Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

Name: Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground turkey (93/7); 1 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves of garlic (crushed or finely chopped); 1 tsp onion powder; 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste or ketchup; 2 teaspoons parsley (dried or 1 tablespoon fresh, finely chopped); 1 tsp dijon mustard; 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 egg; 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp pepper; ⅓ cup breadcrumbs (optional)

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This air fryer turkey meatballs recipe is a great way to get a fast dinner on the table, or get a head start on your weekly meal prep. These all purpose meatballs are great on their own, or mixed in your favorite sauce like a marinara or teriyaki sauce.

several plates of meatballs and broccoli

Making healthy turkey meatballs in an air fryer is an easy dinner or lunch idea. You might enjoy these with a nutritious side dish like roasted broccoli or a carrot cucumber salad.

But if you’re in the mood for a classic comfort food meal, try them with my baked mac and cheese or my loaded mashed potatoes.

Whether you’re craving something healthy or something a little more filling, you’ll love how versatile these turkey meatballs are!

This recipe was made in my Cosori Max XL Air Fryer.

5 Reasons to make this recipe

Easy and quick - the air fryer cooks these meatballs in 7 minutes! The fast cook time keeps these moist on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Healthy and protein packed - fills you up without a lot of fat or calories
Make ahead for lunch and dinner meal prep
Kid and family friendly - mild flavor great for picky eaters
Flavor works with a variety of sauces or dips - add to your favorite marinara sauce, Asian dipping sauce, or my homemade ranch dressing.

Key Ingredients

Ground turkey - use 93% lean. I don’t recommend using extra lean (99%) as it will be dry. However, it may be substituted if you have dietary concerns.

Garlic - or garlic powder. I use these interchangeably, depending on what I have on hand.

Onion powder - I prefer onion powder to chopped onion. You can use grated onion in place of powder.

Tomato paste - or ketchup. I use these interchangeably depending on what I have on hand. Both will give a slight sweet tomato flavor.

Worcestershire sauce - gives a nice depth of flavor and brings out the meaty flavor of the turkey.

Dijon Mustard - mustard and turkey are a nice flavor combination.

Egg - helps bind it all together.

Breadcrumbs - homemade, soft bread crumbs, dry bread crumbs, or panko all work fine. Omit if you don't have any or you need gluten free version. You can also try gluten free bread crumbs.

Instructions

Always start with clean hands, work area and kitchen utensils.

Step One: Combine all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Use your hands to combine and don’t over mix.

Step Two: Spray the palms of your hands with cooking spray or coat with oil. Form about 15-17 meatballs (about 1.5 inches in size). Set aside on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.

Step Three: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 C). Once heated, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place meatballs in a single layer in the basket and cook for 7 minutes, or until lightly browned and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Repeat the process until all meatballs are cooked.

uncooked meatballs in an air fryer basket — Place meatballs in a single layer.

cooked meatballs in an air fryer basket — Place meatballs in a single layer.

Top tips

Try to make your meatballs about the same size. This will help them cook evenly. This scoop set is great for getting them evenly sized.

Don’t overcrowd the basket.

Use a meat thermometer to acutely test for doneness. This is my go - to kitchen essential!

You can vary the size of the meatballs, but you will need to adjust the cooking time. Smaller meatballs will cook faster and larger meatballs will take longer.

Add some parmesan cheese to the mixture for a flavor boost.

How to serve turkey meatballs

Eat them as is for a snack - maybe with just some homemade ranch, blue cheese or sriracha mayo , or my Asian dipping sauce.

Have them on a salad or with your favorite side dish.

Add to your favorite spaghetti sauce and serve with pasta or zoodles.

Toss with teriyaki, sweet and sour, or orange sauce and serve over rice.

Make meatball subs with a hoagie roll, marinara, cheese and toast to perfection.

Storage

Store covered in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days. These are my favorite storage containers.

Freeze in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Reheating

To reheat from refrigerated: microwave desired amount until heated through. Be sure to cover the container to keep the moisture in.

Bake in a 325 degree F oven for 7 to 10 minutes.

Air fry at 325 degrees F for 3 to 5 minutes.

To reheat from frozen: Bake in a 350 degree F oven for about 15 to 18 minutes.

Air fry at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

Always use your meat thermometer to be sure your meat is warmed to the safe temperature of 165 degrees F.

Most asked questions

Why are my meatballs rubbery?

Your meatballs may be overcooked or over mixed. Combine ingredients until just mixed. I find using your hands is the best way. Use gloves to keep hands clean.

Can you put foil in the air fryer?

Yes, you can but it’s not necessary to use it for this recipe and I don’t recommend it because it may interfere with the cooking process. Simply spraying the basket with oil spray is enough to keep the meatballs from sticking.

How do I make these air fryer turkey meatballs in the oven?

Cook meatballs in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.