
- Once the meatballs are cooked and cooled, place them in a freezer ziptop bag or a freezer-safe container. Label the bag, date it and pop it in the freezer for up to 5-6 months.
- To defrost, it's best to take the bag out of the freezer and let the meatballs thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then reheat in the Air Fryer - for maybe 2 minutes - and dig in!
- You can also cook them straight from frozen in the Air Fryer, as mentioned above.
I hope this is helpful to give you more delicious meatball dinners!
Happy cooking and enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Air Fryer Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 to 1.25 pounds lean ground turkey
- ½ small onion, grated (or very finely chopped)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup unseasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer if it requires pre-heating.
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until combined. Be careful not to overmix. I usually start with a fork to get things somewhat combined and then use my hands to gently mix it all together well.
- Shape into 1-inch round meatballs.
- Working in batches so as to not overcrowd the Air Fryer, place meatballs in the Air Fryer tray with a little space between each one for even cooking.
- Cook at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes, until cooked through. Repeat with the remaining meatballs. (Cooked meatballs can be kept warm by placing them on a plate lightly tented with foil or placing them on a baking sheet in an oven at 250 degrees F.) Serve hot and enjoy!
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