Air Fryer Meatballs

Air Fryer Meatballs are the way to go when you want a perfectly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside meatball without a ton of excess grease. 

Meatballs are quick to mix together and you always get consistent results when you make them in the air fryer (if you don’t have one yet, we love this one) – deliciously crispy brown on the outside and full of flavor on the inside.  They’re perfect as an appetizer or served classic-style with marinara and spaghetti. 

Tips For Cooking Meatballs In The Air Fryer

Cooking meatballs in an air fryer results in perfectly brown and tender bites. Here are just a few quick tips on how to cook them for the best results.

Don’t over mix the ingredients.

If you over mix the meatball mixture it changes the texture of them and somehow makes them not quite as appetizing.

Use breadcrumbs to help bind them together.

Not only do breadcrumbs act as a filler and binder, but they help keep moisture in the meatball. I know. It seems counter-intuitive but they soak up the extra liquid and fat in a meatball and keep all that flavor locked inside instead of dripping out as it cooks.

Add eggs. 

Eggs are also an important ingredient because they act as a binder for meatballs. There’s nothing like making a batch of meatballs only to have them all fall apart while they’re cooking. Don’t worry. Your meatballs won’t end up tasting like eggs.

Ensure the meatballs don’t touch each other while they cook.

You want to be sure the heated air of the air fryer is able to circulate around all sides of the meatball so each one cooks evenly.  If you’re looking for more tips on making perfect meatballs, check out this great post on How to Make Meatballs!

How Long Do Air Fryer Meatballs Take?

This recipe only takes around 30 minutes from start to finish. Great news when you want a tasty and filling dinner on the table quickly.  

It takes just a few minutes to measure out the ingredients and to shape the meatballs themselves. If you’re short on time, shaping the meatballs ahead of time is a great option so all you need to do when it’s time to make dinner is pop them in the air fryer to cook.   It only takes about 9-11 minutes to cook them in the air fryer because of how small they are. However, depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.  

Because you are limited in how many you can cook at one time, you may want to bake them instead if you need to make a large quantity. This article, How to Bake Meatballs, is the perfect guide for that.

How Far Apart Do You Need To Set Them?

As I mentioned above, you want the meatballs to cook with space between each one. I find it’s best to space them about half an inch apart on all sides. This does depend on the size of your air fryer, so if it’s smaller, just ensure that they aren’t touching.  

When you place them in the air fryer, be sure to leave some space between the meatballs and the sides of the air fryer basket as well. This will allow the air to circulate on each of the sides.

How Many Meatballs Fit In An Air Fryer?

In a medium-sized air fryer, you can fit about 16 meatballs in one batch without having them too crowded in the basket. Larger air fryers may be able to fit all the meatballs in one round. For smaller air fryers, you may want to keep in mind how many batches you’ll have to do and time your dish accordingly.

Do You Need To Spray Air Fryer Meatballs With Oil?

Since there is a decent amount of fat coming from the ground beef and ground pork, you won’t have the spray the meatballs with any oil. It is worth spraying the air fryer basket to ensure that they don’t get stuck and can be removed easily.

Do They Brown Well?

They do! Since the air fryer is circulating the air all around the meatballs, they get nice and brown on all sides without having to flip them.

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