Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe …you Won’t Look Back!

A Gift from God… the Air Fryer Meatball

Summary – Cook your homemade beef meatballs at 350° F for 8 minutes. If you want the perfect results with all the secrets, read on.

Ask me about one of the great twentieth century inventions… air fryer meatballs are right up there. Put simply, they are absolutely fantastic!

Why you may be asking? Simple, it is the combination of a fast preparation with a quick cooking time that makes them so compelling. Depending on how you want to serve them, they can be as classy or indeed, casual as you like.

This indeed gives you the perfect flexibility that I so much admire and desire.

My hubby absolutely loves them…

Personally, I love nothing better than throwing the air fried meatballs into some homemade tomato sauce… Italian cooking is a particular favorite of mine.

I’m afraid to say that my hubby lacks the refinement I possess. I’m pretty sure that he missed the finishing school in his education. Unfortunately, he is more cave man than James Bond… and that is certainly reflected in how he likes his meatballs.

No tomato sauce in sight…not even a knife and fork. His caveman style simply involves picking up the meatballs from his plate and putting them straight into hi mouth. Refined right?

My love for him means I must forgive him…or so I’m told anyway 😊

Meatballs are popular…all over the world

Whether you call them a meatball…or a kofte…most cultures have a variation of it. Whether they are made from lamb, as it is in the Indian subcontinent, Beef in the Americas or pork in China, they all have a variation that is very similar.

Regardless of where you come from, meatballs are incredibly popular. Adults and kids alike will devour them and beg for more.

As I mentioned earlier, the meal you produce from them can be as simple or sophisticated as you like. There are no rules to stick to.

The great thing about making your own is that you get to decide what goes in…and what stays out. As parents, we have to be more conscious about what we feed our kids.

Since there is little cost benefit to buying premade meatballs, I like to make my own. That doesn’t mean I’m not making any savings…I make more!

I like to make things in bulk. Effectively the unit cost becomes cheaper and I know that I only need to put the effort in once to produce a large amount.

This is where your freezer is your best friend. I freeze them until they are needed. With air fryer meatballs, I don’t even need to defrost them.

I simply leave them in the air fryer for a couple more minutes. More on the method and recipe later but the convenience cannot be underestimated.

What meat should I use for meatballs?

Personally, I am a fan of beef but this all comes down to personal choice. I would suggest that you research a few recipes and give them a go to find what really suits your palette.

Air fryer meatballs recipe

There are many meatball recipes out there so make sure you spend a moment or two to consider some option. In this post, I am going to give you my favourite recipe, something that is my go-to option and that works well with both adults and children.

How to cook meatballs in an air fryer

Ingredients

¾ Onion (diced)
1 Garlic clove (crushed)
1 lb. Beef mince
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Parmesan
1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
¼ cup Panko
1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 Teaspoon salt
½ Teaspoon Black pepper
Pinch of chili powder (Optional)

Preparation

Step 1 – Sauté the onions and clove of garlic until soft – Allow to cool to room temperature once done

Step 2 – Mix all the ingredients into a bowl and mix. Do not crush the meat, gently mix in the ingredients

Step 3 – Use an ice cream scoop if you have one or use a spoon to measure out a meatball worth of mix. Gently roll into shape in the palm of your hand. Again, do not crush them

Step 4 – Preparation is complete…Preheat your Air fryer

Method

Place your meatballs into the Air fryer basket, ensuring that they are not touching. They need room around them to circulate air.

Cook at 350° F for 8 minutes
After 8 minutes, use a thermometer to check that they are at cooked temperature
If not, put them back in for another minute until they are cooked through
Remove and rest on a paper towel to soak up any extra juice

Tips and secrets to perfect meatballs

Don’t over work the meat as it only ends of making them very tough
Try and make the meatballs the same size so they all cook evenly
Leave enough room in the air fryer for air to circulate freely
Preheat your air fryer
Don’t over salt them
Experiment with herbs and try new flavors

Frozen meatballs in air fryer

If you are freezing homemade meatballs, then you can cook them from frozen. Simply cook them at 350° F for 10 minutes. You should always check that they are cooked through with a food thermometer.

If they are shop bought meatballs, then you should follow the manufacturers guidelines.

Air fryer meatballs cooking time

The cooking time is approximately 8 minutes if the meatball meat is fresh. If the meatballs are frozen, the cooking time is extended to 10 minutes.

Why use an air fryer

Let us be honest, you have so many options when it comes to appliances…I certainly do anyway. If this does not apply to you, use what you have…obvious right?

The reason I use an air fryer to make my meatballs is simple. The speed, they are fantastically quick in an air fryer. It really makes a difference, especially if you are a working mum or you have a busy lifestyle.

They also have the additional benefit… fast clean up. The clean up is literally putting the air fryer basket into the dishwasher alongside the other plates.

FAQ’s

Do I need to use oil to cook meatballs in an air fryer?

No, not for meatballs since the meat itself contains fat. If it is a very low-fat meat, then you can use cooking spray.

Do I need to preheat the air fryer?

You should always preheat your air fryer. Since an air fryer is essentially a high-powered convection oven, it delivers better cooking results if you cook from a pre-heated status. You wouldn’t put something in a cold oven would you.

How much longer do I need to cook frozen meatballs in air fryer?

You can add a couple of minutes onto the cooking time that I have stated above. However, it is always prudent to check that the meatballs are cooked through by using a meat thermometer.

Can I put foil in the air fryer?

The simple answer is yes… but there are a few things that you need to consider. I have written an article on this which can be found here.

Do I need to check the internal temperature of the meatballs?

Unless you have cooked the same thing many times using the same method, I would always suggest that you err on the side of caution and double check the meat is cooked through. It only takes a minute and it can save a real headache later.

What temperature are different meatball meats cooked at?

Your meat thermometer should have a built-in function to tell you depending on the meat. As a guide, beef and lamb are cooked at 145° F and pork is cooked at 140° F.

Verdict

You guessed it… I love me some meatballs! Seriously, this air fryer meatball recipe is one of my absolute favourites. So tasty and so versatile.

I would absolutely recommend that you set aside a couple of hours and batch cook them. This will seriously save you some time and effort later when you are short on time or just not in the mood to cook.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite recipe for meatballs in your air fryer? Why not share it in the comments below, remember, I love hearing from you and respond to every comment.

Now…get them meatballs cooking!

See you soon…Jayne x

Since you are here…can I ask a favor?

It would be really nice if you could share this article and image on your social media.

It’s just a couple of clicks for you but it means the world to me.

Thank you so much…Jayne x

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Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe …you Won’t Look Back!

A Gift from God… the Air Fryer Meatball

Air fryer meatballs recipe