Air Fryer Meatballs
Updated Dec 27, 2025
These easy Air Fryer Meatballs are made with all beef and cook in 10 minutes with basic ingredients to serve for dinner or as an appetizer.
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Make Meatballs in the AIr Fryer!
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at making meatballs, then now is the time to give it a shot with this super easy Air Fryer Meatball recipe. Grab a bowl and mix ground beef with just a handful of ingredients and then shape into meatballs. Using the air fryer is a quick way to get crispy, tender meatballs that cook up in half the time than baking in the oven!
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Air Fryer Meatballs Ingredients
- Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef for its meat-to-fat ratio (which will keep the meat moist during cooking).
- Egg: Go for large room temperature eggs!
- Breadcrumbs: I usually make homemade breadcrumbs, but you can use store-bought panko or regular breadcrumbs, too.
- Milk: I prefer whole milk, but non-dairy milk will also work here.
- Parsley: I love the taste of fresh chopped parsley, but if all you have is dried, that will also work (just make sure to halve the parsley in the recipe if you’re using dried).
- Garlic and seasoning: Go for fresh garlic if you can, plus Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to flavor these meatballs.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatballs
Air Fryer Meatballs
These easy Air Fryer Meatballs are made with all beef and cook in 10 minutes with basic ingredients to serve for dinner or as an appetizer.
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
- marinara sauce for serving
Instructions
- Preheat an air fryer to 400ºF.
- Beat the egg in a large bowl. Add the panko breadcrumbs, egg, milk, parsley, garlic and the seasoning and stir to combine. Add the ground beef and mix again to combine. Form into 16 meatballs and set on a plate.
- Transfer the meatballs to the air fryer and arrange in a single layer. You may need to cook in two batches. Cook until the meatballs are browned and the internal temperature of the beef reaches 160°F, shaking the basket halfway through, 8-10 minutes total.
- Allow the meatballs to rest for 5 minutes before serving with marinara sauce, if desired.
Equipment
Notes
My Top Tip: Avoid over-mixing! Mixing too much can leave you with tough meatballs, so your ingredients should be just-combined.
Storage: Keep any leftover meatballs in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, add them to a preheated 250°F air fryer and heat for about 5 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, heat them in a skillet, oven, or microwave.
Freezing: Once you form the meatballs, line a sheet pan with parchment or wax paper and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and store for up 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, thaw them in the fridge overnight, before adding to the air fryer.
*Nutrition label for meatballs only.
Nutrition
Calories: 298kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 119mg, Sodium: 441mg, Potassium: 400mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 245IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Recipe Tips
- Preheat your air fryer. This isn’t always necessary, but when cooking anything raw, it’s usually good practice to preheat the air fryer (just like the oven or a skillet), to ensure that your food cooks evenly.
- Avoid over-mixing. Mixing too much can leave you with tough meatballs! Your ingredients should be just-combined.
- Spread your meatballs out in the air fryer basket. This will help them crisp up on the outside without getting too much moisture on the outer surface.
- Check for readiness by internal temperature, not time. Air fryers can vary, so check your meatballs by temperature. They should be 160°F in the center, which may take more or less time than the recommended 8-10 minutes for this recipe.
Serving Ideas
- Serve with pasta. I love these meatballs in several of my favorite pasta dishes, like my creamy roasted red pepper pasta, my roasted cherry tomato pasta, my baked feta pasta, my classic spaghetti, or my sauteed mushroom pasta.
- Add a dipping sauce. When serving these as an appetizer or a main dish (without pasta), I like to make a dipping sauce to go on the side! My go-to is marinara sauce, but you can also try homemade pesto, or even my healthy alfredo sauce!
- Make a side salad. These meatballs are a great protein dish served alongside a classic Caesar salad, or a hearty Mediterranean chopped salad.
FAQs
Do I need to oil my air fryer basket before cooking?
Nope, it’s not necessary to oil the air fryer basket before cooking meatballs because beef is already fatty, and the air fryer basket is nonstick. If you want to ensure they don’t stick, you can spray the meatballs or the air fryer basket with oil spray.
Why are my meatballs dry?
Your meatballs may be dry because you didn’t add enough liquid, you added too many breadcrumbs, or the meat-to-fat ratio was different than suggested.
Comments
Forgot to buy milk! Anything I can use as a substitute?
Hi! Yes, you could use a little stock instead!
Loved this. Thanks. I didn’t use milk; I used beer for the liquid. Homemade bread crumbs and lots of fresh parsley. 🥇
Sounds great!
Yummy 😋😋
Glad you liked them, Stephen!