Air Fryer Meatballs
Juicy, tender air fryer meatballs with classic Italian flavor, ready in under an hour with minimal mess. Perfect for piling onto pasta, tucking into subs, or serving as a party bite.
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Servings:
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 1 1/4 lb ground beef (80–85% lean)
- 2/3 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp finely grated onion
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp milk
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- In a large bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, milk, grated onion, garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes (if using). Let the mixture sit 3 minutes to hydrate the crumbs.
- Add the ground beef, Parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper. Using a fork or your fingertips, mix just until everything is evenly distributed—stop while you can still see small streaks of meat. Rest the mixture 5 minutes to firm up.
- Line a tray with parchment. Scoop and roll 1 1/4-inch meatballs (about 1 ounce each) and set them on the tray. Chill 10 minutes to help them keep their shape.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes. Lightly mist the basket with oil if your fryer tends to stick, then arrange meatballs in a single layer with space between each (work in batches as needed).
- Air fry at 390°F for 7 minutes, then turn or shake the basket. Continue cooking 4–6 minutes more, until browned with an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Transfer cooked meatballs to a warm plate and repeat with remaining batches. Serve hot as-is, with warm marinara, or over pasta. Tip: Use an instant-read thermometer and avoid overmixing for the juiciest texture.
Notes
For extra browning, give the meatballs a very light oil mist right before air frying. Leftovers keep well refrigerated up to 4 days; reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Air Fryer Meatballs flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.