
Cooking beef meatballs in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a tasty meal. Air fryers can create a crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy. The cooking time will depend on the size of the meatballs, the temperature of the air fryer, and whether the meatballs are cooked from fresh or frozen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preheat temperature | 350°F (175°C) or 375°F (190°C) or 380°F |
| Cooking temperature | 350°F (175°C) or 375°F (190°C) |
| Cooking time | 10-15 minutes |
| Internal temperature | 160°F-165°F |
| Resting time | 3-5 minutes |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn

How to make beef meatballs
Ingredients
To make beef meatballs, you'll need the following ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Parmesan cheese
- Bread crumbs
- Egg
- Garlic
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
Method
Once you have gathered your ingredients, follow these steps:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F–400°F (175°C–200°C).
- In a large bowl, combine the ingredients and mix until they are evenly combined.
- Wet your hands and shape the mixture into balls. You can make them the size of billiard balls or use a small ice cream scoop to ensure they are uniform. Aim for 16–28 meatballs.
- Place the meatballs on a baking sheet or tray. If you are not cooking them all at once, you can freeze the uncooked meatballs for later use.
- Grease the air fryer basket and place a single layer of meatballs inside. Make sure they are not overcrowded so that air can circulate around them.
- Cook the meatballs for 10–14 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. They are ready when they are golden and crispy, and the centre of the meatballs reaches 160°F–165°F.
- Let the meatballs rest for 3–5 minutes before serving.
Tips
- You can serve the meatballs with your favourite sauce, such as marinara, garlic butter, or bulgogi sauce.
- To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3–4 months.
- To reheat, cook in the air fryer or microwave in 1-minute intervals until warmed through.
Air-Fried Salmon Patty Perfection: Timing is Everything
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Air fryer temperature
The air fryer temperature for cooking beef meatballs depends on the size of the meatballs and how many you are cooking at once. Most sources recommend cooking at 350°F (175°C) for 10–14 minutes. However, some sources suggest cooking at 375°F (190°C) for 10–12 minutes, or even 400°F for 10 minutes.
If you are cooking frozen meatballs, you may need to increase the cooking time to 12–15 minutes at 375°F (190°C). For extra crispy meatballs, you can cook them for an additional 2 minutes.
It is important to ensure that the meatballs are cooked through to an internal temperature of at least 160°F. To check this, you can use a meat thermometer.
Air fryers can vary slightly, so it is recommended to check on your meatballs a couple of minutes early to ensure they don't overcook.
Reheating Brisket: Air Fryer Method for Delicious Leftovers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$88.42 $119.99

Cooking time
The cooking time for beef meatballs in an air fryer depends on the number of meatballs you are cooking, the size of the meatballs, and the temperature of the air fryer. Most sources recommend cooking the meatballs for 10–12 minutes at 350°F (175°C) or 190°C/375°F. However, some sources suggest cooking them for as little as 8 minutes at 350°F, or as long as 14 minutes at the same temperature.
It is important to ensure that the meatballs are cooked through, and this can be done by checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. The meatballs are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 160–165°F.
If you are cooking frozen meatballs in the air fryer, the cooking time will be slightly longer. One source recommends cooking them for 4 minutes, shaking the basket, and then cooking for an additional 4 minutes. For extra crispy meatballs, cook for an additional 2 minutes. Another source recommends cooking frozen meatballs for 12–15 minutes at 190°C/375°F.
It is also important to note that air fryers can vary slightly, so it is a good idea to check on your meatballs a couple of minutes early to ensure they don't overcook.
Frying Turkey in an Air Fryer: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Meatball size
The size of your meatballs will depend on your personal preference and how you plan to serve them. For example, if you are serving them in a sub, you may want them to be a little bigger, whereas if you are serving them with pasta, you may prefer them smaller.
Most meatball recipes recommend making them all roughly the same size so they cook evenly. This can be achieved by using an ice cream scoop to portion out the mixture. You can then roll them into balls with your hands.
Some recipes suggest making 16 meatballs from the mixture, while others suggest making 24-28. This will depend on how big you want your meatballs to be. If you are making a large batch, you may need to cook the meatballs in batches or move them around halfway through cooking.
One user comment suggests making meatballs the size of billiard balls. These were cooked in the air fryer for 14 minutes at 350°F. However, this is a longer cooking time than most other recipes suggest, so it may be that these meatballs were on the larger side.
Air-Fried Almond Flour Crackers: A Healthy, Easy Treat
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Reheating and storing
Storing and reheating your beef meatballs is easy. You can store leftover meatballs in an airtight container or a zippered bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. If you want to freeze them, they can be stored in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 to 4 months.
When you're ready to enjoy your frozen beef meatballs, cook them in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 350°F instead of the usual 10 minutes. You can also reheat leftover cooked meatballs in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 375°F or in the microwave in 1-minute intervals until they are heated through. If you want to crisp them up, you can reheat them on a baking sheet under the oven broiler for about 3 to 5 minutes.
Air-Fried Prime Rib: A Quick, Crispy Delight
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you cook beef meatballs in an air fryer for 10-15 minutes at 350°F.
The meatballs should reach an internal temperature of 160-165°F. It is recommended to use a meat thermometer to check this.
Frozen beef meatballs will take slightly longer to cook in an air fryer. It is recommended that you cook them for 12-15 minutes at 375°F.











































