Name: Air Fryer Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (lean); 1/2 cup onion (grated); 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated); 2 eggs; 2 cloves garlic (crushed); 2 tablespoons milk; 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste); 1/2 teaspoon oregano; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.

Enjoy hot, flavorful meatballs in minutes by using an air fryer. Once you see how easy these air fryer meatballs are, you will never go back to the old way again!

Jump to Recipe

I am not lying when I say I use my air fryer almost every day. It is such a cool appliance! It makes life easier and food better. Especially when you want your food to have that nice crispy layer without having to deep fry it. My friend wanted to try out the air fryer before buying one herself so I let her borrow mine for a few days and I almost went crazy not being able to use it. These meatballs are one of many recipes I use in my air fryer. They are just so easy and clean up is a breeze. The meatballs hold together well when they are air fried so they can be used in all kinds of recipes without falling apart (scroll down to see all the recipe possibilities). Try them and you will see what all the hype is about!

Ingredients to make Air Fryer Meatballs including ground beef, milk, eggs, onion, seasonings, garlic, parmesan cheese and panko crumbs.

How to Make Air Fryer Meatballs

Making meatballs in the air fryer is a breeze! Follow these easy steps for perfect meatballs every time:

Mix – Combine all the ingredients and mix with your hands until well combined. You can use a spoon or a mixer but using your hands is faster and less mess.

Form into balls – Use your hands or an ice cream scoop to make meatballs the size of your choosing. I like to make my meatballs anywhere between the sizes of a walnut and a golf ball.

Prepare the Air Fryer – Spray the bottom of the air fryer to keep the meatballs from sticking on the bottom. Place the meatballs along the bottom of the air fryer so they are close, but not touching.

Air Fry – Air fry the meatballs at 375℉ for 6 minutes. At this point they should be nice and browned, but they won’t be cooked through all the way. Shake the basket to redistribute the meatballs, then cook for 4 more minutes until meatballs are cooked through. The internal temperature should be 165℉.

Serve – Add meatballs to sauce before serving or serve them over pasta, rice, or in subs.

Hand holding a round shaped meatball over a bowl of mixture.

Which Air Fryer is Best

Any air fryer should work fine for this recipe. Personally, I use the GoWise 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer. I love this one because it is large enough for a family of five and I don’t need to pre-heat it. You can see below how many meatballs can easily fit in the basket. It is deep and comes with stackable racks so you can layer if you need to. This way you can add 2 more layers of meatballs!

Flipping meatballs with tongs in the air fryer.

Freeze then Fry

You can freeze the meatballs by placing on a baking sheet and placing in the freezer for 2-3 hours. Once they are frozen, transfer them to a ziplock freezer bag or freezer safe container. You can even cook the frozen meatballs straight from the freezer to the air fryer. No need to thaw! From frozen, air fry at 375 for 10 minutes, shake the basket, then cook an additional 5 minutes.

More Ways to Cook Meatballs

Bake them in the oven – No air fryer? No problem, you can also bake meatballs in the oven! Bake them at 350℉ for 30 minutes or until cooked through. Be sure to use foil or parchment paper for easier clean up.

Convection oven – A convection oven is essentially a giant air fryer. If you use a convection oven or a large oven-style air fryer you will want to pre-heat it first. Since it is a larger space it may also take a few more minutes to cook.

Instant Pot – Making meatballs for spaghetti? Try our easy Instant Pot Meatballs. They come out perfectly saucy every time!

Crock Pot – Did you know you can also cook meatballs in the Crock Pot? Take your time and let the Crock Pot do all the work with this simple Crock Pot Meatballs recipe.