Air Fryer Meatballs

Air Fryer Meatballs are tender, juicy, and so flavorful. They make a perfect, easy appetizer but also taste delicious with spaghetti and marinara sauce!

Meatballs are one of my favorite things to make in the Air Fryer. Just like our Air Fryer Churros and Air Fryer Pickles, this recipe is so easy to make and tastes amazing. They are loaded with flavor, juicy on the inside, and perfect for serving with marinara sauce.

Cooking the meatballs in the Air Fryer is easier than cooking them on the stove or in the oven. They will not fall apart because you have to handle them less, they stay perfectly ball-shaped, and brown evenly. It’s also less messy because you don’t have any oil splattering from the pan.

This recipe doesn’t even use any additional oil! The meatballs fry in the own fat, just like our Air Fryer Chicken Wings, which are an all-time reader-favorite. You need to give them a try. I’m sure you will love them!

How to Make Meatballs in the Air Fryer

1. In a bowl, combine ground meats. Add minced garlic, egg, grated cheese, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Add bread crumbs and blend into mixture. Add milk.
2. Use a cookie spoon to make evenly sized balls (about 1 1/2-inches in diameter).
3. Place meatballs in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees F for 10–12 minutes. Cook in batches if necessary.
4. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. If you don’t have a thermometer, check for doneness by cutting into a meatball.

Julia’s Tips and Tricks

• Avoid over-mixing the mixture, since that usually results in tough meatballs. I recommend using your hands to combine the ingredients.
• Instead of plain breadcrumbs, you can also use Italian-style breadcrumbs.
• I prefer to preheat my Air Fryer. Cooking times are more accurate this way, and food cooks more evenly.
• You don’t need to use additional oil in this recipe. The meat mixture contains enough fat, so the meatballs fry in their own fat.
• This recipe can easily be halved, use the servings’ slider in the recipe card.
• Instead of using only ground beef and ground pork, you can also use 1 pound ground beef, 1/2 pound ground pork, and 1/2 pound ground veal. This combination is what authentic Italian meatball recipes usually call for.
• You could also only use ground beef, the taste will be slightly different, and you need to spray them with cooking spray because ground beef contains less fat than ground pork.

When are they cooked through?

How long the meatballs have to cook in the Air Fryer until they are done depends on the size. At 400 degrees F, golf-ball-sized meatballs take about 10–12 minutes. The meatballs are cooked through when they reach 160 degrees F internally. I recommend using an instant-read thermometer because it helps to avoid overcooking, which results in dry and tough meat.

Can you freeze Meatballs? Yes, you can! I recommend freezing the cooked meatballs – perfect for a quick dinner or snack.

Here is how to do it: Let the cooked meatballs cool to room temperature, then put in a ziplock bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge overnight, or reheat frozen meatballs in marinara sauce on the stove until they are heated through.