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 your other favorite recipes! No matter how you choose to serve these homemade meatballs, everyone will be coming back for more!
Use them in a meatball sandwich with some rustic bread and marinara sauce or try a classic pairing over spaghetti bolognese!
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Preparing your meatballs in the air fryer saves time on cleanup and makes this recipe ridiculously simple! I 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 time!
Check out this list of my favorite air fryer appetizers for more easy and delicious recipes!
🥘 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!*
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Meatballs
Air fryers make everything so easy (if you don't have one, you should 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 1 pound of ground Italian sausage and mix until all 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.
You can also serve them by themselves or with some buffalo sauce, enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Mixing Meatball Mixture: Be careful not to over-mix the meatball mixture once the sausage is added. Over-mixing can lead to tough meatballs.
- Air Fryer Basket Care: Avoid using non-stick cooking spray in your air fryer basket, as it can damage the non-stick coating over time. Instead, lightly coat the basket with olive oil using a brush or a mist sprayer.
- Meat Substitutions: If you don't have Italian sausage, feel free to use ground beef or a mix of ground beef and pork. Choose ground beef with a higher fat content for the best results.
- Preparing Italian Sausage: Allow the Italian sausage to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before making the meatball mixture. This ensures more even cooking and is easier on your hands.
- Forming Meatballs: The best way to mix and form meatballs is with your hands. This allows for a more even mix and properly shaped meatballs.
🥡 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
Reheat them in the air fryer at 375°F (190 °C) for 3-4 minutes or until they are heated to your liking.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
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!
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📖 Recipe Card
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)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together your ⅓ cup breadcrumbs, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoon milk, 2 teaspoon garlic, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper. Once combined, add in the 1 lb ground Italian sausage and mix only until all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
- 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.
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.
Anonymous says
Super bonnes boulettes, Merci 🤩
"Super good meatballs, thank you"