Speedy Air Fryer Meatballs – A Flavourful Delight

Whether cooking meatballs for your spaghetti or as an appetiser, using an air fryer is always the best option. Meatballs are the ultimate comfort food, sizzling with flavour in every bite. When strapped for time, you can turn to your air fryer for delicious and indulgent meatballs in a fraction of the time.

What makes air fryer meatballs stand out is the scrumptious taste. Air fryers also maintain the natural taste of ingredients without adding sauces that could smother out the true essence of tasty meatballs. Despite cutting the cooking time in half, rest assured your meatballs will be perfectly cooked. Thanks to air fryers, you don’t need to add oil, and your meatballs will turn out as tasty as you’d expect them. If you haven’t tried air fryer meatballs, here is a recipe to prepare flavourful meatballs.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Meatballs

If you regularly make meatballs, you’re familiar with the ingredients. You will use the following ingredients in air fryer meatballs:

• Ground beef: You need ground beef with some fat so that your meatballs don't dry out. Extra-lean meator fat-free ground beef is not recommended, regardless of the ingredients you plan to add. While ground beef is a popular ingredient for meatballs, you can also use other types of ground meat, like pork, chicken, or lamb.
• Breadcrumbs: You can use regular breadcrumbs, but seasoned breadcrumbs will add flavour and keep the meatballs moist.
• Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated parmesan cheese enhances the flavour of meatballs. It cooks better with meat and adds moisture.
• Seasonings: Use any Italian spices you have on hand. A mix of herbs like basil and oregano gives it a delicious flavour. If you’re going to serve your meatballs in a tomato-based sauce, be generous with the seasoning.
• Salt, pepper, and garlic powder: You need salt and pepper to elevate the taste of ground beef. Instead of fresh garlic, use garlic powder. The garlic you should use depends on the cooking method. For instance, if you are pan-frying or baking, use fresh garlic, but air-fried meatballs call for garlic powder.

How to Cook Meatballs in the Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer: Before you start prepping the ingredients, remove your air fryer from storage and preheat it to 190°C (375°F).
2. Prepare the meatballs: Get a medium-sized bowl and add all the ingredients. Start with the ground beef, diced onion and parsley, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Combine everything using eggs as a binder and add some milk for extra moisture.
3. Form balls: From the mixture, create meatballs of about two inches.
4. Put them in the air fryer: Grease your air fryer basket and arrange a single layer of meatballs. Since the air fryer is preheated, let the meatballs cook for 10 to 12 minutes to achieve a temperature of 74°C (165°F). If you have a basket-type air fryer, you may need to flip the meatballs halfway through the timer.
5. Rest and serve: Let the meatballs rest for 5 minutes before serving them with your favourite pasta dish.

Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Meatballs

• When combining ingredients, be careful not to overmix. When you mix the ingredients for too long, the meat becomes dense and tough.
• When rolling the ingredients into meatballs, ensure they are the same size for even cooking. Also, do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, and check the temperature to ensure the meatballs are fully cooked.

If you want to enjoy a classic dish with a modern twist, try speedy air fryer meatballs. Whether you go for the classic recipe or experiment with other variations, using an air fryer for cooking won’t disappoint. You will still get a crispy outer layer, with the inside bursting with flavour.