If you’re looking for a go-to air fryer meatballs recipe, this is it. They are juicy, tender, and enhanced by the delightful aroma of herbs and spices.
We’ve tried Greek Meatballs which is an amazing recipe as well. However if you want more flexibility, these bite-sized orbs checked all the boxes.
You can serve these meatballs in various ways. Skewer them as appetizers with a side of marinara sauce, add them to your pasta, incorporate them into your soup, create flavorful sandwiches, and more.
It truly is one of the best meatball recipes I’ve tried.
✦ Bonus: I’ll also give you with some tips on how to make your air-fried meatballs extra juicy and tender. So, stay tuned.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Italian Style Air Fryer Meatballs
✦ You can find the exact measurements of the recipe ingredients and customize the serving size in the recipe card after the detailed step-by-step instructions section.
Here are all the ingredients you need to make these tender and juicy air-fried meatballs. Don’t be intimidated by this list, as most of the items may already be in your pantry.
- Ground beef
- Egg
- Sour cream
- Oil
- Garlic
- Bread crumbs
- Parmesan cheese
- Parsley
- Italian seasoning
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Marinara sauce
If you don’t have marinara sauce, pasta sauce will also work just fine.
Recipe Video
How to Cook Meatballs in the Air Fryer?
Air frying meatballs will take less than 20 minutes, depending on how many meatballs you’d like to make. However, the real work is in turning those ingredients into 1.25-inch round treats. So, let’s begin.
Step 1: Add all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Ina large mixing bowl add all the ingredients: ground beef, large egg, sour cream, oil, crushed garlic, bread crumbs, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, freshly chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Step 2: Gently mix all the ingredients.
Gently mix all the air fryer meatball ingredients with your hands or using a spatula.
Step 3: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 400ºF (204ºC) and then let it cook without food for 4-5 minutes.
🚨 Important: Reduce the cooking temperature to 380°F (193°C) if you’re using a 4-quart air fryer or smaller. They are hotter due to the heating element being closer to the food.
Step 4: Roll the meatballs gently.
Carefully roll the meatball mixture into 1¼-inch balls, utilizing an ice cream scooper/food disher to ensure uniformly shaped meatballs.
💡 Pro Tip: Chill the meatballs for 30 minutes to an hour to retain their round shape and achieve a juicy and tender texture.
Step 5: Air fry meatballs for 10-12 minutes.
Air fry the meatballs for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even cooking. Make sure to space them out nicely in the air fryer. To check for doneness, ensure that the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) or higher.
Once fully cooked allow them to rest for a few minutes before serving.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy your air fried meatballs!
Once your air fryer meatballs are cooked to perfection, it’s time to serve them up!
There are several delicious ways to enjoy these flavorful meatballs. You can serve them as a main dish, accompanied by a side of pasta or rice, and topped with your favorite marinara sauce.
Alternatively, you can turn them into mouthwatering meatball subs by placing them on a crusty roll, adding some melted cheese and a drizzle of marinara sauce.
For a fun appetizer, skewer the meatballs with toothpicks and serve them with a dipping sauce like marinara, barbecue, or creamy ranch.
These meatballs also make a fantastic addition to soups or stews, adding a burst of flavor to the broth.
However you choose to serve them, these air fryer meatballs are sure to be a hit with family and friends, delivering tender, juicy bites that will leave everyone wanting more. Enjoy!
Recommended Air Frying Time & Temperature
For fresh or raw meatballs that are approximately the size of a golf ball (1¼ inches in diameter), cook them for 10-12 minutes at 400°F (204°C). They will be fully cooked in around 8 minutes, but for additional browning, we suggest cooking them for an extra 2-4 minutes.
Mini meatballs that are ¾ inch in diameter will take approximately 8-10 minutes, accounting for the extra browning. On the other hand, extra-large meatballs will cook in around 14-15 minutes.
As always, remember to check the internal temperature of your meatballs using an internal thermometer. They should reach 160°F (71°C) for pork and beef, and 165°F (74°C) for chicken, turkey, and plant-based meatballs like Beyond meatballs or Impossible meatballs.
The Secret to a Juicy & Tender Meatballs
Here are some tips to improve the texture and juiciness of your meatballs.
Use High Fat Content Meat: Opt for ground meat with a higher fat content. Avoid going for the leanest meat options, as the fat contributes to keeping the meatballs moist and juicy during cooking.
Use a Binding Element: Eggs or breadcrumbs help bind the meatballs together and retain moisture. These binders also contribute to the overall texture of the meatballs.
