Introducing Juicy Air Fryer Beef Meatballs—perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender perfection in the air fryer.
Cooking meatballs in the air fryer offers the convenience of a healthier method while preserving their delicious flavor and juicy texture.
Easy Air Fryer Beef Meatballs
For best results, remember to preheat your air fryer before cooking to ensure even cooking, tender meatballs with a crispy exterior.
Try more popular ground meat recipes like turkey meatballs, ground pork stir fry, and these healthy ground beef lettuce wraps.
Jump To
- Easy Air Fryer Beef Meatballs
- Why These Easy Air Fryer Meatballs Are The Best
- 🛒 Recipe Ingredients
- 🥘 How to Make Air Fryer Meatballs
- How to Prepare Frozen Air Fryer Meatballs
- Variations
- 📋 Recipe Tips
- 🍴Tools You'll Need
- 🍱 Storage Instructions
- 🔥 How To Reheat Meatballs
- What to Serve with Juicy Air Fryer Meatballs
- ♨️ Air Fryer Tips
- More Quick and Easy Air Fryer Favorites
- Did You Try This Recipe?
- 📖Recipe
- 🤷 Air Fryer Beef Meatballs: FAQS
- More Favorite Beef Recipes
Why These Easy Air Fryer Meatballs Are The Best
✅ Perfectly Crispy Texture - Achieve a delightful crunch with minimal oil using our air fryer meatball recipe, ensuring each bite is crispy outside and tender inside.
✅ Versatile and Flavorful - Packed with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and Parmesan, these easy meatballs offer a burst of savory flavor that complements any sauce or dish.
✅ Healthy and Quick - Crafted with lean ground beef and cooked using an air fryer, these homemade air fryer meatballs are ready in minutes, making them ideal for busy weeknights or appetizers.
What temperature to cook meatballs in air fryer?
Air fryer meatballs time and temp: A temperature of 375°F (190°C) is generally recommended for cooking meatballs in the air fryer. Adjust slightly based on your air fryer model and preferences.
🛒 Recipe Ingredients
- Lean ground beef (or Beef + Pork Mix) - I like to use lean ground beef. This provides a meaty base with less fat, ensuring meatballs are juicy yet healthier.
- Bread crumbs - Add texture and help bind the ingredients together, which is essential for forming the best meatballs. Use regular or seasoned crumbs (then omit the Italian seasoning).
- Egg - Acts as a binder, holding the meatballs together during cooking.
- Milk - Adds moisture to the meatballs, keeping them tender.
- Fresh parsley - Adds a fresh, herbaceous flavor to the juicy meatballs. You can leave it out if you need to.
- Parmesan cheese - Provides a savory umami flavor and helps bind the meatball mixture.
- Italian seasoning - A blend of herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme, adding classic Italian flavor.
- Garlic powder - Enhances the savory taste with a hint of garlic.
- Salt and black pepper - Season generously!
- Olive oil - I use natural olive oil cooking spray/mist. Oil helps to create a crispy exterior for the meatballs.
👩🍳 You'll find the complete list of ingredients below the recipe card.
🥘 How to Make Air Fryer Meatballs
Making the best air-fryer meatballs is quick and simple.
With these easy-to-follow steps, you can make them in just 20 minutes.
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: Mix all the ingredients except the meat in a bowl.
- Add the ground beef and combine to form about 20 meatballs, each the size of 2 tablespoons. Store the meatballs on a baking sheet while you cook in batches.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Heat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Air Fry the Meatballs: Place the meatballs directly to air fryer basket in a single layer. Lightly spray with cooking oil, and cook for 10-12 minutes until browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Rest and Serve: Let the meatballs rest for 3 minutes before serving.
How to Prepare Frozen Air Fryer Meatballs
To air fryer meatballs directly from frozen follow these simple steps:
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 375°F to preheat while you prepare the meatballs.
- Arrange Meatballs: Place the frozen meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even cooking.
- Cooking Time: Cook the frozen meatballs for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking for even browning.
- Check Doneness: Once the cooking time is up, check the internal temperature of the meatballs. Meatballs are done when they reach at least 165°F to ensure they are fully cooked.
- Serve: Let the meatballs rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy them plain or with your favorite sauce.
Variations
🥩 Different Meats - Use a mix of ground beef and ground pork, ground turkey, or ground chicken for different flavor profiles. Lamb is also a popular option.
🌿 Herb Variations - Experiment with different herbs such as basil, oregano, or thyme instead of parsley for varying herbaceous notes.
🧀 Cheese Options - Substitute Parmesan cheese with other cheeses like shredded mozzarella, cheddar, or even feta for a different taste.
🍞 Breadcrumbs - Swap regular breadcrumbs with panko breadcrumbs for a lighter, crunchier texture.
🍝 Sauce Options - Serve with marinara sauce, creamy Alfredo sauce, or a tangy barbecue sauce for different flavor profiles.
💡 Additions: Mix in finely chopped onions or minced garlic for extra flavor. Consider adding a dash of Worcestershire sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a kick.
📋 Recipe Tips
- If you've made larger meatballs, simply extend the air frying time by an additional 2 minutes.
