Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Turkey meatballs in an air fryer are a quick, tasty, and healthy meal option. They can be served in a variety of ways, such as with spaghetti and sauce, in a meatball sandwich, or as an appetizer with dipping sauces. The cooking time for turkey meatballs in an air fryer varies depending on the size of the meatballs and the air fryer model, but on average, they take around 8 to 10 minutes to cook thoroughly.

Preheat the air fryer to 350-400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your meatballs will start cooking immediately and helps to achieve a more even cook. For this recipe, you should preheat your air fryer to between 350°F and 400°F.

The exact temperature you choose within this range will depend on the model of your air fryer, the size of the meatballs, and your personal preference. If you are using a more powerful air fryer, you may wish to preheat at a lower temperature, such as 350°F, to avoid overcooking the outside of the meatballs before the inside is done.

On the other hand, if you are cooking larger meatballs, you may want to preheat at a higher temperature, such as 400°F, to ensure that they cook through evenly. It's also worth noting that some air fryer models may heat up faster than others, so you should consider this when deciding how long to preheat for.

In general, preheating for around 5 minutes should be sufficient to ensure your air fryer is ready for cooking. This will give the appliance enough time to reach the desired temperature and maintain a consistent heat level for cooking your meatballs.

Once your air fryer has preheated, you can move on to the next steps of the recipe, which typically involve placing the meatballs in the basket and cooking them for a specified amount of time.

Mix ingredients and form meatballs

To make turkey meatballs in an air fryer, you'll need to start by gathering your ingredients. The exact ingredients may vary depending on the recipe you're following, but common ingredients include ground turkey, breadcrumbs or panko crumbs, eggs, milk, Parmesan cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, and parsley. Once you have your ingredients, follow these steps to mix and form the meatballs:

• Combine all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. This typically includes the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, and any other dry ingredients. You can use a spatula or your hands to mix everything together thoroughly.
• Add the ground turkey to the mixture. Be sure to gently fold the turkey into the other ingredients without overmixing. Overmixing can lead to tougher meatballs.
• Use your hands to shape the mixture into meatballs. The size of the meatballs may vary depending on your preference, but they are typically shaped into 1-inch or 1 ¼-inch balls. You may need to lightly wet your hands before shaping the meatballs to prevent the meat from sticking to your fingers.
• Place the formed meatballs on a plate or baking sheet. If you plan to cook them immediately, you can proceed to the next step. Otherwise, some recipes recommend freezing the uncooked meatballs for quick and easy weeknight meals.
• If you're freezing the meatballs for later use, arrange them in a single layer on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place them in the freezer until they are frozen solid, then transfer them to airtight containers or freezer bags for longer storage.

By following these steps, you'll have a batch of delicious and juicy turkey meatballs ready to be cooked in your air fryer!

Spray the air fryer basket

Spraying the air fryer basket is an important step in the process of making turkey meatballs in an air fryer. This is because ground turkey meatballs can stick to the bottom of the air fryer basket if you don't use a cooking spray or oil. You can use a non-stick cooking spray or an oil spray such as olive oil or avocado oil. Alternatively, you can wipe down the bottom of the air fryer basket with olive oil or avocado oil to prevent sticking. This step ensures that your meatballs don't stick to the basket and makes for easy cleanup.

It is also important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cooking in batches ensures that the meatballs cook evenly and get that perfect crispy texture on the outside. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the meatballs in two batches.

When placing the meatballs in the air fryer basket, arrange them in a single layer, ensuring that they are not touching each other. This allows the hot air to circulate freely, cooking the meatballs evenly and giving them a nice outer crust.

After spraying the air fryer basket and arranging the meatballs in a single layer, you can proceed with air-frying according to your preferred recipe instructions.

Cook for 8-10 minutes

Cooking turkey meatballs in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a delicious and healthy meal. The cooking time will depend on the size of the meatballs, the power of your air fryer, and your desired level of doneness. However, on average, it takes about 8-10 minutes to cook turkey meatballs in an air fryer.

Step 1: Prepare the Meatball Mixture

Start by gathering your ingredients. You will need ground turkey, breadcrumbs or panko crumbs, an egg, milk (optional), and your choice of seasonings. You can also add Parmesan cheese, garlic, and fresh or dried herbs like basil or parsley for extra flavour. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.

Step 2: Shape the Meatballs

Using your hands, shape the meat mixture into meatballs. You can make them any size you like, but a standard size is around 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Wetting your hands lightly can help prevent the meat from sticking to your fingers. Aim for making 12-15 meatballs from the mixture.

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to ensure even cooking. Set the temperature to 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on your air fryer's settings) and preheat for about 5 minutes. It is generally recommended to preheat the air fryer before cooking meatballs to ensure they cook through evenly.

Step 4: Place the Meatballs in the Air Fryer

Grease the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray, avocado oil spray, or olive oil spray to prevent sticking. You can also wipe down the bottom of the basket with oil. Place the meatballs in a single layer, making sure they are not crowded and have some space between them. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the meatballs in batches.

Step 5: Cook the Meatballs

Cook the meatballs for 8-10 minutes at the set temperature. It is a good idea to flip the meatballs halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking and browning. For a standard-sized meatball, 8 minutes should be sufficient. However, larger meatballs or those cooked in batches may need the full 10 minutes.

Step 6: Check for Doneness

To ensure your meatballs are cooked through, use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If the meatballs have not reached this temperature, continue cooking in one-minute intervals until they do.

Step 7: Rest and Serve

Once the meatballs are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, making the meatballs more tender and flavourful. Serve the meatballs as an appetizer with dipping sauces, in a sub sandwich, or with pasta and sauce for a hearty meal. Enjoy!

Rest and serve

Once your meatballs are cooked, it's important to let them rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to be redistributed, making your meatballs more tender and flavorful.

You should then let the meatballs cool to room temperature before storing them. This prevents condensation from forming inside the storage container, which can make the meatballs soggy.

If you're not eating the meatballs straight away, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

To freeze your cooked meatballs, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. This prevents them from sticking together, allowing you to take out only as many as you need. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3-6 months.

To reheat your meatballs, you can use a non-stick skillet, put them back in the air fryer, or place them in a saucepan with some sauce and heat over a medium-low heat. If you're reheating frozen meatballs, there's no need to defrost them first.

Frequently asked questions