Have these juicy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs prepared and on the table in just 15 minutes. Dip into a tangy marinara sauce or place atop a heap of spaghetti.
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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.
Crisp on the outside, and full of flavor and juices on the inside. Preparing meatballs in the air fryer has been such a time saver, and they turn out perfect every time! Check out these Quick and Easy Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe for another meatball recipe that’s just as delicious.
If meatballs is what you’re craving, but don’t have an air fryer that’s no problem. My Lamb Meatballs with Herb Yogurt Sauce and Sweet & Spicy Party Meatballs are top-notch! Serve these as delicious appetizers during any occasion.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Here are the tasty ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:
- Onion , Garlic, Parsley – these provide so much flavor to these meatballs. They also help keep then juicy.
- Ground turkey – the star ingredient.
- Egg and Italian seasoned breadcrumbs – the binders.
- Parmesan cheese – Grated cheese will incorporate better than shredded parmesan cheese.
- Worcestershire sauce, Kosher salt, and Ground black pepper – for added flavor.
Tools needed for Perfect Air Fryer Meatballs
- Air Fryer
- Mini Food processor
- Large mixing bowl
- Quick read thermometer
How to make and prepare Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Combine onion, garlic cloves, and parsley in a mini food processor. Process until finely chopped. Set aside. You can also grate your onion if you don’t have a mini food processor.
In a large bowl, place ground turkey, onion mixture, egg, Italian bread breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Use hands to mix until combined.
Grab 2 Tablespoons of meat mixture and roll it into a ball. Repeat with the meat mixture until all meatballs are rolled.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure the meatballs don’t overlap. Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to store turkey meatballs
Store your leftover air-fried turkey meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating: You can reheat air-fried turkey meatballs in the air fryer set at 250 F for 5 minutes until warmed through.
Knowing when your turkey meatballs are fully cooked
Your meatballs may look golden and delicious on the outside, but it’s important to make sure they’re fully cooked on the inside. The best practice is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The temperature for fully cooked turkey is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tips for the perfect turkey meatballs
- Use a meat with a 85 % fat and 15 % lean fat content, this will ensure that your meatballs have that good turkey flavor and stay juicy. The fat will help to keep the meatballs moist and flavorful. You can use a 93/7 fat to lean ratio turkey meat, but the meatballs may be a little dry. Add a little more Worcestershire sauce and minced onion to accommodate for the lack of fat.
- Use a food processor to process the onions, garlic, and parsley. You can also use a grater for the onion. The purpose is to get that onion very small. Not only do you not want big chunks of onion in your meatball, but the smaller the onion is, the more juicy your meatball will be.
- Use binders – Eggs and breadcrumbs are common binders that help to hold the meatballs together. You can also use crackers, oatmeal, or even cooked rice.
- Don’t overmix the meatball mixture when combining the ingredients- overmixing will result in dense meatballs. Just mix until the ingredients are combined.
- Shape them well – Once you have your mixture ready, it’s time to start shaping the meatballs. Be sure to form them into tight balls so that they hold together well. If they are too loose, they will fall apart during cooking.
- Cook them properly – Cooking the meatballs properly is key to getting a great result. Be sure to cook them all the way through so that they are safe to eat. Make sure your meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve them with a delicious sauce – The final tip is to serve the meatballs with a delicious sauce. This will help to keep them moist and add even more flavor. A good tomato sauce or gravy is always a great option.
Can I use other meats? Of course, you can. Give these Quick and Easy Air Fryer Meatballs Recipe a try. Or simply, replace the ground turkey with ground beef, pork, chicken, or lamb.
Looking for more air fryer related recipes? Try these out:
- Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Thighs
- Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Marinated Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Carrots (Sweet or Savory)
If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 medium Onion peeled and chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic peeled
- 1/4 cup Parsley rough chopped
- 1 pound Ground turkey
- 1 large Egg lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine onion, garlic cloves, and parsley in a mini food processor. Process until finely chopped. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, place ground turkey, onion mixture, egg, Italian bread breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Use hands to mix until combined.
- Grab 2 Tbsp of meat mixture and roll it into a ball. Repeat with the meat mixture until all meatballs are rolled.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure the meatballs don’t overlap. Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Notes
- Use a meat with a 85 % fat and 15 % lean fat content, this will ensure that your meatballs have that good turkey flavor and stay juicy. The fat will help to keep the meatballs moist and flavorful. You can use a 93/7 fat to lean ratio turkey meat, but the meatballs may be a little dry. Add a little more Worcestershire sauce and minced onion to accommodate for the lack of fat.
- Use a food processor to process the onions, garlic, and parsley. You can also use a grater for the onion. The purpose is to get that onion very small. Not only do you not want big chunks of onion in your meatball, but the smaller the onion is, the more juicy your meatball will be.
Sharon
Friday 7th of April 2023
It was good made with ground chicken. Made 18 meatballs and it was cooked in 10 minutes. Put it in marinara sauce and served over linguine.
Tanya
Saturday 8th of April 2023
Thank you Sharon! So happy you liked the recipe :)
Yemi
Wednesday 7th of December 2022
Dear Tanya your recipes and method of cooking have been eye openers. Easy to follow and practical. No complications. Thank you.
Greg Bissonnette
Monday 5th of December 2022
I enjoy using your recipes, thank you so much.
Tanya
Monday 5th of December 2022
Thank you Greg :)