The Best Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe {Tender & Juicy!} 🍡

Air fryer meatballs in a black plate with marinara sauce, sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley

The Best Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe {Tender & Juicy!} 🍡

https://fryit.co/air-fryer-meatballs/

Whether you're serving them as a main dish, pairing them with pasta, or making them into meatball subs, this Air Fryer Meatballs recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. 😉 Fry it, to believe it!

Prep Time 6

Cook Time 12

Total Time 18

Makes

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!

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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