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    Home » Cook » Easy Weeknight

    Published: Jan 23, 2023 by Slow The Cook Down

    Air Fryer Pork Meatballs

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest graphic. Air fryer pork meatballs with text overlay.
    Pinterest graphic. Air fryer pork meatballs with text overlay.

    Juicy and full of flavor, these air fryer pork meatballs are quick and easy to make. Seasoned with yellow mustard and Worcestershire sauce, they are deliciously tangy with perfectly crispy edges. Perfect for meal prep and easy weeknight dinners.

    Air fryer pork meatballs on a white serving plate, garnished with sprigs of fresh parsley.

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my privacy policy here.

    Meatballs are one of my go to recipes for weeknight dinners. Made from scratch, they are a great source of protein, and can be incorporated into, meals in so many ways.

    These pork meatballs come together with a few ingredients, with very little effort, and are cooked to perfection in the air fryer. They come out perfectly tender and juicy, with browned crispy edges, and the seasonings make them seriously delicious!

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

    Why you will love this recipe!

    • Quick and easy: Just mix all of the ingredients together, roll into balls and air fry. They are ready to serve in less than 25 minutes.
    • Pantry ingredients: Made with pantry staple ingredients, you don't need a long shopping list for these meatballs. They are a great budget friendly family recipe.
    • Great for meal prep: Once cooked, these pork meatballs have a good shelf life and are freezer friendly too.
    • Dietary info: This air fryer pork meatball recipe is dairy-free and low carb, they are easy to make gluten-free. High in protein and made from natural ingredients, they are a great addition to a well balanced diet.
    Meatballs on a white serving plate.

    Ingredients

    • Ground pork: I used lean ground pork for this recipe that contains less fat.
    • Egg: This helps to bind the ingredients together.
    • Breadcrumbs: Use fine and plain breadcrumbs. They help to absorb moisture so that the meatballs don't fall apart during cooking.
    • Dry seasonings: Garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
    • Worcestershire sauce: This adds a umami flavor with hints of sweetness and spiciness.
    • Yellow mustard: I use French's yellow mustard in these meatballs. You can use dijon, but I would suggest you half the amount as it has a much stronger flavor.

    How to make air fryer pork meatballs

    Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

    • Add all of the ingredients to a bowl (photo 1).
    • Combine the ingredients together with your hands (photo 2).
    • Roll the mixture into balls and place in the air fryer basket (photo 3).
    • Air fry ti cooked through and the outsides are browned and crispy (photo 4).
    Four step by step photos to show how to make the recipe.

    Recipe Variations

    These air fryer pork meatballs are delicious just as they are, but you can easily adjust the seasonings to suit your tastes. You can add dried or fresh herbs or other spices like paprika or cayenne. Make them gluten-free by simply using GF breadcrumbs.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you make meatballs without breadcrumbs?

    Breadcrumbs absorb moisture from the other ingredients to make them firmer, and help the meatballs keep from falling apart when they are cooked. You can substitute breadcrumbs with crushed pretzels or crackers, or almond flour or oat flour. If you only have panko breadcrumbs to hand, you can use them, but be sure to pulse them in a food processor first.

    Can you make these meatballs with other meats?

    Yes! This recipe will work well with other ground meats like turkey, chicken, lamb or beef.

    Can you make them without an air fryer?

    Yes! You can also shallow fry or oven bake these pork meatballs:

    Fry: Heat a tablespoon of oil to a large skillet on a medium high heat. Add the meatballs and cook til browned all over and cooked through.

    Oven bake: 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.

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

    Serving Suggestions

    Once cooked, these air fryer meatballs are delicious when tossed in a hot marinara sauce and served over pasta. Perfect comfort food! They are also great by themselves with delicious side dishes like:

    • Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Roasted Balsamic Broccoli
    • Sautéed Celery
    • Air Fried Cabbage

    They are also great tossed into soups for some added protein, or pile them into subs for a deli style sandwich.

    Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating

    You can make the pork meatball mix up to a day ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge.

    Once cooked, the meatballs will keep well for up to 4 days refrigerated, or, for up to 4 months in the freezer. Frozen meatballs should be fully thawed before reheating.

    Reheat meatballs in the air fryer at 350F / 175c for 3 to 5 minutes til heated through. You can also toss them straight into soups, stews or pasta sauces to heat through.

    Recipe Notes and Tips

    • Don't overwork the ingredients when mixing everything together, this can cause them to be tough. Mix them with your hands and stop as soon as everything is incorporated.
    • Roll the meatballs loosely, don't use pressure to shape them.
    • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket, the meatballs should be placed in one layer and not touching. Cook in two batches if needed.
    • If making ahead of time, let the meatballs cool completely before storing.
    Close up of a pork meatball.

    These juicy air fryer pork meatballs are so simple to make and cook, and I love how many ways there are to use them! Super delicious and tasty, make sure you cook up a couple of batches to stash in the freezer!

    More Meatball Recipes

    • Air Fryer Italian Turkey Meatballs
    • Honey Sriracha Meatballs
    • Bison Meatballs
    • Turkey Spinach Meatballs

    I love hearing from you!! If you have tried these air fryer pork meatballs, be sure to scroll down, give them a star rating and let me know what you thought!

    For more tasty treats, food inspiration and fun, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest – come say hi!

    Be sure to keep in touch and sign up to Slow The Cook Down to grab your free e-book ‘Stress Free Recipes Made For Sharing’

    Air fryer pork meatballs, browned and crispy.

    Air Fryer Pork Meatballs

    Juicy and full of flavor, these air fryer pork meatballs are quick and easy to make. Seasoned with yellow mustard and Worcestershire sauce, they are deliciously tangy with perfectly crispy edges. Perfect for meal prep and easy weeknight dinners.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 12 to 14 meatballs
    Calories: 118kcal
    Author: Slow The Cook Down

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground pork (450g)
    • 1 egg
    • 3 tablespoons plain breadcrumbs
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 tablespoons American mustard (I used French's)
    • oil (canola, vegetable, avocado etc)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer to 380F / 190c.
    • Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl, apart from the oil.
    • Use your hands to combine everything together until the ingredients are well incorporated. Take care not to over mix.
    • Roll the pork mixture into balls, slightly larger than golf balls.
    • Either pour a little oil onto your hands, and smooth over each meatball to coat it, or, spray the oil into the air fryer basket, place the meatballs in and then lightly spray them again.
    • Place the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 380F / 190c for 15 minutes. Halfway through cooking move the meatballs around a little so that they don't stick.
    • Once cooked, the outsides should be browned and crispy.

    Notes

    • Don't overwork the ingredients when mixing everything together, this can cause them to be tough. Mix them with your hands and stop as soon as everything is incorporated.
    • Roll the meatballs loosely, don't use pressure to shape them.
    • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket, the meatballs should be placed in one layer and not touching. Cook in two batches if needed.
    • If making ahead of time, let the meatballs cool completely before storing.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
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