Air fryer turkey meatballs are easy to make and so delicious! These homemade turkey meatballs are made with ground turkey and no breadcrumbs and are juicy and flavorful.
Homemade turkey meatballs are so delicious! And I love making them in the air fryer for quick and easy meal that doesn't require turning on my oven.
Even better? These are turkey meatballs with no breadcrumbs, so they don't need panko or breadcrumbs, but they still turn out moist and delicious.
I love to make a batch of these, and have for meals in a variety of ways throughout the week. And the air fried turkey meatballs can even be frozen for later!
Why make turkey meatballs in the air fryer
Fast - These air fried turkey meatballs take only 10-12 minutes to cook. Much quicker than the oven!
Easy - This is an easy recipe to make. All ingredients get combined in a large bowl, then cooked up in the air fryer.
Delicious - The meatballs are juicy and flavorful!
Ingredients
- Ground turkey
- Egg
- Chopped parsley
- Dried thyme or oregano
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
How to make turkey meatballs in the air fryer
Making air fried turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs is so easy!
Add the ground turkey, egg, and the rest of the ingredients to a large bowl.
Combine everything together (I usually do this with my hands), but be careful not to overwork or the meatballs can be tough.
Roll into balls about 1.5 inches in size. This should make about 15-18 meatballs.
Brush or spray air fryer basket with oil. Add the meatballs to the air fryer basket (note - you may have to do multiple batches).
Air fry for 9-12 minutes at 400 degrees F, flipping halfway through cooking.
Meatballs are safe to remove and eat once the internal temperature reads at least 165 degrees F when measured with a meat thermometer.
Serve as desired! I made a quick lemon butter sauce for these and topped with fresh parsley.
How to customize
The homemade turkey meatballs can be customized in so many ways! You can add some cayenne powder or red pepper flakes for a bit of spice.
You can also swap out the seasonings and herbs. You could put in some curry powder, smoked paprika, or other spices you love to really change the flavors if you want.
What to serve with air fried turkey meatballs
I love serving these air fried turkey meatballs with so many things!
I love making a lemon butter sauce with just 2 tablespoon butter, the juice from half a large lemon, and a splash of soy sauce! So good.
The meatballs would also be delicious with tomato sauce, pesto, or even dipped in this homemade chipotle mayo.
Some side dishes that pair nicely with the turkey meatballs are air fried green beans, air fried zucchini, or even some frozen sweet potato fries made in the air fryer.
Recipe tips
- The turkey meatballs may be pretty wet when forming the meatballs -- don't worry, that's normal!
- All air fryers cook differently. Check for doneness using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees F.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook these in 2 (or more) batches.
How long to cook turkey meatballs in the air fryer
Turkey meatballs should be cooked about 9-12 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Cook times may depend on how large you make the meatballs and your particular air fryer.
How to store leftovers
Leftovers of the turkey meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Can you freeze leftover meatballs?
Yes! these meatballs are perfect for freezing. Store in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.
How to reheat meatballs
To reheat meatballs, place in the air fryer and reheat at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes. Frozen meatballs may take an extra few minutes.
More air fryer meatball recipes
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves or dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl.
- Work the spices and egg into the ground turkey until combined. Do not overwork. Meatball mixture may be pretty wet.
- Roll into meatballs 1.5 inches in diameter. This should result in about 15-18 meatballs.
- Brush or spray air fryer basket with oil.
- Add turkey meatballs to the air fryer (you may need to do this in batches). Air fry at 400 degrees for 9-12 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
- Cook until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F or above.
- Remove from air fryer and serve as desired.
Notes
- The turkey meatballs may be pretty wet when forming the meatballs -- don't worry, that's normal!
- All air fryers cook differently. Check for doneness using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees F.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook these in 2 (or more) batches.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
Marilyn
These are delicious! I make them often in my Cuisinart air fryer/toaster oven. 350 degrees, 10-12 minutes
Aimee
Glad you enjoyed!
Debbie
Yes they were wet, but this had no binding ingredient whatsoever. I was willing to try it , even though I questioned it and exactly what I thought would happen, did happen. The meatballs did not hold together AT ALL. I even let them sit for a while and nope. I did not overwork them. I’m skilled in the kitchen.