When it comes to quick and easy weeknight meals, it’s hard to beat good ol’ fashioned meatballs. This is my favorite recipe for basic all-purpose meatballs – you can serve them 100 different ways – and cooking them in the air fryer saves time and hassle.
This is one of my favorite recipes for a quick family dinner, perfect for a weeknight meal. The meatballs are so easy to make (especially if you have a food processor), and super quick to cook in the air fryer. And then the fun part – you can serve them just about any way you can imagine. Spaghetti and meatballs? Mashed potato and gravy, meatball sub, cocktail meatballs.
Aussies: You can use this same recipe to make rissoles, just make the balls slightly larger and flatten them before cooking.
What do you need?
- Lean ground beef – lean ground beef is best for this recipe (go for 10% fat or less). Ground beef with a lot of fat in it (while delicious) can lead to your air fryer producing a lot of smoke during cooking. Substitute: ground pork, ground chicken, or ground turkey.
- Breadcrumbs – you can use panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs or wholemeal breadcrumbs. For a low-carb option try using almond meal instead.
- Egg – An egg is needed to help bind all the other ingredients together so your meatballs don’t fall apart. If you are out of eggs a tablespoon of mayo will work.
- Onion – Fresh onion is best as it adds texture as well as flavor to the meatballs. Onion flakes (1 tablespoon) can be used in a pinch.
- Garlic – I used freshly crushed garlic to make this recipe, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of minced garlic from a jar, or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Fresh herbs – again, fresh is best, but dried herbs will also work. I used parsley and oregano for this recipe, but feel free to add other herbs you like, or try an Italian herb mix.
Tip 1: Use a food processor
It is easiest to make the meatball mixture with a food processor, but mixing it with your hands is also a super quick and easy way to make them (though messy).
Tip 2: Make them equal sized
Try to make the meatballs the same size as each other so that they all cook at the same rate – using a cookie scoop or large measuring spoon can help with this.
Tip 3: Oil optional
If food tends to stick to your air fryer basket, it is a good idea to give it a quick spritz of olive oil before adding the meatballs to stop them sticking or use an air fryer liner.
Tip 4: Getting cooking times right
Cooking times vary and will depend on a few factors, including exactly how big the meatballs are, and how powerful your air fryer is.
Test meatballs using an instant-read thermometer to check that they have reached the safe internal temperature of 160°F/72°C in the center of the largest one before consuming. Air fry for additional 2-3 minute intervals if required until the safe temperature is reached.
Serving ideas
- Serve on a bed of Instant Pot mashed potato, smothered in mushroom gravy
- Toss with spaghetti, marinara sauce and Parmesan.
- Stick a toothpick in each meatball and serve with your favorite dipping sauce, try hot sauce, tomato sauce, or ranch dressing.
- Make a meatball sub – fill a subway roll with meatballs, top with marinara sauce and cheese, then place it back in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Air Fryer Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatball mixture
- 1 lb ground beef/ beef mince
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Optional
- Olive oil or avocado spray for air fryer basket
Instructions
- Place all the meatball mixture ingredients in a bowl (everything except the cooking oil), and mix well to ensure it is thoroughly combined.
- Scoop up a tablespoon-sized amount of the meatball mixture and roll it into a ball (approximately 1-1½ inches/ 3cm is a good size). Continue until you have used all the meatball mixture.
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F/ 195°C.
- Spritz the air fryer basket with oil if it is prone to sticking, and place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Arrange them so that they are not touching.
- Air fry meatballs for 10-15 minutes until golden brown, and the internal temperature in the center of the largest meatball has reached at least 160°F/72°C [Note 2].
Notes
- Cook times vary. Test the internal temperature with an instant meat thermometer to ensure it has reached at least 160°F/72°C in the center of the largest meatball.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
Storing
Storing and reheating leftovers
If you have any leftover meatballs, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3 days.
You can reheat them in the microwave or in the air fryer. Microwave for a couple of minutes, or air fry for 3-4 minutes, until meatballs are warmed through.
Freezing raw meatballs
You can freeze the raw meatballs as long as you use fresh ground beef to make them (don’t refreeze meatballs if the ground beef you used to make them was frozen initially).
Just put them in a lidded freezer-safe container, and place in the freezer until frozen, then you can transfer them to a freezer bag for easier storage. Use within 3 months.
You can air fry frozen meatballs straight from the freezer, but they will take a few more minutes to cook than thawed meatballs. Make sure you check that the internal temperature has reached the safe temp of 160°F/72°C in the center of the largest few meatballs.