Add Moisture: Incorporate a moisture-enhancing ingredient like milk or sour cream into the meat mixture. You can even soak the breadcrumbs in milk for added moisture.
Be Gentle When Mixing & Rolling the Meatballs: Avoid overworking the meat mixture when shaping the meatballs. Overmixing can lead to denser and tougher meatballs. Gently roll them into round shapes without compacting the mixture too much.
Chill the Meatballs Before Air Frying: Chill the meatballs for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Not only does this prevent excessive rendering of fat, but it also helps maintain the shape of your meatballs.
Cook at High Heat: Cooking at the highest possible air fryer temperature of 400°F (204°C) results in shorter cooking times. This shorter duration helps minimize moisture evaporation, ensuring the meatballs retain their juiciness.
Freezing & Storage
Freezing: If you want to freeze your meatballs, do so before cooking them. To freeze your meatballs, start by arranging them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Make sure they are not touching each other to prevent sticking when frozen.
Allow them to freeze until they are solid. Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. It’s a good idea to label the bag or container with the type of meatball and the date for easy reference.
These frozen meatballs can be stored in the freezer for 1-2 months, ready to be conveniently used whenever you need them.
Fridge: If you have any leftover air-fried meatballs, you can store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. However, it’s important to check for any signs of spoilage by day 3 before reheating them.
Reheating: To reheat your meatballs that are in the fridge, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (177°C), and then cook the meatballs for 5-6 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
If you want to cook your frozen meatballs, set your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) and cook them for 14-16 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) or higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can air fry meatballs! Air frying is a fast and efficient way to achieve juicy and tender meatballs. After rolling the meatballs, they typically only require 10-12 minutes of cooking time at high heat.
For raw or fresh meatballs, it typically takes 10-12 minutes to cook in the air fryer at 400°F (204°C). However, for frozen meatballs, the ideal cooking time is usually 14-16 minutes.
To make meatballs in the air fryer, first prepare your meatball mixture and gently roll it into 1.25-inch balls. Next, preheat your air frye and cook the meatballs for 10-12 minutes. Remember to flip them halfway through the cooking process and continue cooking until they are golden brown or the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
This ingredients checklist is interactive; you can use it as your grocery list.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 450 grams
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons parsley freshly chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 tablespoons Marinara sauce for serving
Instructions
- Transfer all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the ground beef, egg, oil, crushed garlic, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Combine all the ingredients until the mixture is well mixed and uniform.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). If your air fryer has a capacity of 4 quarts or smaller, please see the note for more info.
- Gently roll the meatball mixture into 1¼-inch balls, using an ice cream scooper (food disher) for evenly shaped meatballs. Optionally, you can chill the meatballs for 30 minutes to an hour, which helps retain their shape and prevents excessive fat melting. This recipe will yield approximately 14-16 meatballs.
- Air fry meatballs for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking. Make sure to space them out nicely in the air fryer. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meatballs. They should reach 160°F (71°C) or higher to ensure they are fully cooked.
- Let the meatballs rest for a few minutes, then serve your Italian air-fried meatballs with marinara sauce. Sprinkle them with grated Parmesan cheese and a garnish of parsley for presentation. Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Notes
- For smaller air fryers (4-quart and below), reduce the cooking temperature to 380°F (193°C). They generate more heat because of the heating element’s proximity to the food.
- If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 400°F (204°C) and then let it cook for 4-5 minutes without food.
- Be gentle when mixing and rolling the meatballs. Applying too much pressure can result in a tougher texture.
- Chilling the meatballs for at least 30 minutes will help them retain their shape and contribute to a tender texture by preventing excessive fat melting..
- The easiest way to roll meatballs is to use a food disher or ice cream scooper. They will be evenly sized.
- For juicier and more tender meatballs, use ground beef with a higher fat content and cook them at high heat, around 400°F (204°C). Cooking at high heat reduces the cooking time, resulting in less moisture evaporation and helping to retain the juiciness of the meatballs.
- Suggested Cooking Times: Regular-size meatballs (1¼-inch in diameter) will cook for 10-12 minutes. Mini meatballs that are ¾ inch in diameter will take approximately 8-10 minutes, accounting for the extra browning. On the other hand, extra-large meatballs will cook in around 14-15 minutes.
- Ground pork and beef should reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) for safe consumption.
- I used a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus to test the air fryer meatballs recipe. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer, the size of your meatballs and the number of servings you are making. For optimal results, begin with the lower end of the suggested cooking time.
Nutrition
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