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Air Fryer Meatballs are moist and flavorful. They are made with ground chicken or turkey, spices and finished off with a spicy red sauce. These meatballs are quick and easy made in the air fryer and work great as a meal or an appetizer at a party!
Now that a lot of people are seeing family and friends more there are going to be a lot of summer get-togethers.
Today’s Air Fryer Meatballs make the perfect dish to serve as an appetizer or as a quick weeknight meal like in these meatball subs. You might know by now my love for air fryer recipes.
I make so many things in it from this Air Fryer Cod to these Air Fryer Mediterranean Chicken Thighs to Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes to Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower. The options are endless with an air fryer – you can make so many things in it! In addition to my air fryer I also love making these delicious meatballs for my family.
My kids always devour them whether it is these Mediterranean Baked Turkey Meatballs, Greek Meatballs or these Pork Meatballs.
You are going to love this quick meatball recipe – they have a bit of kick to them from the sauce so we call them firecracker meatballs in our house!
If spice isn’t your thing you can pair them with your favorite sauce like this Creamy Dill Sauce or Marinara Sauce.
Recipe Ingredients
See full list of ingredients below in recipe card with exact measurements.
- Meat: While I tend to use ground chicken or ground turkey for the meat mixture, you could also use lean ground beef or ground pork.
- Cheese: The cheese also adds flavor.
- Egg: The eggs help to bind the meatballs together.
- Breadcrumbs: The bread crumbs also help to bind the meatballs together. You can use regular breadcrumbs if you want.
- Spices: The smoked paprika is added to the meatballs for a touch of rich flavor.
- Sauce: The sauce combines hot sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatballs
Step 1: Combine Meatball Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, beaten eggs, smoked paprika, chives and onion powder and mix well. Add the ground chicken, panko and parmesan cheese, and combine but do NOT over mix.
Step 2: Create Meatballs: Make meatballs using 3 tablespoons per meatball. Place in the air fryer basket. The meatballs can be put pretty close, but not squished in. They will shrink slightly when cooked. {You may need to cook the meatballs in batches}. Spray the meatballs with nonstick cooking spray and place the basket into the air fryer.
Step 3: Air Fry: Set the air fryer for 400° for 10 minutes. Turn the meatballs and spray again. Fry for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Check one for doneness.
Remove one meatball at a time and dip in the Firecracker sauce, making sure to coat all sides well. Place back in the basket. Repeat until all have been coated. Fry for 2 more minutes. Remove and serve with the sauce.
Step 4: Create Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine the hot sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic powder, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until sauce thickens and gets sticky. The sauce will thicken more as it cools, so don’t over thicken. If sauce gets too thick, add a teaspoon of water at a time till the right consistency. Add the red pepper flakes when sauce has thickened and stir in to combine.
Storage Tips
Store the meatballs in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can reheat in the air fryer or the microwave.
More Meatball Recipes
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Air Fryer Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon chives, chopped
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 pounds ground chicken, or turkey
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
For the sauce:
- 1/2 cup hot sauce, {like Franks Sriracha}
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, beaten eggs, smoked paprika, chives and onion powder and mix well.
- Add the ground chicken, panko and parmesan cheese, and combine but do NOT overmix.
- Make meatballs using 3 tablespoons per meatball. Place in the air fryer basket. The meatballs can be put pretty close, but not squished in. They will shrink slightly when cooked. {You may need to cook the meatballs in batches}.
- Spray the meatballs with nonstick cooking spray and place the basket into the airfryer.
- Set the airfryer for 400° for 10 minutes. Turn the meatballs and spray again. Fry for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Check one for doneness.
- Remove one meatball at a time and dip in the Firecracker sauce, making sure to coat all sides well. Place back in the basket. Repeat until all have been coated. Fry for 2 more minutes. Remove and serve with the sauce.
- In a small saucepan, combine the hot sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic powder, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until sauce thickens and gets sticky. The sauce will thicken more as it cools, so don’t over thicken. If sauce gets too thick, add a teaspoon of water at a time till the right consistency.
- Add the red pepper flakes when sauce has thickened and stir in to combine.
Notes
- Don’t over mix the meatballs or they will get tough and dry.
- Double the sauce recipe if you want extra for dipping.
- These can be made the day before and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cook right before serving.
- Spray the meatballs with nonstick cooking spray when they are in the basket, then when you flip them, spray again.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
