Air-Fryer Ground Beef: Quick, Easy, And Delicious Recipes

Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from tacos and nachos to pasta sauces and casseroles. Cooking ground beef in an air fryer is a convenient and tasty option that results in perfectly cooked and flavourful meat. It is also a healthier alternative to other cooking methods as the fat drains to the bottom of the air fryer basket, leaving you with leaner meat. This method is also quick and simple, with most recipes taking less than 15 minutes to cook.

Air Fryer Tacos

Tacos are a staple for so many families, and with good reason! They're easy to cook, easy to season, and easy to eat. Plus, they're perfect for busy weeknights. Here's a simple recipe for making tacos with an air fryer.

Ingredients

• Ground beef (lean beef is recommended)
• Taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
• Corn tortillas (soft, yellow or white)
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Toppings of choice (e.g. lettuce, tomatoes, red onion)

Optional Ingredients

• Diced onions or onion powder
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Cumin powder
• Dried oregano

Instructions

• Cook the ground beef in a medium skillet over medium heat. Crumble the beef as it cooks.
• Drain the grease and stir in the taco seasoning. You can also add a bit of water if desired.
• Continue cooking until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Place the tortillas on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave for about 20 seconds to make them more pliable and less likely to crack when filled.
• Fill each tortilla with the beef and cheese, and fold them in half.
• Spritz your air fryer basket with oil spray and place the tacos inside, spritzing them with oil as well.
• Cook at 400°F for 6 minutes. The tortillas will crisp further as they cool.
• Repeat until you've cooked all your tacos. You can keep them warm in a low oven or serve them as they're ready.

Tips

• You can store leftover fried tacos in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 300°F until warm, which should only take a few minutes.
• Some good taco toppings include salsa, sour cream, guacamole, fresh cilantro, and green onions.

Enjoy your air fryer tacos!

Air Fryer Nachos

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Tortilla chips
• Cheese (cheddar, jack, or pepper jack)
• Avocado
• Tomato
• Black olives
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Green onions (or yellow/red onion)
• Taco seasoning

Optional Ingredients:

• Beans (black or refried)
• Guacamole
• Other nacho toppings of your choice

Instructions:

• Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add taco seasoning and water, cooking according to the package instructions.
• In the air fryer basket, layer tortilla chips, cheese, and meat. For even distribution, create multiple layers – three layers work best.
• Preheat the air fryer to 325°F for 5 minutes.
• Place the basket into the air fryer and cook the nachos for 3 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Watch carefully, as they cook fast.
• Top with avocado, tomato, black olives, sour cream, and salsa.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips:

• Line the air fryer basket with foil for easy removal of the nachos.
• Grate your own cheese, as it melts better than store-bought grated cheese.
• Keep an eye on the nachos as they cook quickly and can burn easily.
• For best results, serve immediately. Nachos don't keep well and will become soggy.

Air Fryer Pasta

Ingredients

• 250g pasta (penne, rigatoni, elbow pasta, shells, spaghetti, or fusilli)
• 500g pasta sauce (tomato, cheese, or marinara)
• 75g cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, red leicester, or parmesan)
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

• Cook the pasta until al dente, as it will continue to cook in the air fryer.
• Mix the cooked pasta with your choice of pasta sauce.
• Add any extras such as cooked vegetables and/or seasoning.
• Transfer the pasta to a baking dish that will fit in your air fryer.
• Top with plenty of grated cheese.
• Place the baking dish in the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 180°C or 360°F.
• Cook for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

Tips

• You can use gluten-free pasta, such as lentil pasta, for a healthy, high-protein meal.
• You can use store-bought or homemade pasta and cheese sauce.
• You can add cooked vegetables or protein of your choice to the pasta sauce.
• Ensure your casserole dish is oven-safe before using it in your air fryer.
• Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model and the size of your casserole dish.

Variations

• Air Fryer Baked Spaghetti: Use spaghetti instead of pasta shapes.
• Vegetarian: Use vegan cheese and add vegetables such as mushrooms, peppers, aubergine, or squash.
• Spicy: Add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or diced jalapeños.
• Creamy: Mix in cream cheese with the pasta sauce.
• Asian-inspired: Mix in soy sauce, grated ginger, and green onions.

Air Fryer Meatballs

Ingredients

• Ground beef
• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Parsley
• Eggs
• Breadcrumbs
• Feta or parmesan cheese
• Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil cooking spray

Optional Ingredients

• Mild Italian sausage
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Italian seasoning
• Crushed pork rinds
• Mozzarella cheese

Method

• Combine onion, garlic cloves, and parsley in a food processor and process until finely chopped.
• In a large bowl, add your ground beef, onion mixture, eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
• Mix with your hands until combined.
• Form the mixture into 1 or 2-inch balls. This recipe should make around 24 meatballs.
• Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil cooking spray.
• Add the meatballs to the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch too much or overcrowd the basket. Work in batches if needed.
• Cook in the air fryer for 13 minutes at 350°F. Remove the basket around the 8-minute mark to quickly rotate the meatballs.
• Meatballs should be 165°F internally when a thermometer is placed into the thickest part of the meatball.

Tips

If you want to freeze your meatballs, place the raw meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they aren't touching. Place them in the freezer for around an hour, then remove and place them in a ziplock bag.

Variations

• For a dairy-free version, swap the parmesan cheese for crushed pork rinds.
• For a kosher version without pork or dairy, substitute the pork sausage with cremini mushrooms, breadcrumbs, and nutritional yeast flakes.
• To make turkey meatballs, swap the beef and sausage for ground turkey or chicken.

Air Fryer Burgers

Ingredients:

• Ground beef (fresh is best, but frozen will also work)
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, steak seasoning, etc.)
• Optional: barbecue sauce, butter, beef base/bouillon, cheese

Method:

• Combine the ground beef with your desired seasonings in a bowl. Avoid overworking the meat to keep the burgers tender.
• Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts and form into patties, about 1/2" to 1" thick.
• Make a small indent in the centre of each patty with your thumb to prevent the burgers from puffing up during cooking.
• Place the patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
• Cook at 350-400°F for 7-10 minutes, then carefully flip the burgers.
• Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
• Remove the burgers from the air fryer and let them rest for 2 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.

Tips:

• Use meat with a little bit of fat (an 80/20 or 85/15 blend is ideal) to keep the burgers moist and juicy.
• Preheat your air fryer to ensure even cooking.
• Place a piece of bread or a small amount of water under the air fryer basket to catch grease and reduce smoking.
• Don't overwork the meat by mixing it too much, as this can result in dry burgers.
• If making cheeseburgers, add the cheese after removing the burgers from the air fryer, and let the residual heat melt the cheese.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve your air fryer burgers on buns or lettuce wraps with your favourite toppings. You can also serve them without the bun and create a burger bowl by serving over lettuce with toppings.

Some side dish suggestions include air fryer tater tots, french fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, baked beans, or a salad.

Frequently asked questions