These air fryer meatballs are a quick, easy, and completely delicious dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, snack, or entree! Eat them by themselves or pair them with some of your other favorite recipes (such as pasta)! No matter how you choose to serve these homemade meatballs, everyone will be coming back for more!
Homemade Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe
Preparing your meatballs in the air fryer not only saves time on cleanup but also makes this recipe ridiculously simple! I might actually prefer my meatballs to be either baked or made in the air fryer as opposed to the traditional stovetop method.
If you're a meatball fan like me, this may become one of your new favorite recipes! These meatballs come out perfectly browned, tender, and juicy every single time!
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Check out this list of my favorite air fryer appetizers for some more easy and delicious recipes!
🥘 Air Fryer Meatballs Ingredients
You can find any of these items at your local grocery store if you don't already have them on hand. Simply choose your favorite variety of Italian sausage and breadcrumbs!
- Italian Sausage - 1 pound of ground Italian sausage. You can use sweet, mild, or hot depending on your personal preference.
- Breadcrumbs - ⅓ cup of breadcrumbs or dried bread cubes. I enjoy using the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, but you can use Panko or plain if you like.
- Egg - 1 large egg to act as a binder.
- Milk - 2 tablespoons of milk. Use your favorite kind.
- Garlic - 2 teaspoons of minced garlic (about 2 cloves).
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of both salt and pepper, to taste.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
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🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Meatballs
Air fryers make everything so easy (if you don't have one, you should really consider grabbing one!) All you will need is a mixing bowl, your air fryer, and a meat thermometer.
This recipe is for 4 servings and will yield approximately 12 meatballs.
- Mix. In a large bowl, mix together your ⅓ cup of breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, 2 teaspoons of minced garlic, and ¼ teaspoon of both salt and pepper. Once combined, add in 1 pound of ground Italian sausage and mix only until all of the ingredients are well incorporated. You don't want to overwork the meat.
- Roll. Use your hands to roll portions of the meat mixture into balls that are about 1½ to 2 inches thick (about 12 meatballs in total).
- Batches. Place your meatballs into the basket in a single layer, and you will likely need to cook them in two batches.
- Cook. Cook the meatballs in the air fryer and cook at 380°F (190°C) for 12-14 minutes, or until the outside has browned and the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C).
- Rest. Remove the meatballs from the air fryer and allow them to rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Use these meatballs in a sandwich with some rustic bread or on a pile of your favorite type of pasta! Of course, you can also serve them by themselves with some dipping sauce (try out this buffalo sauce!) Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- Avoid over-mixing the meatball mixture once the sausage is added, as it can become tough.
- You should never spray your air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray, as it will deteriorate the non-stick coating over time. Instead, you can wipe down the basket with some olive oil or use a mist sprayer if needed.
- If you don't have any Italian sausage, you can swap it out for ground beef or a mixture of both ground beef and pork. Opt for ground beef that has a high-fat percentage for best results.
- Bring your Italian sausage out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before you make the meatball mixture. This ensures quick and even cooking (as well as keeping your hands from freezing).
- The best way to mix and form meatballs is by using your hands!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Place any leftover meatballs into a container or zip-top bag in the fridge for up to 4 days (or in the freezer for up to a month).
Reheating Meatballs
Reheat your meatballs in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) until they are heated through to your liking.
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❓ FAQ
These tasty meatballs are super versatile! Of course, you can eat them exactly as they are. However, you can also serve them with pasta, on a homemade pizza, as a meatball sub, in some soup, or with some dipping sauce!
Yup! Simply prepare the mixture and form the meatballs as directed. Then, instead of putting them into the air fryer, place them on a baking sheet and pop them into the freezer. Let them freezer for a few hours (until solid) and then you can transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready, you can cook the meatballs directly from frozen, just add a couple of minutes to the cooking time.
Meatballs include a binding agent, such as breadcrumbs and eggs. You'll want to make sure to follow the recipe and use the appropriate amounts of these ingredients. Not enough breadcrumbs cause meatballs that don't hold together while too many breadcrumbs make them loose. There is a fine balance in the middle where you will find perfect meatballs that won't fall apart.
😋 More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders - These crispy and golden chicken tenders are healthier and tastier than the packaged version!
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll Bites - A sweet and tasty treat that everyone will love!
- Air Fryer Duck Legs - These duck legs are wonderfully crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside!
- Air Fryer Italian Sausage - You won't even miss the grill with these incredibly delicious Italian sausages!
- Air Fryer Potato Chips - Homemade potato chips are easy to make, crunchy, and way better than the kind from a bag!
- Air Fryer Popcorn - Enjoy this simple snack every time you have a movie night!
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (sweet, mild, or hot Italian sausage)
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned breadcrumbs or Panko breadcrumbs)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoon milk
- 2 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together your breadcrumbs, egg, milk, garlic, salt, and pepper. Once combined, add in the Italian sausage and mix only until all of the ingredients are well incorporated.1 lb ground Italian sausage, ⅓ cup breadcrumbs, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoon milk, 2 teaspoon garlic, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- Use your hands to roll portions of the meat mixture into balls that are about 1½ to 2 inches thick (about 12 meatballs in total).
- Place your meatballs into the basket in a single layer, which will likely mean that you will need to cook them in two batches.
- Cook the meatballs in the air fryer at 380°F (190°C) for 12-14 minutes, or until the outside has browned and the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C).
- Remove the meatballs from the air fryer and allow them to rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- Avoid over-mixing the meatball mixture once the sausage is added, as it can become tough.
- You should never spray your air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray, as it will deteriorate the non-stick coating over time. Instead, you can wipe down the basket with some olive oil or use a mist sprayer if needed.
- If you don't have any Italian sausage, you can swap it out for ground beef or a mixture of both ground beef and pork. Opt for ground beef that has a high-fat percentage for best results.
- Bring your Italian sausage out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before you make the meatball mixture. This ensures quick and even cooking (as well as keeping your hands from freezing).
- The best way to mix and form meatballs is by using your hands!
- To store: Place any leftover meatballs into a container or zip-top bag in the fridge for up to 4 days (or in the freezer for up to a month).
- To reheat: Reheat your meatballs in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) until they are heated through to your liking.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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