Air Fryer Homemade Meatballs: Quick, Easy, Delicious!

Air fryers are a great way to make homemade meatballs. They're quick, easy, and healthy, and can cook meatballs in about half the time it takes to grill or pan-fry them. Air fryers also require little to no oil, and are much easier to clean up than a stovetop.

The key to getting meatballs right in an air fryer is to ensure they're all roughly the same size so they cook evenly, and to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket so that air can circulate.

You can make meatballs in an air fryer with various types of ground meat, including beef, pork, lamb, chicken, or even a mix. You can also add vegetables like onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini for extra flavour and moisture.

So, can you make homemade meatballs in an air fryer? Absolutely!

Meat and flavour combinations

There are many different combinations of meat and flavourings you can use to make homemade meatballs in an air fryer. Here are some ideas:

Meat Options

You can use any ground meat you like for meatballs, including beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, veal, or even fish. You can also mix different meats, such as a combination of ground pork and turkey, or ground beef, veal, and pork.

Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are often added to the meat mixture for texture and lightness. Regular breadcrumbs are fine, but panko breadcrumbs can hold more flavour. You can also substitute breadcrumbs with crushed saltine crackers or rolled oats.

Cheese

Cheese adds flavour and saltiness to the meatballs. Parmesan is a popular choice, and it's recommended to use freshly grated cheese rather than the pre-grated or pre-shredded kind. Other options include Romano cheese or ricotta cheese.

Eggs

Eggs are a binding agent that helps hold the meatballs together. They also add moisture to the mixture.

Milk

Milk adds moisture and tenderises the meat, making the meatballs juicy and tender. You can substitute milk with water or beef broth.

Seasonings and Herbs

You can season your meatballs with salt, pepper, garlic (fresh or powdered), onion, scallions, shallots, parsley, basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, or a combination of these. You can also add red chilli flakes, ground cumin, curry powder, garam masala, or other spices to taste.

How to form the meatballs

To form the meatballs, you'll need to combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. You can use your hands or a spoon for this step. Once everything is combined, it's time to start shaping the mixture into balls. Wet your hands slightly and roll out the mixture into balls, placing them on a baking sheet or tray as you go. Aim for uniformity in size so that they cook evenly. You should end up with around 15-28 meatballs, depending on your preferred size.

Chilling the meatballs before cooking is an optional step that can help them hold their shape better during cooking. If you have time, cover the tray of meatballs and place them in the fridge for about 20 minutes to chill.

Air fryer settings and cooking times

To make meatballs in an air fryer, you should first preheat your air fryer to a high temperature. The exact temperature will depend on your air fryer, but common temperatures are 350°F (175°C), 375°F (190°C), and 400°F (204°C).

Once preheated, place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. This will help the meatballs cook evenly and prevent them from steaming instead of frying.

The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your meatballs and the number of meatballs being cooked. On average, meatballs in an air fryer will take around 10-12 minutes to cook at the temperatures mentioned above. However, it is important to ensure the meatballs are cooked through to a safe internal temperature of at least 160°F (71°C). To check this, you can use a meat thermometer or cut into one of the meatballs to ensure it is no longer pink inside.

If you are cooking a large batch of meatballs, you may need to cook them in multiple batches or move them around halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking.

Once the meatballs are cooked, it is important to let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute and ensures the meatballs are tender and juicy.

Some recipes also suggest shaking the air fryer basket a few minutes before the end of the cooking time. This helps ensure even cooking and can create a slight crisp on the outside of the meatballs.

When reheating meatballs in an air fryer, set the temperature to 375°F (190°C) and cook for 5-12 minutes, depending on the size and number of meatballs.

Resting and serving

Once your meatballs are cooked, it's important to let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow them to cool slightly and ensure they are at the perfect temperature for eating. Most recipes recommend letting the meatballs rest for around 3-5 minutes.

You can serve your homemade meatballs with a variety of sauces and side dishes. They are great served with pasta and tomato or marinara sauce for a classic spaghetti and meatballs dish. You could also try serving them with a side salad and fresh bread or packing them into a thermos for a protein-packed lunch on the go. If you make smaller meatballs, they can be served as an appetizer with toothpicks.

Meatballs can also be frozen and enjoyed at a later date. To freeze, place the meatballs in a freezer-safe container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy them, simply reheat them in the air fryer or microwave until warmed through.

Storing and reheating

Storing Meatballs:

• Refrigerator: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container or a sealed zipper bag in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for 3-4 days.
• Freezer: To freeze your meatballs, place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheating Meatballs:

There are several ways to reheat your meatballs, depending on whether you are reheating them with or without sauce:

Reheating Meatballs with Sauce:

• Stovetop: Combine the meatballs and sauce in a pan and cook over low heat until the meatballs are warmed through. This method ensures the meatballs stay moist and absorb the flavour of the sauce.
• Oven: Preheat the oven to 325°F (162°C). Place the meatballs and sauce in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for about 40 minutes.
• Large Pot: Place the meatballs in a large pot or Dutch oven and cover them with sauce. Heat over medium heat until it reaches a slow boil, then turn the heat down to low. This gentle method can be used for a large batch of meatballs.

Reheating Meatballs without Sauce:

• Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Place the meatballs on a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive oil and cook for 20-30 minutes.
• Frying Pan: Place the meatballs in a pan with a few tablespoons of water. Cover the pan with foil and heat over low heat until the meatballs are warmed through.
• Air Fryer or Microwave: Reheat the meatballs in the air fryer or microwave until warmed through. For the microwave, place a damp paper towel over the bowl to prevent splatter and help the meatballs steam.

Frequently asked questions