These homemade meatballs in air fryer are one of my favorite easy dinners because they come out deliciously juicy and browned all the time. The air fryer makes them crispy on the outside, and the inside remains moist and flavorful.
What I love most about this air fryer meatballs recipe is that it really doesn’t take long, and it is easy to make. Once you learn how to make meatballs with ground beef, you'll never want to go back to pan-frying them ever again. Get the full recipe below! If you're looking for another easy dinner idea, try my Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chop Recipe.
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Video Tutorial
Try These Homemade Air Fryer Meatballs
If you've never made meatballs from scratch, this recipe is a great place to start. They're full of flavor and work with everything, including pasta, sandwiches, and salads, making them the best meatballs, ever!
Why You’ll Love It
- Easy to make: You only need one bowl to make everything with simple ingredients.
- Perfect texture: These meatballs are nice and moist on the inside with a slightly crisp exterior.
- Versatile: I use them for pasta, subs, appetizers, and meal prep. When I want something different, I make these with ground pork, ground chicken, and i even make lamb meatballs too.
- Quick cooking: The air fryer cooks them faster than the oven, and you do not need so much oil.
Ingredients
- Ground beef: I like using lean ground beef because it creates flavorful meatballs, and they don’t come out too greasy. Normal ground beef works, too.
- Onion: This adds moisture and a little extra flavor.
- Breadcrumbs: These bind everything together without drying the meatballs out. I like to use Panko breadcrumbs for this recipe, and you don't even have to use any eggs.
- Heavy cream: I love adding this as it makes the meatballs soft, creamy, and juicy.
How to Make Homemade Meatballs in Air Fryer
1. Place your ground beef into a large mixing bowl. Take an onion, finely chop it, and add it to your beef. Use a fine grater to grate nutmeg and garlic directly into the bowl. To this, add salt, breadcrumbs, and heavy cream.
2. For the next step, pull out your mortar and pestle. Grind together allspice, black pepper, nutmeg, and cloves until they're well combined.
Tip: You can even use your own spice blend here, like garlic powder, onion powder, or even fresh garlic.
3. Add the spice blend to your meat mixture. Give it all a thorough stir, and make sure that everything is well mixed.
4. Add a handful of fresh parsley, stir again, and then let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes. This will give the breadcrumbs time to absorb the cream and allow the flavors to mix properly.
5. After the wait, it's time to get your hands dirty. Shape the meat mixture into meatballs using your clean hands by rolling them, and placing each one on a separate plate as you go.
6. If the mixture sticks to your hands, a quick rinse with cold water should solve the problem. Preheat your air fryer to 380°F/190°C on "air fry" mode.
7. When your air fryer is hot and ready, place the meatballs at the bottom of the air fryer basket in a single layer and let them cook for 15 minutes.
8. Halfway through, you can either flip the meatballs or give the air fryer basket a good shake.
9. When the timer dings, your meatballs are done! Place these on a serving dish. I love adding some parmesan cheese on top when I make these with spaghetti.
10. Grab your favorite sauces or gravy. I recommend tzatziki and barbecue sauce and serve warm.
Recipe Tips
- I always try to make the meatballs the same size so they cook evenly.
- Avoid overmixing the meat mixture or the meatballs can become dense instead of tender.
- If the mixture sticks to your hands, rinse your hands with cold water before shaping.
- For a more filling meal, serve them with creamy mashed potatoes and rich gravy. .
- You can also turn them into a delicious meatball sub by loading them into soft rolls and topping them with marinara sauce and melted cheese. An excellent idea for leftover meatballs.
- Another easy option is to toss them through your favorite pasta. I’ve tried them with spaghetti, penne, and even creamy fettuccine, and it works for me.
- Use an instant-read thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F/74°C for ground beef.
- Cook in batches if you need to make for a large amount of people.
What Can You Serve With This?
- Mashed potatoes
- Spaghetti
- Garlic bread
- Rice
- Roasted vegetables
- Tzatziki sauce
- Barbecue sauce
FAQs
Yes, I often make these with ground turkey when I want a lighter meal.
I check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) with a meat thermometer.
Absolutely. I freeze cooked meatballs regularly for quick meals later. You can freeze them for up to 3 months.
Recipe
Homemade Meatballs in Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Mortar and pestle
- Fine grater
- Container or large bowl
- Side plate
- Cooking tongs
- Serving dish
Ingredients
- 12 oz ground beef
- ½ onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- 1 clove garlic
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Begin by placing your ground beef into a large bowl. Take an onion, finely chop it, and add it to your beef. Use a fine grater to grate nutmeg and garlic directly into the bowl. To this, add salt, breadcrumbs, and heavy cream.
- For the next step, pull out your mortar and pestle. Grind together allspice, black pepper, and cloves until they're well combined. Add this aromatic spice blend to your meat mixture. Give it all a thorough stir, ensuring everything is well mixed.
- Add a handful of fresh parsley, stir again, and then let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes. This will give the breadcrumbs time to absorb the cream and allow the flavors to really come together.
- After the wait, it's time to get your hands dirty. Shape the meat mixture into meatballs, placing each one on a separate plate as you go.
- If the mixture sticks to your hands, a quick rinse with cold water should solve the problem. During this process, make sure to preheat your air fryer to 380°F/190°C on "air fry" mode.
- When your air fryer is hot and ready, place the meatballs at the bottom of the basket and let them cook for 15 minutes. Halfway through, you can either flip the meatballs or give the air fryer basket a good shake to ensure even cooking.
- When the timer dings, your meatballs are done! Transfer these aromatic, crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside meatballs to a serving dish.
- Pair them with your favorite sauces—I recommend tzatziki and barbecue sauce—and dig in!
Notes
Cooking Time and Temperature
Air fry at 380°F (190°C) for 15 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway through.Taste & Texture
Tender, juicy meatballs with a lightly crisp exterior and rich, savory flavor throughout.Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 3–4 minutes until heated through.
Serving Recommendations
I love serving these with mashed potatoes and gravy for comfort food, but they're equally delicious over pasta, tucked into sandwiches, or served as appetizers with dipping sauces.Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
- Add oregano or Italian seasoning.
- Use panko instead of regular breadcrumbs.
- Replace heavy cream with milk.
- Mix beef and pork for extra flavor.
Proper Storage Tips
- Allow the meatballs to cool completely before storing.
- Keep them in an airtight container.
- Freeze in portion-sized containers for easy meals.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Pro Tips
- Use lean ground beef for a lighter version.
- Don't overmix the meat mixture.
- Let the mixture rest a bit before shaping the meatballs.
- Cook the meatballs in a single layer for even browning.
- Use a thermometer to make sure that they're fully cooked.
Video
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