Skip to Content

Air Fryer Meatballs

Air Fryer Meatballs are perfect little bites of meatiness that cook up beautifully in the Air Fryer. I don’t know who said that Homemade Meatballs take too much time and effort to make, but they definitely need to see this Air Fryer recipe.

Air Fryer Mini Meatballs

Disclosure – I may get a small commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.

Beef and Pork Meatballs in Air Fryer

Key to Success #1 – Don’t Go Lean On This One

Usually, I’m a big proponent of using very lean meats in recipes but these Air Fryer Meatballs really need some fat to keep them tender under high heat.

I recommend using a mixture of beef and pork that has between 10-15% fat when combined.

If you want to use lean ground beef, just combine it with ground pork which has a little more fat.

Or you can use all ground beef if you prefer.

Don’t forget to check out the 5 best non-toxic air fryers that don’t cause cancer.

Mini Meatballs in Air Fryer

Key to Success #2 – Make Consistently Sized Meatballs

For these Air Fryer Meatballs, we’re going miniature on the size so you can use a small cookie scoop to form the meatballs.

The small cookie scoop portions out about 2 teaspoons of dough … or meat.

This is a good side to form a 1-inch meatball.

TIP! If you don’t have a small cookie scoop, try using a 1/2 tablespoon to portion the meat.

Of course, you can make larger meatballs, but you will need to increase the cooking time.

The small meatballs cook in about 6 minutes and the larger 1-1/2-inch meatballs cook in about 10 minutes.

It’s important to make meatballs that are the same size so that they will cook in the same amount of time.

Otherwise, you may have some meatballs that are perfectly cooked while others are undercooked.

Air Fryer Easy Meatballs

Key to Success #3 – Use a Meat Thermometer

With such a short cooking time for these meatballs, it’s important to use a meat thermometer to make sure the meatballs are cooked thoroughly.

I recommend using an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meatballs while air frying.

Check the temperature at the 6-minute mark.

If they are at 165 degrees F, then you’re good to go.

If not, check them every minute or two until they reach the proper temperature.

For the most tender meatballs, do not over-cook them.

Meatballs Cooked in Air Fryer

If you’re interested in making a larger batch of meatballs in the oven, check out our Easy Oven Meatballs recipe.

Save this Air Fryer Meatballs recipe to your favorite Air Fryer board!

Air Fryer Homemade Meatballs
one Air Fryer Meatball

Air Fryer Meatballs

Yield: 32 small meatballs
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes

Air Fryer Meatballs are perfect little bites of meatiness that cook up beautifully in the Air Fryer. I don't know who said that Homemade Meatballs take too much time and effort to make, but they definitely need to see this Air Fryer recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 Tbsp white onion, finely diced
  • 2 Tbsp shredded parmesan
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 Tbsp parsley chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients until just combined.
  3. Shape mixture into meatballs, approximately 1 Tablespoon each.
  4. Cook 6-8 minutes, until cooked through.

Notes

To make approxmiately 20 medium-sized 1 1/2-inch meatballs, cook time is about 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees F. 

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 32 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 49Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g

Nutrition Information Provided For Educational and Informational Purposes Only.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have suggestions for improvement?

Your feedback helps us create better recipes for you. Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!

Check out these other great Air Fryer recipes:

Air Fryer Pretzel Dogs

Air Fryer Pork Chops

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Air Fryer Crispy Bacon

Air Fryer Zucchini and Yellow Squash

Air Fryer Beef and Bean Chimichangas

Skip to Recipe