Juicy Air fryer chicken meatballs are made with ground chicken and other simple ingredients. This recipe is easy to make and comes together quickly, making it an easy weeknight meal and a meal for busy days.
Homemade meatballs are easy to make, and cooking in the air fryer makes it even easier. Cooking chicken meatballs in the air fryer is very convenient. It is quicker than cooking on the hob or in the oven, but similar to cooking on the hob or oven, you get golden brown meatballs which are crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked and juicy inside.
Delicious air fryer chicken meatballs are not only healthy but excellent as a party appetizer, perfect on a bed of rice or with a side of chips or salad. They are also delicious, tossed into a stew, pasta sauce or curry, or cut into a baguette to make a sub sandwich.
Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Here are the ingredients you need...
Ground/Minced Chicken
Eggs
Breadcrumbs
Salt
Garlic
Onion powder
Pepper flakes
Smoked paprika
Parsley
Oil for brushing
A few notes about the ingredients...
- Herbs and Spices: Meatballs can be bland and must be adequately seasoned with salt, herbs and spices to get delicious meatballs. Sometimes, I cook a meatball to test (it cooks quickly) to determine if more salt is needed. Use your preferred herbs and spices for this air fry meatballs. Italian seasoning, Moroccan seasoning and Cajun all work well with the meatballs. You can also add parmesan cheese or other cheeses. If you’re chopping anything, make sure they are finely minced to cook quickly.
- Breadcrumbs: I used store-bought plain breadcrumbs for this recipe. You can use panko breadcrumbs or whichever breadcrumbs you have at home. If you have some old bread or bread ends, you can make yours quickly in the air fryer by following this recipe.
- Meatball Size: The size of the meatballs depends on the end use and preference. If they will be eaten on their own or used in a sub sandwich, bigger sizes work. Small bite sizes are preferred if you want to add into soups and sauces. Remember, the bigger the size, the longer it takes to cook.
How to make it...
Chop the garlic very finely. Chop the parsley.
Add the ground chicken into a mixing bowl. Break in the egg. Add the breadcrumbs, salt, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika and parsley.
Combine the ingredients by mixing with your hands or a wooden spoon. Stop mixing as soon as all the ingredients come together.
Moisten the palm of your hands slightly to prevent the meat mixture from sticking. Pick the mix with your fingers and roll in the palm of your hands to form into balls. Or use an ice cream or cookie scoop to get even sizes before rolling into balls with your hands. It helps for the sizes to be as uniform as possible so the meatballs can cook at the same time.
Pre-heat the air fryer at 1700C for 5 mins.
Place meatballs in a single layer on the air fryer basket. Do not stack to allow hot air to circulate around meatballs for even cooking.
Dip a brush into oil in a bowl and coat the top of the meatballs.
Leave to cook until the meatballs are golden brown on the outside and cooked through inside. This will take between 10 – 15 mins.
You can check that they are cooked through by cutting one in half and checking. Check the meatballs after the first 7 minutes to prevent dry meatballs from over-cooking.
Recipe FAQ & Notes
If your meatballs are not holding up, then there’s not enough eggs or breadcrumbs.
Meatballs freeze and reheat well, which makes them perfect for meal prep. You can either freeze the meatballs raw or cooked. To freeze raw, lay out the uncooked meatballs on a flat plate or tray in the freezer to prevent sticking. Pack away in a freezer bag once frozen and cook from frozen when you are ready to eat.
If you’ve already cooked the meatballs, this will last a few days in an airtight container in the fridge. Or some weeks in the freezer. Warm in the air fryer when you’re ready to eat.
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Speciality Ingredients
Easy Air Fryer Chciken Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 g Ground Chicken
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup Breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- Curly Parsley a few sprigs, chopped
- Oil for brushing
Instructions
- Chop the garlic very finely. Chop the parsley.
- Add the ground chicken into a mixing bowl. Break in the egg. Add the breadcrumbs, salt, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika and parsley.
- Combine the ingredients by mixing with your hands or a wooden spoon until the ingredients come together.
- Moisten the palm of your hands slightly to prevent the meat mixture from sticking. Pick the mix with your fingers and roll in the palm of your hands to form into balls. Or use an ice cream or cookie scoop to get even sizes before rolling into balls with your hands.
- Pre-heat the air fryer at 170°C for 5 mins.
- Place meatballs in a single layer on the air fryer basket. Do not stack to allow hot air to circulate around meatballs for even cooking.
- Dip a brush into oil in a bowl and coat the top of the meatballs.
- Leave to cook until the meatballs are golden brown on the outside and cooked through inside. This will take between 10 – 15 mins.
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