These Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs are irresistibly moist and juicy with a secret ingredient. Perfectly seasoned and ready in about 15 minutes! Ideal for serving with spaghetti or made into a delicious air fryer chicken meatball sub!
If you are looking for more chicken meatball ideas, try my chicken veggie meatballs or the cheesy baked chicken meatballs in sauce.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs Recipe plus Meatball Sub
🕒 Ready In: ~15 minutes + 15 mins for sub
👪 Serves: 6 to 8 servings
🧑🍳 Main Ingredients: Ground chicken, cheese, panko breadcrumbs and egg.
📖 Dietary Info: High protein and low carb
📌 Difficulty: Quick and easy air fryer recipe
Why you’ll love these air fryer chicken meatballs?
These air fryer chicken meatballs are a lighter, healthier option, made with lean ground chicken and just a tablespoon of oil for the entire recipe. Despite being lighter, they turn out incredibly juicy, tender, and full of flavor every time.
They’re also quick and convenient—ready in about 15 minutes—making them perfect for busy weeknights when you need something fast but filling.
Another bonus? They’re super versatile. You can easily swap in ground turkey if you prefer, and there are endless ways to serve them. Add them to pasta, tuck them into sandwiches, pile them onto pizza, toss them into salads, or turn them into a delicious chicken meatball sub.
- maria doss
Featured comment
From Marianna: "We made these chicken meatballs last night and they turned out so delicious! Really easy to make and I had all the ingredients. Made meatballs and spaghetti" ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jump to:
- A Quick Look at the Recipe
- Why you’ll love these air fryer chicken meatballs?
- Featured comment
- Ingredients you'll need
- Chicken Meatball Variations
- Tips for Success
- More air fryer chicken recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs and Meatball Sub
- How to make?
- Tips to make moist chicken meatballs in air fryer
- Serving suggestions
- Storage and reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions
These air fryer meatballs with chicken are soft and juicy, making them a faster and easier when compared to frying meatballs on the stovetop or baking in the oven. Like all air fryer chicken recipes, cleaning up is simple with no messy oil splatters.
Ingredients you'll need
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Chicken - When you select your ground chicken, pick 90-93% lean ground chicken. Avoid 99% lean ground breast.
- Egg - Use a large room temperature egg.
- Breadcrumbs - Panko breadcrumbs aid in binding without making them heavy.
- Cheese - Mozzarella cheese is incorporated into the meatball mixture, melting as it cooks to enhance juiciness.
Chicken Meatball Variations
These ground chicken meatballs are incredibly versatile, perfect for pairing with various sauces or customizing to your preference. Here are some ideas to customize them based on your preference:
- Cheesy - Add ½ cup cheddar cheese along with the mozzarella. You might also love these cheesy baked chicken meatballs in sauce.
- Italian-style - Add about 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning and ¼ cup grated parmesan. Also replace the panko with Italian style breadcrumbs.
- Spicy - Increase red pepper flakes and replace mozzarella cheese with shredded pepper jack cheese. You can serve with the arrabiatta sauce for some serious heat!
- Greek-style - Add ½ cup chopped cooked spinach and substitute feta cheese for the mozzarella cheese.
- Mexican - Replace mozzarella cheese with Mexican blend cheese. Add minced cilantro, jalapeños pepper and chili powder to the mixture.
- Stuffed meatballs - Stuff each meatball with a ½-inch cube of mozzarella cheese, ensuring they're large enough to hold it. When cooked, the cheese will melt into a deliciously gooey surprise.
- Turkey - Use ground turkey instead of chicken.
Tips for Success
- Make sure to include the olive oil—it adds essential moisture that keeps them juicy and tender, especially when using leaner meats.
- Adjust the size as desired—whether big or small—and remember to adapt the cooking time accordingly.
- Grease your hands - If the mixture sticks to your hands when rolling, lightly coat them with cooking oil for smoother meatballs.
- Air Fryer - I used Instant Vortex 6 quart and was able to cook one pound ground chicken in one batch.
More air fryer chicken recipes
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Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs and Meatball Sub
Equipment
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or other melting cheese
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
For the meatball subs
- 4 Portugese rolls or Hoagie Rolls
- 1 cup marianara sauce (use more if needed)
- 4 to 6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Cook meatballs
- Mix all ingredients. Add all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well until thoroughly combined.
- Shape into balls. Scoop about 3 to 4 tablespoons of the mixture and gently roll it into smooth balls. If the mixture starts sticking to your hands, lightly oil or dampen your hands with water to make rolling easier.
- Air fry. Preheat air fryer to 375°F. When hot, place the shaped meatballs in the basket, spacing evenly and cook for 7 to 9 minutes or until cooked through. 👉 The cooking time will depend on the size of the meatballs.
