These Air Fryer Meatballs are tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and stuffed with melty mozzarella cheese. Serve over pasta with marinara, as an appetizer, or in a meatball sub!
Ingredients
- Italian Breadcrumbs – these add flavor and absorb the moisture of the meat and buttermilk as the meatballs cook so they are ultra moist.
- Parmesan Cheese – adds moisture and a cheesy, nutty flavor.
- Minced Garlic – gives the meatballs a nutty flavor kick.
- Eggs – helps hold the meatball ingredients together so they can hold their shape.
- Fat-Free Buttermilk – adds tons of moisture. The acidity in buttermilk helps break down the meat so it’s more tender.
- Salt and Pepper – brings out flavor and adds a touch of heat.
- Ground Beef and Italian Sausage – I use 80/20 ground beef and spicy Italian sausage.
- Mozzarella Cheese – tucked into the center of the meatballs. Optional but highly recommended.
How to make
These air fryer meatballs are ready in just 25 minutes from start to finish!
- In a large bowl, stir together breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic, eggs, buttermilk, salt, and pepper.
- Add in beef and sausage mix then use your hands to mix until just combined.
- Use a large cookie scoop to portion the mixture out into 32 balls.
- Optional: Stuff each meatball with 1/2 ounce cheese cub then seal the meat around the cheese.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350ºF, spray the basket with cooking spray, then cook 8 meatballs at a time for 10 minutes.
- Repeat with remaining meatballs then serve as desired!
What meat to use
These meatballs consist of a blend of ground Italian sausage and ground beef.
I use spicy Italian sausage and 80/20 ground beef so the meatballs aren’t too oily. You can also use sweet Italian sausage if you don’t like spice.
Do you have to flip meat in the air fryer?
It’s not necessary. You can give the air fryer basket a little shake to redistribute the meatballs halfway through the cook time if you want but if you don’t your meatballs should still be nice and crispy.
Can you make meatballs without an air fryer?
Yes! You can either bake or pan fry your meatballs if preferred.
To bake, preheat your oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat. Place the meatballs on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until crispy.
To pan fry, heat a large skillet over medium heat then add in oil and let that heat. Add in the meatballs and cook until crispy on all sides.
Tips
- Don’t over-mix. When you’re combining the meat with your hands, mix until just combined. If you overwork the meat it will become tough and dry.
- Preheat the air fryer. Let your air fryer heat to 350ºF before you add in the meatballs. This gives them just the right amount of time to cook all the way through and also get that crispy exterior.
- Don’t overcrowd. Make sure you leave space between the meatballs in the air fryer basket so that the air can circulate all the way around. Air fry just 8 at a time!
How to serve air fryer meatballs
There are a few different ways you can serve these air fryer meatballs!
- Over pasta. I love to serve these over spaghetti noodles tossed with spaghetti sauce.
- As an appetizer. Serve these as a toothpick appetizer with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
- In a sandwich. Layer these on a French baguette topped with sliced mozzarella for a delicious meatball sub. Check out my crockpot meatball sub for inspiration.
How to store
Leftover air fryer meatballs will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months.
To reheat, air fry from frozen, bake, or microwave to warm.
Can you air fry frozen meatballs?
You sure can, it will just take longer to warm! To reheat your meatballs from frozen in the air fry, preheat to 400ºF and air fry for 14-15 minutes.
– Jennifer
Air Fryer Meatballs
Equipment for this recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 large eggs whisked
- 1/4 cup fat free buttermilk
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound ground beef I used 80/20
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage I used a spicy variety
- 1 (16 oz) block mozzarella cubed into 1/2 oz chunks (optional, but delicious!)
Recipe Video
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic, eggs, buttermilk, salt, and pepper.
- Add in beef and sausage and mix, using your hands, until *just* combined.
- Use a large cookie scoop to scoop the mixture into 32 balls.
- Optional - stuff each meatball with a 1/2 oz cheese cube - be sure to seal the meatballs really well to avoid cheese oozing out.
- Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F, then spray basket with cooking spray.
- Cook 8 meatballs (be sure they’re not touching) at a time for 10 minutes in the preheated air fryer.
- Repeat with remaining meatballs, then serve as desired! We like these with marinara sauce and pasta!
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Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
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