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Easy as Can Be Air Fryer Meatballs: Italian Style
Air fryer meatballs are the perfect appetizer or dinner in half the cook time. Thanks to the air fryer, you can make this meatball recipe the healthy way with 99% less grease.
You can make these meatballs low carbohydrate by omitting some breadcrumbs or changing the recipe by using your favorite keto-friendly low carb breadcrumbs and adding Italian seasoning. Then, top your meatballs with your favorite marinara sauce or any other sauce or gravy of your choice. These meatballs are perfect for appetizers when you throw get-togethers and parties because they’re easy and quick to make with minimal cleanup. No making a mess of the oven or pots and pans with this easy-to-follow recipe.
How to Cook Air Fryer Meatballs
To begin assembling your Italian meatballs, start by combining onion, parsley, and garlic in a food processor until fine. Set aside and get out a large bowl. Then combine the ground beef, ground pork, the mixture of onion, garlic, and parsley, eggs, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, shredded mozzarella, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands.
Take about two tablespoons of the ground meat mixture and use your hands to roll it into a ball. Place each ball on a parchment-lined baking sheet until all are rolled. Line your basket with air fryer safe parchment paper liners, so you don’t make a mess. Move your meatballs into the air fryer basket. Arrange them on a single layer, not touching, so you can air fry them without turning them into one blob. Spray with olive oil.
Now you can put your meatballs in the air fryer to air fry. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees and set the cooking time to 10-12 minutes. While cooking the meatballs, line a baking sheet or large platter with paper towels. You can make sure they’re cooked fully by inserting a meat thermometer into one of the meatballs to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
When ready, place the meatballs to cool and lose extra grease. Do as many meatballs as you need in more batches. Freeze the meatballs you don’t cook for up to three to four months.
Serve meatballs in warm marinara sauce or gravy in a pot or slow cooker to stay warm. Top with more parmesan cheese and basil chiffonade if desired. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions – Easy Air Fryer Meatballs
Can you freeze Italian meatballs?
You can freeze Italian meatballs to serve later. Be sure to freeze them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
How do you reheat air fryer meatballs?
Simply take them out of the freezer and let them defrost on the counter, in the refrigerator, or in the microwave for a while. You can them put them back into the air fryer or oven to reheat for a few minutes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
Are air fryer meatballs keto-friendly?
You can make air fryer meatballs keto by removing the traditional breadcrumbs and subbing with an extra egg or almond flour.
Can I make meatloaf out of the air fryer meatball mixture?
Yes! These air fryer meatballs make for excellent meatloaf dinners. You can add a tablespoon of flour to make it softer. Add about half a can of 8-ounce tomato sauce to the mixture, shape into a loaf pan, and then add the tomato sauce to the top for tomato Italian-style meatloaf.
How can I lower the fat and cholesterol count in the meatballs?
You can make air fryer meatballs with low fat and low cholesterol by buying lean meat and omitting the pork. To save more calories and cholesterol, sub the meat with turkey.
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Air Fryer Meatballs
Notes
You can sub the meat for ground turkey meat to lower fat content.
Use any jar marinara or homemade marinara of your choosing.
Ingredients
- 1 lb 80% lean ground beef (or more)
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 medium onion peeled and diced
- 4 garlic cloves peeled
- 1/4 cup parsley roughly chopped
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned panko or regular breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Air fryer-friendly olive oil spray
- 1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce
Instructions
- To begin assembling your Italian meatballs, start by combining onion, parsley, and garlic in a food processor until fine.
- Set aside and get out a large bowl.
- Then combine the ground beef, ground pork, the mixture of onion, garlic, and parsley, eggs, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, shredded mozzarella, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands.
- Take about two tablespoons of the ground meat mixture and use your hands to roll it into a ball.
- Place each ball on a parchment-lined baking sheet until all are rolled.
- Line your basket with air fryer safe parchment paper liners, so you don’t make a mess.
- Move your meatballs into the air fryer basket. Arrange them on a single layer, not touching, so you can air fry them without turning them into one blob.
- Spray with olive oil.
- Now you can put your meatballs in the air fryer to air fry.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees and set the cooking time to 10-12 minutes.
- While cooking the meatballs, line a baking sheet or large platter with paper towels.
- You can make sure they’re cooked fully by inserting a meat thermometer into one of the meatballs to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- When ready, place the meatballs to cool and lose extra grease.
- Do as many meatballs as you need in more batches. Freeze the meatballs you don’t cook for up to three to four months.
- Serve meatballs in warm marinara sauce or gravy in a pot or slow cooker to stay warm.
- Top with more parmesan cheese and basil chiffonade if desired. Enjoy!
