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These juicy air fryer meatballs are so easy to make and are packed with tons of flavor. Baked, not fried, they are perfect for fast, no-fuss dinners and cook in only 10 minutes! No air fryer? You’ll also find oven-baking methods in the post.
You’re in for a real treat with these fast and delicious small-batch air fryer meatballs!
They’re perfectly browned on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ready in just a few minutes. All without any oil or messy frying.
Serve them with our crockpot spaghetti sauce or slice them up and use them in our ravioli lasagna.
Reader Review
“A 20 minute meatball recipe? SIGN. ME. UP.
To be honest, I was prepared for it to take longer and for them to need additional cooking time. I made peace with that, especially with a toddler VERY interested in helping. Sarah, saint that she is, never leads me wrong. These truly came together so quickly and took no longer than ten minutes in the air fryer.”
Allison
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Mince the onion and garlic as finely as possible (or use a food processor). The cooking time for these meatballs is so short that the onion will not be fully cooked if you use larger chunks. And if your kids are picky, like mine, everyone is happier if they don’t see them in the mixture.
- Sneak in 1/3 cup of finely grated carrot or frozen pumpkin to increase the veggie factor.
- Avoid overmixing as it can lead to dry/tough meatballs.
- Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to produce meatballs that are the same size. This allows for even cooking.
- Check internal temp with a quick-read thermometer to guarantee they’re done. Ground beef is fully cooked at 160˚F.
My lovely friend who shared this family recipe with me is also the mastermind behind our Instant Pot beef tips!
10-Minute Best Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic {finely minced}
- 1/4 cup onion {finely minced or grated}
- 1/2 tsp salt {optional}
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp dried parsley {or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped}
- 1 egg
- 1 cup sharp cheddar {finely grated}
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs {plain or Italian}
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until just combined. Do not over mix.1 lb ground beef, 2 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup onion, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp dried parsley, 1 egg, 1 cup sharp cheddar, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- Form mixture into 16 1-inch meatballs.
- Line an air fryer basket with foil, air fryer parchment, or brush with olive oil.
- Bake in the air fryer at 380˚F for 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temp reaches 160˚F.(Final cooking time will depend on the size of your meatballs)
Notes
- Optional: flip meatballs halfway through cooking.
- If your meatballs are browning too quickly, you can place a piece of foil over the top and weigh it down with a trivet or small wire rack.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
A 20 minute meatball recipe? SIGN. ME. UP.
To be honest, I was prepared for it to take longer and for them to need additional cooking time. I made peace with that, especially with a toddler VERY interested in helping. Sarah, saint that she is, never leads me wrong. These truly came together so quickly and took no longer than ten minutes in the air fryer. They were finished from pulling out ingredients to checking internal temp in 20 minutes, and I weighed out my meatballs (for even sizing because I’m *particular”). I thought maybe ten minutes isn’t enough but they were done-done (cue Law & Order sound effect) not iffy-barely-hitting-safe-internal-temperatures done. I will never make a meatball in a pan or oven again.
I used ground chicken as my base and used them in meatball sandwiches. I know chicken can be a little drier and less flavorful than beef but I didn’t adjust the seasonings at all and they were delicious. This recipe is a keeper, for sure.
Ah yes, the “helping” stage of toddlers.
Allison, this review had everything! Kind words, helpful feedback, Law and Order sounds…what else could a girl ask for? So glad this was a hit for you!
Delicious! We made these with the oven instructions for a recent dinner with family. They were a huge hit! We will definitely be making them again soon.
So glad you enjoyed them, Erin!!
Hey Sarah, love these tips for making great Beef Meatballs, can’t wait to try at home this wonderful recipe!
Thank you for amazing site and recipes Sarah! Looking forward to seeing more recipes in the future!
Mine came out undercooked
Each air fryer (like every oven) is slightly different, especially if the size of the meatballs vary. It is why I recommend checking with a meat thermometer as a safety check.
Do you think I could make these dairy free? Leave out the cheese or sub something in?
Yes, you absolutely could! The cheese is there for flavor and moisture. I would add some finely grated carrots (maybe ~1/3 cup) and 1-2 tsp of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.