Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces ground chicken ((454g)); 1 egg; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon pepper; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ cup fine breadcrumbs ((4 tablespoons)); oil

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Last Updated on October 9, 2021 by Slow The Cook Down

Get a tasty and healthy dinner on the table in 20 minutes with these delicious air fryer chicken meatballs. Simply seasoned and made with a few simple ingredients, they come out perfectly juicy and are great for meal prep.

Air fryer chicken meatballs on a white plate with fresh herb garnish.

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It's so easy to make perfectly cooked chicken meatballs in your air fryer.

You may have noticed that I've gotten a little obsessed with all things air fryer lately! I'm seriously addicted and I think it's become a bit of a problem! They cook food so much quicker than the oven, so they are perfect for easy weeknight meals.

These chicken meatballs are no exception, they come out super juicy and flavorful, and are perfect to use in so many meals.

Be sure to try my Air Fryer Italian Turkey Meatballs and Honey Sriracha Meatballs too!

Why you will love this recipe!

Quick and easy: These chicken meatballs take minutes to prep and are quick to cook. They're ready to enjoy in 20 minutes.
Healthier: Made with ground chicken, these meatballs are high in protein and low in fat. The recipe only requires a small amount of breadcrumbs so they are low carb too.
Make ahead: These are perfect for weekly meal prep and are freezer friendly too.
Simple ingredients: You don't need a long list of ingredients to make this recipe. Made with pantry staple seasonings, you'll probably have most things to hand already.

Seven chicken meatballs on a white plate.

Ingredients

Chicken: Use a lean ground chicken for this recipe. Ground chicken is a great alternative to beef when making meatballs as it's lower in fat but still high in protein.
Egg: Used to bind the ingredients together.
Seasonings: Salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.
Breadcrumbs: Use fine breadcrumbs for this recipe. They absorb the fats when the meatballs cook, making them extra juicy. Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if you have an intolerance.
Oil: To help the meatballs brown and cook evenly. Any high heat oil like vegetable or canola will work well, and you only need a little.

How to make air fryer chicken meatballs

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Mix the ingredients together (photo 1).
Roll into balls and place in the air fryer basket (photo 2).
Cook until golden brown and cooked through (photo 3).

Three step by step photos to show how to make the recipe.

Recipe Variations

These air fryer chicken meatballs are a pretty standard recipe, which means it's easy to adapt them to suit your tastes. Try adding in different dried herbs like Italian seasoning or some chili flakes for a little kick of spice. A few tablespoons of grated parmesan is also a welcome addition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you oven bake them?

If you don't have an air fryer, you can oven bake the meatballs instead. Place the meatballs on a lined baking sheet and cook in a preheated oven at 400F / 200c for 30 to 40 minutes til cooked through.

You can also shallow fry them in oil in a skillet on a medium high heat til browned all over and cooked through.

How long does it take to cook chicken meatballs in the air fryer?

These meatballs take around 15 minutes to cook through at 370F in the air fryer. My meatballs were on the larger side, so if you make smaller ones, they will take a little less time. Different air fryer models can run slightly differently, so I would suggest you check them at around 10 minutes, and then every couple of minutes after that.

Can you make these meatballs with other proteins?

Yes! You can easily mix up your ground turkey and use pork, chicken, bison or beef instead.

Overhead shot of seven chicken meatballs in a skillet with marinara sauce and garnished with parsley.

Storage and Reheating

These air fryer chicken meatballs are so great for meal prep. Once made they will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days and can be reheated in the air fryer at 350F for 4 to 5 minutes to warm through, or tossed into a marinara sauce on the stovetop to heat through.

To freeze the cooked meatballs, let them cool completely and freeze them solid on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw them in the fridge before reheating. They will keep well frozen for up to 3 months.

Take care to only reheat the meatballs once.

Close up of an air fried chicken meatball.

Serving Suggestions

These meatballs are great tossed in your favorite marinara or pasta sauce and served on top of pasta for a quick and easy weeknight meal, they are great served in sub sandwiches too. Serve them alongside some pesto garlic bread for a hearty and comforting meal.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Don't over work the ingredients when making the meatballs. The ingredients should be just combined as over mixing can cause them to become tough and chewy.
Roll the meatballs loosely in your hands, don't use too much pressure.
Preheat your air fryer so that the cook evenly. If your air fryer doesn't have a pre heat function, let it run at 370F for 5 minutes before placing them in the basket.
Use an instant read thermometer to check that the meatballs are fully cooked through. It needs to register at 165F.
If making ahead of time, let the meatballs cool completely before storing.

Air fried chicken meatballs in a skillet in a marinara sauce.

These chicken meatballs are so quick and easy to cook in the air fryer. Simply seasoned, they are a perfect go to for an easy weeknight meal and be sure to make an extra batch for the freezer!

More Air Fryer Recipes

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