Air fryers can vary, so check your meatballs a few minutes early to ensure they're cooked to perfection without becoming overdone. The internal temperature at the center should reach 165°F. - For storing leftover air fried meatballs, place them in a sealed container or zip-top bag. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to a month.
- There's no need to flip the meatballs in the air fryer, but if you notice they're browning too quickly, gently shake the basket or turn them over halfway through cooking.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the meatballs rest for a few minutes after cooking. This allows juices to redistribute, resulting in juicier meatballs.
- Serve with Sauce: Whether marinara, BBQ, or another favorite sauce, serving meatballs with a dipping or drizzling sauce enhances their flavor and adds variety.
- Uniform Size: Ensure meatballs are similar in size to promote even cooking. Aim for meatballs around 1 to 1 ½ inches in diameter.
- Single Layer of meatballs: Arrange meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking, so cook in batches if necessary.
- Spray with Oil: Lightly spray or brush the meatballs with cooking oil before air frying. This helps them brown and crisp up nicely.
🍴Tools You'll Need
- Baking Sheet - to store the meatballs while you're cooking in batches.
- Air Fryer - this is what I use and love for years!
- Measuring cups and spoons
🍱 Storage Instructions
Let the meatballs cool completely at room temperature before storing.
- 🍱 To Store. Put the meatballs in an airtight container or zip-top bag and keep them for up to 4 days.
- 🥶 Freezing. To freeze, place the cooled meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. They can stay in the freezer for up to 3 months.
🔥 How To Reheat Meatballs
Using The Air Fryer Method:
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Air fry for 5-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until they are heated through and reach 165°F internally.
Oven Method:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Arrange meatballs on a baking sheet, optionally covering with foil, and bake for 15-20 minutes until heated through (165°F internal temperature).
Stovetop Method:
Heat a skillet over medium heat, add meatballs in a single layer, optionally covering with a lid.
Heat for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until they reach 165°F internally.
Microwave Method:
Place meatballs in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a lid or vented plastic wrap, and microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes.
Check and stir, continuing in 1-minute intervals until they reach 165°F internally.
What to Serve with Juicy Air Fryer Meatballs
Here are some tasty options to serve air fryer meatballs with:
- Pasta: Serve in tomato sauce with spaghetti or your favorite pasta for a classic Italian meal.
- Salad: Pair with a fresh green salad tossed with vinaigrette for a lighter option.
- Vegetables: Serve with roasted vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or bell peppers for added nutrition.
- Mashed Potatoes: Enjoy with creamy mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
- Sub Sandwiches: Make meatball subs by placing the meatballs in a crusty roll with marinara sauce and melted cheese.
- Rice: Serve over rice pilaf or with a side of steamed rice for a complete meal.
- Meatball Appetizer: serve the meatballs with tasty dipping sauces or hummus.
♨️ Air Fryer Tips
Here are some easy-to-follow tips for using your air fryer, especially when making delicious meatballs!
♨️ Preheat your air fryer: Before cooking your meatballs, set your air fryer to 400 degrees. This helps the air fryer get hot and ready, so your meatballs cook evenly and faster!
♨️ Avoid stacking or overlapping: When placing your meatballs in the air fryer basket, ensure they're in a single layer. This ensures they cook evenly—some won’t be undercooked while others are burnt. Air frying works best with smaller batches!
♨️ Shake halfway through: About halfway through the cooking time, pause the air fryer and shake the basket gently. This helps to ensure that the meatballs cook evenly on all sides.
♨️ Check for doneness: Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure they are fully cooked and safe to eat.
More Quick and Easy Air Fryer Favorites
📖Recipe
Juicy Air Fryer Beef Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound lean ground beef, or a mix of ground beef and pork
- ⅓ cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- olive oil spray, for cooking
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: Mix all the ingredients except the meat in a bowl. Add the ground beef and combine to form about 20 meatballs, each the size of 2 tablespoons.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Heat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Air Fry the Meatballs: Place the meatballs directly to air fryer basket in a single layer. Lightly spray with cooking oil, and cook for 10-12 minutes until browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Rest and Serve: Let the meatballs rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Notes
- How to reheat meatballs in air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry for 5-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until they are heated through and reach 165°F internally.
- To Store: Put the meatballs in an airtight container or zip-top bag and keep them for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: To freeze, place the cooled meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. They can stay in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
🤷 Air Fryer Beef Meatballs: FAQS
Here are answers to your questions about cooking meatballs in the air fryer and the comparison between baking and frying:
If reheating pre-cooked meatballs, typically 5-8 minutes at 350°F (175°C) should be sufficient. Adjust as needed based on size and quantity.
Yes, you can cook raw meat in an air fryer. It's a convenient way to cook meatballs from scratch without deep frying.
Yes, you can use aluminum foil in an air fryer, but make sure it's loosely placed and doesn't block the air vents to allow proper air circulation.
Depending on their size, raw meatballs typically take 10-12 minutes to cook through at 375°F (190°C).
Use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Baking and air frying are healthier alternatives to frying because they use less oil. Air frying tends to produce a crispier exterior compared to baking.
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