Air Fryer Lamb Meatballs

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Crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle, these lamb meatballs are so quick and easy to make in the air fryer. Great for meal prep, serve in your favorite marinara sauce with pasta for the ultimate comfort food dinner.

Air fried lamb meatballs on a white plate garnished with fresh parsley.

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Meatballs have become one of my favorite things to cook in the air fryer. You get wonderfully crispy edges without have to fry the in oil, and the middles stay wonderfully juicy and don't dry out like they can with baking.

These air fryer lamb meatballs are a tasty way to mix up your weeknight meals. The seasoned ground lamb is so tasty and they are quick to prep and cook.

Serve them up with your favorite marinara sauce on a bed of pasta for a delicious comfort food dinner.

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

Why you will love this recipe!

Quick and easy: Simple to prep, these meatballs cook quickly and require no hands on time.
Simple ingredients: You only need a handful of everyday ingredients to make these meatballs, it's likely that you'll have most things to hand in your pantry already.
Healthier: Cooked in the air fryer, these meatballs require less oil than if you were shallow frying them, but you still get those crispy edges. The fat from the lamb drains away, rather than them cooking in it, so they are definitely a healthier option.

Air fried lamb meatballs served over spaghetti with tomato sauce.

Ingredients

Lamb: Ground lamb is a great alternative to beef and so tasty! You can make these with beef, chicken or turkey if you prefer.
Egg: To bind the ingredients together.
Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs help to absorb moisture so that the meatballs hold together when they are cooked.
Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and fresh parsley.

How to make air fryer lamb meatballs

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Mix together the ingredients for the meatballs (photo 1).
Place in an even layer in the air fryer basket (photo 2).
Air fry til cooked through, browned and crispy (photo 3).

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

Recipe Variations

These air fried lamb meatballs are easy to make to suit your tastes by mixing up the seasonings. Try adding some chili flakes for a spicy kick, or some cumin for a more Moroccan flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are they gluten free?

These air fryer lamb meatballs use breadcrumbs to hold them together. If you have a gluten intolerance, you can swap these for gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Can you make meatballs without the egg?

The egg in this recipe helps to bind the ingredients together, hold their shape and keep them moist. You can substitute the egg for 2 tablespoons of buttermilk or 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt.

Can you make lamb meatballs without an air fryer?

If you don't have an air fryer, you can oven bake or shallow fry them in a skillet.

To shallow fry, heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan, and once hot add the meatballs. Cook them til browned all over, turning occasionally.

Oven bake them at 375F for 20 minutes on a foil lined baking sheet.

Overhead shot of meatballs in tomato sauce on a skillet with some served on spaghetti on a plate.

Serving Suggestions

Once air fried, the lamb meatballs can be mixed with your favorite pasta sauce like marinara or vodka cream sauce and served over a bed of freshly cooked spaghetti. Perfect comfort food! For a big feast, serve it up with some of these favorite garlic bread recipes:

Or, try serving them in a wrap or pita with some hummus dressing and fresh salad for a tasty handheld bite!

Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating

These air fryer lamb meatballs are so great for meal prep and freezer meals!

Uncooked

Refrigerate: Make the meatballs then store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days before cooking.

Freeze: Place the raw meatballs on a baking sheet and freeze solid, then place in a freezer bag or container. They will keep well for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before cooking as per the recipe.

Cooked

Refrigerate: Once cooked, they will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.

Freeze: 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.

Reheat

The lamb meatballs can be reheated in the air fryer at 350F for 4 to 5 minutes. Or, just toss straight into a hot marinara sauce on the stovetop to heat through.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Don't over mix the meatball ingredients. Everything should be well combined but over mixing can lead to chewy and dry meatballs rather than tender and juicy ones.
Use an oil spray bottle to get those crispy edges (not aerosol which can damage your air fryer). If you don't have one, pour a little oil into your hands and roll the meatballs in them to coat before adding to the air fryer.
For best results, preheat your air fryer before cooking the meatballs. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat function, run it at 380F for 5 minutes before adding them in.

Lamb meatballs in a skillet with tomato sauce.

These air fryer lamb meatballs are so tender and juicy and the flavors are delicious! It's such a nice change to your regular beef meatballs and they are so quick and easy to make.

More Air Fryer Recipes

More Meatball Recipes

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