Air Fryer Stuffed Meatballs

Name: Air Fryer Stuffed Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound medium ground beef ((450g)); ½ large onion ((finely chopped / diced)); 2 small eggs ((or 1 large)); ½ cup breadcrumbs ((55g)); ¾ tablespoon salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 2 bocconcini balls ((cut into quarters. Or use 4 mozzarella pearls.))

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Cheesy and delicious, these air fryer stuffed meatballs are perfectly juicy and so easy to make! Perfect for a family dinner served up with spaghetti and marinara sauce.

Three meatballs served on a plate with red sauce.

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You are about to fall in love with these air fryer meatballs! Stuffed with mozzarella cheese, they are perfectly seasoned and have become a firm favorite in our house!

Serve the up with pasta and sauce for an easy and quick weeknight dinner that everyone can get stuck into. These homemade meatballs are juicy and flavorful, and come together with very little effort.

Why you'll love this recipe!

Quick and easy: Just mix the ingredients together, roll into balls with the mozzarella and pop in the air fryer. You can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes.
Homemade: Everyone knows homemade meatball are better than store bought. You can easily make them to suit your own tastes.
Freezer friendly: These are great for meal prep. Make up a bigger batch for easy dinners.
Dietary info: These air fryer stuffed meatballs are low carb and high in protein. They can be made gluten-free.

Three stuffed meatballs served on a plate with marinara sauce.

Ingredients and Notes

Labelled photo of ingredients needed for this recipe.

Ground Beef: I prefer to use a medium ground beef. You can use a lean ground beef, but you get a much more flavorful bite from beef with a higher fat content.
Onion: Finely diced to add flavor.
Egg: I use two small eggs in this recipe, you can use one large if that's what you have. To help to bind the ingredients together.
Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs help to keep the meatballs light. You can omit the breadcrumbs if you are gluten-free, but the meatballs will have a more dense texture.
Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
Mozzarella: I like to use fresh mozzarella in this recipe. I used bocconcini balls that I quartered. You can use pearl mozzarella, or smaller pieces fom a large ball.

How to make air fryer stuffed meatballs

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Place all of the ingredients (apart from the mozzarella) into a large bowl.
Use your hands to combine the ingredients. Once combined, stop mixing. If you overmix, they can become tough.
Roll the meat mixture into balls, around 3 inches in diameter.
Use your finger to make a well in the middle of each ball and place in a piece of mozzarella.
Use your hands to work the meat around the cheese so that it is well sealed in.
Air fry til browned and cooked through.

Recipe Variations

This air fryer meatball recipe is delicious, but you can easily make it your own.

Add in different seasonings and ingredients, like parmesan cheese, chili flakes, fresh garlic, onion powder or fresh herbs. You can even sneak in some veggies like grated carrot or zucchini.

This recipe can be made with other ground meat. Check out these alternative meatball recipes for inspiration!

Serving Suggestions

These air fryer stuffed meatballs are of course delicious to serve with spaghetti and marinara sauce, but they are also great tossed into soups and stews. You can also make smaller ones to serve up as an appetizer.

Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating

Make ahead: You can make the meatballs and then store them, covered in the fridge, for up to 3 days and then cook them as per the instructions below.
Once cooked: Cooked meatballs can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 days.
Freeze: Cooked meatballs can be frozen for up to 6 months. Freeze them solid on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag or container.
Reheat from chilled: You can reheat in the air fryer at 360F / 180c for 5 minutes to warm them through. You can also toss them into your pasta sauce to reheat.
Reheat from frozen: Reheat in the air fryer at 350F/175c for 8 to 12 minutes. You can also cook them directly in your pasta sauce til warmed through. You can thaw the frozen meatballs in the fridge before reheating.

An air fried beef meatball with cheese served on top of red sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook them in the oven?

Yes. Cook them in the oven at 400F for around 25 to 30 minutes until cooked through. I like to do them in the air fryer as the excess fat can drip away, and it' much quicker!

How do you make tender meatballs?

For tender meatballs, it's best to use a medium ground beef, as the fat adds extra moisture. Breadcrumbs help to keep the meatballs light. Don't overmix the meat and don't roll them too tightly. Let the meatballs rest before serving so that the juices redistribute.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Don't overwork the meatball mixture with your hands. Stop mixing once everything is combined, this will help to keep the meatballs tender.
You can make smaller meatballs if you prefer, just use smaller pieces of mozzarella so that they can be fully wrapped in the beef.
Cook the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This will help them to cook evenly.
Turn the meatballs half way through cooking.
Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer model and size of meatballs. They are fully cooked when browned on the outside and have an internal temperature of 165F / 74c.