Homemade Air Fryer Meatballs

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Air Fryer Meatballs are easy to throw together when weeknights are a bit hectic. Just mix, roll, and cook to perfection in under 20 minutes!

titled collage for air fryer meatball recipe

We’ve all been there – you take ground beef out of the freezer with the intention of making a full meal, only to have life throw you a curveball or two.

Don’t stress! Grab a few items from your fridge and pantry, toss them in a bowl with the meat, and mix up a batch of these air fried meatballs!

ingredients to make air fryer meatball recipe

Air Fryer Meatballs

This recipe yields about 20 total but can easily be scaled up or down depending on how many mouths you need to feed.

Homemade meatballs in the air fryer and in the oven are a favorite around here, so I have plenty of recipes to choose from.

There’s even a cheesy bomb version that is a meal all on its own!

ground beef in bowl topped with seasonings

Tips for Homemade Meatballs in Air Fryer

  • Choose a fattier blend. I recommend using an 80/20 blend for this air fryer meatball recipe so there’s plenty of flavor and moisture.

    If you want something leaner, ground chicken or turkey would make a great substitute for the beef. 
  • Keep it cold. Unlike other meats, ground beef should be handled and cooked straight from the fridge.

    Otherwise, the mixture won’t stick together, and the air fryer meatballs will break apart. 
  • Want some spice? Add a little cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes with the other spices for a touch of heat.
  • Use a light touch. The more you stir or work the meat with your hands, the more likely it is to be tough and dry.

    Mix the ingredients just until combined and evenly distributed.
  • Don’t crowd the basket! Leave some space when placing the meatballs in the air fryer so none of them are touching each other.

    This ensures that they will be browned on all sides.
tray of homemade meatballs ready for air fryer

Air Fried Meatballs Serving Suggestions

These are delicious on their own with a side salad or some veggies. Slice up a few air fried meatballs to toss on a pizza, or load up a hoagie roll for a tender meatball sub.

You can also spoon a few air fryer meatballs over rice or pasta with your favorite sauce – marinara, barbecue, or sweet and sour would be delicious!

cooked cheesy meatballs in air fryer basket

Air Fryer Meatball Recipe FAQ

How do I prevent homemade meatballs from sticking to my hands?

Wet your hands before forming the rounds and continue to dip your hands in a bowl of water throughout the process. This helps create a smooth outer surface as well!

Which breadcrumbs should I use?

Either regular or panko are fine for this air fryer meatball recipe, depending on your texture preferences. Just be sure to grab a plain variety without any added spices.

Can I freeze air fryer meatballs?

Absolutely! They’ll stay fresh for about two months and can be reheated straight from the freezer.

Allow them to cool, then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Pop the tray in the freezer for about an hour and transfer the rounds to a ziploc bag once solid.

To reheat, place frozen meatballs in air fryer and cook at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through. Easy peasy!

Enjoy!
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close up: air fried meatball with cheese on a stick

air fryer meatball

Homemade Air Fryer Meatballs

Donna Elick
Air fryer meatballs are easy to throw together when weeknights are a bit hectic. Just mix, roll, and cook to perfection in under 20 minutes!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine American
Method Air Fryer
Servings 20 meatballs

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 Cup bread crumbs
  • 1/4 Cup milk
  • 1 small white onion, Minced
  • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil, Chopped
  • 1/2 Cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
  • In a large bowl combine the hamburger meat, egg, worcestershire sauce, bread crumbs, milk, minced onion, Italian seasoning, fresh basil, and parmesan cheese.
  • Using a spatula or your hands, mix all of the ingredients together well.
  • Shape the meat into balls that are about two inches around.
  • You can place the meatballs directly into the basket or you can line the basket with a little parchment paper and then place the meatballs on top. Place them in a single layer.
  • I was able to fit about 9 meatballs in at a time. You don’t want them to touch because you want them to cook evenly on all sides.
  • Cook them for about 6-8 minutes, turning them over once halfway through cooking time.
  • They’re ready when they’ve browned nicely on the outside and are cooked throughout!
  • Remove from heat. Allow to cool.
  • You can use the meatballs as is, topped with sauce, on top of pizza, pasta, or even as a meatball sub!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 78cal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 91mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled collage for air fried meatballs

Originally published August 2021, updated and republished February 2023

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5 Comments

  1. I don’t see any cheese in the recipe but you can see it in the photos. How much shredded cheese do you add?

    1. Thank you for catching that. It was written as Parmesan cheese. I updated it for the Colby jack that was used. Enjoy and let us know how it goes.

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