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    Home » Cook » Easy Weeknight

    Published: Jul 28, 2021 by Slow The Cook Down

    Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs (Italian Style)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest graphic. Air fryer turkey meatballs with text overlay.
    Overhead shot of air fryer turkey meatballs on a plate garnished with fresh parsley.
    Pinterest graphic. Air fryer turkey meatballs with text overlay.

    Low in fat, low in calories and low carb, these air fryer turkey meatballs are a great option for a healthy weeknight meal. Seasoned with herbs, parmesan and tomato paste, these Italian style meatballs are all kinds of delicious!

    Overhead shot of air fryer turkey meatballs on a plate garnished with fresh parsley.

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

    Add some flavor to your dinners with these delicious and easy air fryer turkey meatballs. Super simple to make, there is nothing boring about these beauties!

    A great healthy alternative to beef meatballs, they are juicy and crispy and so quick and easy to make. I know that you are going to love these!

    Be sure to try my Turkey Spinach Meatballs and Stuffed Meatball Appetizers too!

    Why you will love this recipe!

    • Healthy: Low carb and low calorie, each meatball is under 100 calories and is high in protein and low in fat.
    • Make ahead: These turkey meatballs are great for meal prep. They are easily reheated and are freezer friendly too.
    • Quick and easy: Just mix the ingredients together, roll into balls and air fry, They are ready to enjoy in 20 minutes.
    Air fried turkey meatballs on a white serving plate garnished with fresh parsley.

    Ingredients

    • Ground turkey: This is a great alternative to beef as it's a very low fat source of protein. It's milder flavor also means that you can really amp up the ingredients added to it for a super delicious bite.
    • Breadcrumbs: Fine breadcrumbs help to absorb excess moisture so that the meatballs hold together. I used Italian seasoned breadcrumbs for more flavor, but plain will do the job. Don't use panko as they aren't absorbent enough.
    • Seasonings: Italian seasoning, black pepper and salt.
    • Tomato paste: A little tomato paste adds a nice acidity and flavor. Optional but highly recommended!
    • Parmesan: You can't have Italian meatballs without some parmesan. Use freshly grated for the best flavor, pre-grated can also be quite dry.
    • Egg: Used to bind the ingredients together. It also helps to add a little fat as the ground turkey is very lean.

    How to make air fryer turkey meatballs

    Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

    • Mix together the ingredients (photo 1).
    • Roll in to balls and place in the air fryer basket (photo 2).
    • Cook til brown and crispy (photo 3).
    Three step by step photos to show how to make and cook the meatballs.

    Make ahead and storage

    These air fryer turkey meatballs are great for meal prep. You can mix the ingredients together and for into balls and keep covered in the fridge for a couple of days so they are there ready to cook. The cooked meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months and defrosted in the fridge before reheating.

    The meatballs can be reheated either in the air fryer at 360F for 3 to 4 minutes, or you can toss them into your favorite pasta sauce to warm through.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you make these with other meats?

    Yes! The flavors in these meatballs are super delicious and will work great with ground chicken, beef and lamb too.

    How long do you cook turkey meatballs in an air fryer?

    It's worth noting that different air fryer models can run slightly differently, but for me, these turkey meatballs were done perfectly at 12 minutes. They are fully cooked through at around 10 minutes, but I like to keep them in for another couple of minutes longer so that they get nice and crispy.

    The best way to check that they are cooked through is to use an instant read thermometer, and they should register at 165F.

    How do you keep turkey meatballs juicy?

    Because ground turkey doesn't contain much fat, it's important to add additional fat in the form of parmesan egg. The ingredients should be combined, but don't over mix them, and when you roll the balls, don't roll them too tightly, they don't need to be perfect spherical!

    Air fryer turkey meatballs in a skillet with tomato sauce.

    Serving Suggestions

    These air fryer turkey meatballs are great tossed in your favorite pasta sauce, or add them to subs, wraps or even salads.

    Recipe Notes and Tips

    • Don't over mix the meatball ingredients or they can come out chewy, and roll the balls loosely rather than tightly pack them.
    • Preheat your air fryer before adding the meatballs so that the cook evenly.
    • Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket. These meatballs fitted perfectly in mine, but if you have a smaller model you may have to cook them in two batches.
    • You can spray the basket with oil before and after adding the meatballs, but I like to put a little oil in my hands as I roll the meatballs instead, so that they get crispy all over.
    Close up of an air fried turkey meatball.

    These air fryer turkey meatballs are loaded with Italian flavors and are perfectly juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. So simple and quick to make and cook, they are a perfect option for a weeknight family meal.

    More Meatball Recipes

    • Honey Sriracha Meatballs
    • Bison Meatballs
    • Baked Pork Meatballs
    • Baked Lamb Meatballs

    I love hearing from you!! If you have tried these air fryer turkey 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 turkey meatballs in a skillet with marinara sauce.

    Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

    Low in fat, low carb and keto friendly, these air fryer turkey meatballs are a great option for a healthy weeknight meal. Seasoned with herbs, parmesan and tomato paste, these Italian style meatballs are all kinds of delicious!
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 8 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 9 meatballs
    Calories: 91kcal
    Author: Slow The Cook Down

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces ground turkey (450g)
    • 3 tablespoons Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan (4 tablespoons)
    • 1 egg

    Instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
    • Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and mix together with your hands, take car not to over mix.
    • Use your hands to lightly roll the mix into balls. I made these with around 3 tablespoons of the mix.
    • Rub a little oil in your hands and coat each meatball with it and place in the air fryer basket. Alternatively, lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil, place the meatballs in, and spray the tops.
    • Set the air fryer to 12 minutes at 400F.
    • At 6 minutes, give the basket a little shake and continue to cook.
    • Check the meatballs for doneness from around 10 minutes. At 12 minutes, mine were perfectly crispy.

    Notes

    • Don't over mix the meatball ingredients or they can come out chewy, and roll the balls loosely rather than tightly pack them.
    • Preheat your air fryer before adding the meatballs so that the cook evenly.
    • Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket. These meatballs fitted perfectly in mine, but if you have a smaller model you may have to cook them in two batches.
    • You can spray the basket with oil before and after adding the meatballs, but I like to put a little oil in my hands as I roll the meatballs instead, so that they get crispy all over.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg
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