Air Fryer Italian Meatballs
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Make tender Italian meatballs quickly in your air fryer. This recipe uses a mix of beef and pork for flavor and cooks them without excess oil.
- Author: Ahazzam
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Total Time: 27 min
- Yield: 18 meatballs
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Fat
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray (or a light brush of olive oil)
- In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let stand for 5 minutes to soften the breadcrumbs.
- Add the ground beef, ground pork, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper to the bowl.
- Mix the ingredients gently with your hands until just combined. Do not overmix, or the meatballs will become tough.
- Roll the mixture into uniform balls, about 1.5 inches in diameter. You should get about 18 to 20 meatballs.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush the meatballs lightly with oil to prevent sticking.
- Place the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
- Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the meatballs halfway through the cooking time.
- Check the internal temperature; they are done when they reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve immediately with your favorite marinara sauce or use them in sandwiches.
Notes
- For extra moisture, you can briefly simmer the cooked meatballs in sauce for 5 minutes after air frying.
- If you prefer a richer flavor, substitute half the beef with ground veal.
- These meatballs freeze well after cooking; cool them completely before storing them in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 19
- Cholesterol: 75