Air Fryer Meatballs
These Air Fryer Meatballs are a favorite for a fast, delicious dinner! Golden on the outside, tender and flavorful inside, these beef meatballs are perfect for serving with pasta or in a meatball sub sandwich.
I love easy air fryer recipes, they make dinner so easy! Our favorites include Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, Air Fryer Hamburgers and Air Fryer Chicken Breast.
Air Fryer Meatballs are the Golden Ticket to an Easy Dinner
It’s no secret that my family loves meatballs. (In fact, I just shared our easy Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe last week!)
What’s not to love? They’re flavorful, kid-friendly and packed with protein. Serve them with pasta, polenta, rice or veggies, or in a Meatball Sub – however you enjoy them, they’re always delicious and satisfying!
I’ve already shared my Crockpot Meatballs recipe and these easy Instant Pot Meatballs, so it was only a matter of time before I tried cooking meatballs in the air fryer. And wow, did we love these!
These air fryer meatballs are nice and golden brown on the outside. I just love that crispy crust that you get with air frying! Inside, they’re tender, juicy and flavorful. This easy air fryer meatballs recipe has become a regular in our weeknight rotation. Find more of our favorite family dinner ideas here.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatballs
Here’s an overview of the recipe steps. For all the details, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Stir together the panko bread crumbs and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add the egg, minced onion, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir.
Mix in the ground beef until just combined. Preheat air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes. Shape the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs.
Add the meatballs to the hot air fryer in a single layer. Air fry at 400° F for 10-12 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through to at least 160° F in the center.
Recipe Variations
- Meat: You can sub ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef. Cook Turkey Meatballs or Chicken Meatballs to 165 degrees F, as measured with an instant read thermometer.
- Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free milk, such as almond milk, and omit the Parmesan cheese.
- Seasoning: Use 1/2 teaspoon onion powder instead of the fresh minced onion. Or, for meatballs with Asian-inspired flavor, cook these Sweet and Sour Meatballs in the air fryer and serve with Teriyaki Sauce or sweet and sour sauce.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store leftover cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat meatballs in a pot of marinara sauce set over medium low heat on the stove. Or reheat in the air fryer at 350° F for 2-4 minutes. Meatballs can also be gently reheated in the microwave, just be careful not to overheat them or they may become tough.
Can I Freeze These Meatballs?
These meatballs freeze great for a make ahead meal. You can freeze them before or after cooking.
- To freeze raw meatballs: First, place them in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet and freeze for 2-3 hours. Once frozen through, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months before cooking.
- To freeze cooked meatballs: Let them cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Can You Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Air Fryer?
Yes! Whether you want to freeze the raw meatballs or just reheat cooked frozen meatballs, you can do so in your air fryer without thawing. For frozen raw meatballs, add a few extra minutes to the cook time in the recipe below. Reheat frozen cooked meatballs in the air fryer at 350° F for about 5-8 minutes, until hot throughout.
Serving Ideas
I like to serve air fryer meatballs with pasta and Marinara Sauce or with Pesto Pasta. You can also use them to make a meatballs sandwich or serve them with a dipping sauce, such as BBQ sauce or even ketchup!
More Favorite Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Meatballs
Ingredients
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup very finely minced yellow onion
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound ground beef, 80 or 85% lean is best
Instructions
- Place Panko bread crumbs and milk in a large mixing bowl and stir them together. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- Add the egg, minced onion, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper to the mixing bowl. Use a fork to mix well.
- Add the ground beef and use your hands to mix it into the other ingredients until just combined. Try not to over-mix or the meatballs may turn out tough.
- Preheat air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes.
- While the air fryer preheats, shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs (each meatball should measure about 1 ½-inches) and place on a sheet of parchment paper.
- Once the air fryer is preheated, put the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket with a little room in between each meatball for air circulation. (Cook meatballs in batches as needed.)
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through. Meatballs should register at least 160° F in the center when tested with an instant read thermometer. Serve meatballs with spaghetti and marinara sauce, in meatball subs, or as desired.
Notes
- Ground turkey or ground chicken may be substituted for the ground beef. Cook turkey or chicken meatballs to at least 165 degrees F in the center, as measured with an instant read thermometer.
- Storing Leftovers: Store leftover cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat meatballs in a pot of marinara sauce set over medium low heat on the stove. Or reheat in the air fryer at 350° F for 2-4 minutes, or reheat gently in the microwave.
- To Freeze Raw Meatballs: First, place them in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet and freeze for 2-3 hours. Once frozen through, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months before cooking.
- To Freeze Cooked Meatballs: Let them cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Can You Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Air Fryer? Yes! Whether you want to freeze the raw meatballs or just reheat cooked frozen meatballs, you can do so in your air fryer without thawing. For frozen raw meatballs, add a few extra minutes to the cook time in the recipe below. Reheat frozen cooked meatballs in the air fryer at 350° F for about 5-8 minutes, until hot throughout.
