Air fryer meatballs are easy to make and so juicy and delicious. These meatballs can be customized with different herbs and spices. These air fried meatballs use ground beef and are seasoned with Italian herbs.
Lately I've been making these meatballs in the air fryer. They are delicious and so easy to make. They come out juicy and are just perfect in so many ways.
I've eaten them as pictured above -- with tomato sauce and spaghetti.
I've eaten the air fried meatballs tossed in a little bbq sauce. I've eaten them in a salad. I've eaten them on their own. They are just so customizable and can be served in so many ways.
And air fryer meatballs are just so family friendly. My (hard to please) kids even like them.
Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Egg
- Panko - I typically use panko, but you can also use breadcrumbs
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Milk - Any type of milk will work, dairy or non-dairy
- Italian seasoning - If you don't have Italian seasoning, use a combination of dried herbs like basil, oregano, parsley, etc.
- Salt
- Pepper
How to make air fried meatballs using ground beef
In a large bowl, crack an egg.
Whisk.
Add panko, milk, and seasonings to the bowl.
Whisk together until combined.
Add the ground beef and work together until all combined. Make sure panko mixture is combined, but do not overwork meatballs. Form 18-20 round balls.
Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes. Brush air fryer basket with oil.
Add meatballs in a single layer. (You may need to do multiple batches).
Cook at 400 degrees F for 9-11 minutes, shaking the basket 1-2 times during cooking.
Meatballs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Plate as desired! I tossed with some tomato sauce and served with spaghetti.
Tips for making meatballs in the air fryer
- Cook times will vary based on the size of your meatballs (and sometimes your air fryer). Meatballs should cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Try not to overwork the meat when combining the panko mixture, otherwise the meatballs may be tough.
How to customize
The air fried meatballs can be customized in so many ways.
Want to give them Thai vibes? Add some finely chopped lemongrass and a little fish sauce to the mixture and swap out the beef for chicken.
Want to given them Greek vibes? Switch out the beef for lam and serve with feta and a cucumber salad.
The options are endless!
More air fryer meatball recipes
Ways to serve air fryer meatballs
I love serving air fryer meatballs with some pasta. They are excellent paired with this creamy harissa pasta, but simple tomato sauce and spaghetti is delicious too.
I also like just eating them on their own alongside some air fried waffle fries or air fried sweet potato fries. They are great with a dipping sauce like this homemade chipotle mayo or honey mustard bbq sauce.
I also love serving them in a salad or grain bowl like this CAVA copycat bowl.
How long to store leftover meatballs in the fridge?
Leftover meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container.
Can I freeze leftover meatballs?
Yes! You can freeze cooked meatballs for up to months in the freezer.
How to reheat leftover meatballs
To reheat leftover meatballs, add to your air fryer and cook for 4-6 minutes at 350 degrees F.
If reheating from frozen, add several minutes to the cooking time and cook until hot on the inside.
How long to cook meatballs in the air fryer
Cook times for making meatballs in the air fryer will depend on several factors including type of meat being used (chicken, lamb, beef, turkey), how big your meatballs are, and what ingredients you have inside.
These beef meatballs that are about 1.5 inches in diameter took 9-11 minutes to cook at 400 degrees F. They should be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F when the inside is measured with a meat thermometer.
More air fryer recipes to love
- Air fryer sweet potato wedges
- Air fryer waffle fries
- Air fryer apples
- Air fryer maple salmon
- Air fryer panko chicken
- Air fryer IKEA meatballs
Air Fryer Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 egg
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Crack an egg into a large bowl. Whisk. Add the panko, milk, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the ground beef to the bowl and work together, incorporating the panko mixture into the beef. Do not overwork the mixture.
- Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.
- While air fryer preheats, form 18-20 1.5 inch meatballs.
- Add meatballs to the air fryer basket. (You may need to cook in batches). Cook for 9-11 minutes, shaking basket a few times during cooking, or until internal temperature of meatballs reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove from basket and serve as desired.
Notes
-
- Cook times will vary based on the size of your meatballs (and sometimes your air fryer). Meatballs should cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F
- Try not to overwork the meat when combining the panko mixture, otherwise the meatballs may be tough.
-
- You may need to cook in several batches, depending on the size of your air fryer basket.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
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