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

Air fryer turkey meatballs are a quick, easy, and healthy meal option. They're juicy, tender, and versatile, and can be served over pasta, in a hoagie, or on their own. To make them, simply combine the ingredients in a bowl, form the mixture into meatballs, and air fry for around 8-10 minutes.

Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F

Once the air fryer is preheated, it's time to add the meatballs. Grease the air fryer basket with oil or use an oil spray, such as avocado oil spray. Place the meatballs in a single layer, leaving a bit of space between them. Make sure they're not touching. Now you're ready to start cooking!

Combine ingredients in a bowl

To combine the ingredients for your turkey meatballs, grab a large mixing bowl. Add your ground turkey, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add parsley, onion powder, and dried herbs and seasonings. Mix the ingredients until they are well combined. The ground turkey will be mushy, so don't worry if your meatballs aren't very firm.

Once the ingredients are combined, you can start forming the mixture into meatballs. Take your time with this step, ensuring that the meatballs are evenly sized and shaped. Aim for 10 to 15 meatballs, depending on your preference. Remember that the meatballs will shrink slightly during cooking, so don't make them too small.

After shaping the meatballs, it's time to preheat your air fryer. Set it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and give it a few minutes to reach the desired temperature. While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare a baking tray or a plate by lining it with parchment paper or aluminium foil. This step is optional but helps with cleanup later.

Now, your ingredients are combined, and your meatballs are ready to be cooked!

Form the mixture into balls

Once you've combined all of the meatball ingredients in a bowl, it's time to form the mixture into balls. Use your hands to gently roll the mixture into 10 to 15 meatballs, depending on your preference. The meatballs won't be very firm until they've been cooked, so don't worry if they feel a little soft or mushy. Aim for tablespoon-sized meatballs and ensure they are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly. Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a bit of space between them.

Add the meatballs to the air fryer basket

Once you've prepared your meatballs, it's time to add them to the air fryer basket. First, preheat your air fryer to 200C/400F. Then, spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with avocado oil or another oil spray to prevent sticking. Place the meatballs in a single layer in the basket, making sure they're not touching and leaving a bit of space between them. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches.

Now, it's time to cook your meatballs. Air fry them for 4 to 8 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The cooking time will depend on the size of your meatballs and the brand of your air fryer. The key is to ensure that the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165F. You can use a meat thermometer to check this. Once they've reached this temperature, your meatballs are ready to eat!

Let the meatballs rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow them to cool slightly and ensure they're juicy and tender. Serve them over pasta, in a hoagie, or enjoy them on their own.

Air fry for 8-10 minutes

Air frying is the final step in cooking your turkey meatballs. Before you do this, you will need to preheat your air fryer to 200C/400F and prepare your meatballs by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl and shaping them into 10-15 balls. You should then place a single layer of meatballs into a greased air fryer basket.

Now you are ready to air fry your meatballs. Place the basket into the air fryer and set a timer for 8-10 minutes. Flip the meatballs halfway through cooking to ensure they cook evenly on both sides. After 8-10 minutes, your meatballs should be ready to eat. You can check this by measuring their internal temperature with a meat thermometer; the meatballs are ready when they reach 165F.

Once the meatballs are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and leave them to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Frequently asked questions