Easy Air Fryer Meatballs
These are the BEST easy air fryer meatballs. Juicy, tender and so quick to make, you’re going to love this delicious recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ground beef. I use an 70/30 beef mix but feel free to use lean ground beef/ beef mince. Ground turkey or ground chicken can also be used if you don’t like red meat.
- Ground pork. I like adding ground pork to meatballs as they add tenderness and more flavor. Substitute with ground beef if you prefer.
- White bread. Soaking bread in milk is an old fashioned tip to making the best meatballs and I absolutely love how juicy this makes the finished meatballs. You can substitute with breadcrumbs if you prefer.
- Milk.
- Parmesan cheese.
- Spices: Dried oregano, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper. The great thing with meatballs is that they are so versatile. Onion powder, dried or fresh parsley, rosemary and thyme will all be delicious too. Flavor them in whichever way to suit the dish you are planning on serving them with. If you want more Middle Eastern flavor, adding spices like cumin, curry powder, sumac etc. are a great idea. Italian? Add basil or your favorite Italian seasoning.
- Onion and fresh garlic.
- A note on egg: I always add an egg to my meatball mixture but forgot when I was testing this recipe. They came out perfectly in tact, juicy and tender. I think as long as you form them properly, you don’t need an egg with these meatballs. Since they’re being air fried, there isn’t a lot of moving going on while they’re cooking so the need for a binding agent like egg is not as necessary.
Servings: 8 as dinner, up to 15 if serving as a snack or appetizer
Calories: 238kcal
Ingredients
for the meatballs
- 500 g (1lb) pork mince / ground pork
- 500 g (1lb) beef mince /ground beef
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 3 slices white bread crusts removed, soaked in ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
- 2-3 teaspoons salt to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Soak the bread in ½ cup milk for a few minutes.
- Fry the onion and garlic in a splash of olive oil until soft and fragrant. Allow to cool.
- Place the pork, beef and onion mixture in a large bowl.
- Add the soaked bread, parmesan cheese and seasonings then mix well.
- Form golf-ball sized meatballs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/205°C then add the meatballs to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 10-12, turning over halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
Nutrition
Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 794mg | Potassium: 414mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Meatballs
- Don’t skip the soaked bread. This is an old trick my grandmother told me to keep meatballs extremely soft and juicy. The bread soaked in milk traps a ton of moisture and delivers the juiciest meatballs.
- Season generously. There’s nothing worse than a bland meatball. Season the meatballs with your favorite herbs and spices, and be generous. To test if the meatball mixture is well-seasoned, fry a teaspoon of the ground beef mix in a hot frying pan and taste then adjust accordingly.
- Use a cookie scoop. I love using a cookie scoop/ice cream scoop for perfectly even meatballs. A quarter cup scoop is perfect for meatballs.
- Don’t overcook! The soaked bread ensures juicy meatballs, even if they’re slightly overdone, but air frying for 10-12 minutes at a high temperature will ensure perfectly cooked meatballs.
Can I make this ahead?
This air fryer meatball recipe is great to prepare ahead. Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer before serving. The raw meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply freeze the meatballs on a sheet pan until frozen then store in freezer bags.
Serving Suggestions
These meatballs make a fantastic snack or appetizer on their own but they can be used in meatball subs, with marinara sauce and pasta or in any with a variety of side dishes.
Meatball Recipes
Turned out amazing – so juicy and flavorful.