Tillie Doyle
Cooking frozen meatballs in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a tasty meal or appetiser. It's as simple as placing the frozen meatballs in the air fryer basket, shaking halfway through, and cooking for around 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. You can serve your meatballs as an appetiser with a dipping sauce, or as an entree on top of spaghetti.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 375-400°F |
| Cooking Time | 10-11 minutes |
| Shake | Halfway through |
| Additional Cooking Time | 1-2 minutes for crispier meatballs |
| Layer | Single |
| Space Between Meatballs | Yes |
What You'll Learn
How to place the meatballs in the air fryer
When placing the meatballs in the air fryer, it's important to ensure they are in a single layer with a little space between each one. This allows the hot air to circulate properly, ensuring even cooking and a crispy exterior. Avoid overcrowding the basket by cooking the meatballs in batches if necessary.
Place the frozen meatballs directly into the basket of the air fryer. Be sure to leave a little room in between each meatball. Close the basket and air fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. If you prefer your meatballs crispier, continue cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes.
You can also cook the meatballs at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-11 minutes, shaking them around in the basket halfway through. For reheating leftover meatballs, preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3-4 minutes until heated through.
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The temperature to cook the meatballs at
To cook frozen meatballs in an air fryer, it is recommended to set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the frozen meatballs in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer, leaving a little room between each meatball to ensure even cooking. Air fry the meatballs for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time. If you want your meatballs crispier, continue to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
If you want to cook your meatballs at a lower temperature, you can set your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the meatballs for 10-11 minutes. Alternatively, you can cook the meatballs at 320 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 minutes. However, at this lower temperature, the meatballs may not get as crispy on the outside.
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How long to cook the meatballs for
Cooking frozen meatballs in an air fryer is easy. First, place the frozen meatballs in the basket of the air fryer in a single layer, making sure there is a little room between each meatball to ensure even cooking. Then, air fry the meatballs for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking the basket halfway through. If you want your meatballs to be crispier, continue to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
It is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the size and power of your air fryer, so be sure to keep an eye on your meatballs to ensure they do not overcook. If you are using a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook the meatballs in batches to ensure even cooking.
Additionally, some sources recommend cooking frozen meatballs at a lower temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-11 minutes, while others suggest preheating the air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and cooking for 3-4 minutes.
Remember, frozen meatballs are typically already fully cooked, so you are mainly using the air fryer to thaw and heat them.
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How to make the meatballs crispy
To make your frozen meatballs crispy, place them in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer, leaving a little room between each meatball to ensure even cooking. Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 10 minutes. Halfway through, shake the basket to move the meatballs around. If you want your meatballs crispier, continue to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
If you want to reheat leftover meatballs, preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it's hot, add the meatballs and air fry for 3-4 minutes until they're heated all the way through.
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What to serve with the meatballs
To cook frozen meatballs in an air fryer, place the meatballs in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer, leaving a little room between each meatball to ensure even cooking. Air fry at 375-400 degrees F for 10-11 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. If you want your meatballs crispier, cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Now, what to serve with the meatballs? Well, there are plenty of options. You could go for a classic and serve them with spaghetti, or, for a healthier option, try zucchini spaghetti. Meatballs also go well with roasted vegetables, such as cauliflower puree and a bed of bitter greens like arugula. If you're looking for something a little more indulgent, serve your meatballs with fries and ketchup dip, or with pasta, cheese, and gravy. For a truly Italian experience, finish your meal with tiramisu, cannoli, or panna cotta.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes around 10 minutes to cook frozen meatballs in an air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want your meatballs to be crispier, you can cook them for an additional 1-2 minutes.
You should cook frozen meatballs in an air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
You should place the frozen meatballs in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer, with a little room in between each meatball. This will ensure that the hot air can circulate properly and cook each meatball evenly. You should also shake the basket halfway through cooking.
Yes, you can cook frozen meatballs straight from the freezer in an air fryer. Frozen meatballs are already fully cooked, so you are essentially just using the air fryer to heat them through.