- Serving. The meatballs are ready to serve! Enjoy them with your favorite pasta, toss them in your preferred sauce, add them to salads, or serve them as an appetizer with marinara for dipping. You can also turn them into a delicious chicken meatball sub.
Assemble subs
- Sauce. While the meatballs are cooking, warm the marinara sauce in a small saucepan or in the microwave. Once the meatballs are done, add them to the sauce and gently toss to coat evenly.
- Toast the rolls: Meanwhile, split the Portuguese rolls and spread with garlic butter (see recipe in notes). Toast in the air fryer at 375°F for 1–2 minutes, until lightly golden. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Assemble the subs: Add 3–4 sauced meatballs to each sub, spoon more sauce over it and then top with cheese. Place the subs back into the air fryer (using crumpled foil in the basket can help keep them steady and prevent tipping). Air fry for 1–2 minutes, just until the cheese is melted. Cook in batches if needed.
- Serve immediately with more sauce for dipping!👉 Given calories are only for the meatballs and do not include the sandwiches.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
How to make?
You can find the full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Tips to make moist chicken meatballs in air fryer
- Opt for ground chicken thighs or 90-92% lean mince to ensure the meatballs retain enough moisture, avoiding ground breast meat.
- Be sure to include the called-for olive oil in this recipe—it's essential for keeping them moist and juicy.
- Using a good melting cheese like mozzarella, which adds both moisture and flavor.
- Thoroughly mix the ground meat so that the eggs and breadcrumbs are evenly distributed.
- Avoid overcooking; remove them from the air fryer when they're just cooked through.
Serving suggestions
These are perfect for serving as a kid-friendly meal, snack, or in a variety of easy weeknight chicken recipes ready in 30 minutes. Here are some suggestions:
- With spaghetti - Toss them with your favorite marinara sauce and cooked spaghetti. These will also be perfect to make the spaghetti and meatball cups.
- On pizza - Elevate your pizza night by topping it with sliced meatballs and it is especially good chopped and used to make the air fryer naan pizza!
- Meatball sub - Transform them into a chicken meatball sandwich by sandwiching them between two slices of bread or hot dog buns with melted mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce.
- For appetizer or snack - Serve the meatballs with toothpicks for an easy appetizer along marinara, tomato cream, arrabbiata sauce for kids.
- Into a salad - Toss into Caesar salad or use them instead of rotisserie chicken in this rotisserie chicken pasta salad.
Storage and reheating
- Refrigerator: After allowing the meatballs to cool completely, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 4 days!
- Freezer: Place the cooled meatballs in a ziplock bag, seal it tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: You can easily reheat these meatballs straight from the fridge or freezer. If frozen, cook them in the air fryer at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 6 minutes until warmed through, or if refrigerated, for 2 to 3 minutes. Another delicious method is to simmer them in your favorite marinara sauce on the stovetop for a few minutes.
Good side dishes to serve with an air fried meatball sub:
Fresh, light sides like a simple green salad, Caesar salad, or a Caprese salad add a crisp, refreshing contrast that helps balance the richness of the subs.
If you prefer a warm vegetable side, air fryer baby potatoes or air fryer zucchini Parmesan are great options—they’re flavorful, easy to make, and pair perfectly with the sandwiches.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cooking time varies based on size of the meatballs! For chicken meatballs measuring 2 to 3 tablespoons, cook them at 375 degrees F for approximately 8 minutes. They should feel slightly firm to the touch or register 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
The meatballs generally do not stick. But, to ensure easy removal. lightly spray the basket with some cooking spray before placing the meatballs.
Ground chicken is naturally lean, so the most common reason for dryness is overcooking. To keep the meatballs juicy and tender, cook them just until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. You can also boost moisture by adding a little olive oil to the mixture, or experimenting with grated onion or zucchini for extra juiciness and flavor.
To prevent soggy subs, avoid over-saucing the bread. Lightly toast the rolls first, and only add enough sauce to coat the meatballs—not soak the bread. You can also add a thin layer of cheese or butter to create a barrier.
For the best results, use sturdy rolls that can hold up to the sauce, meatballs, and melted cheese without becoming soggy or falling apart. Hoagie rolls, Italian rolls, and Portuguese rolls all work really well because they have a firm structure on the outside but stay soft inside.
Yes! Frozen meatballs work great in this recipe. Simply cook them in the air fryer until fully heated through, then toss them in warm sauce before assembling your subs for the best flavor and texture.
Using a piece of crumpled foil in the air fryer basket can help stabilize the subs, keeping them upright and preventing them from tipping over while they cook or when opening and closing the air fryer basket.
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Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Marianna R.
We made these chicken meatballs last night and they turned out so delicious! Really easy to make and I had all the ingredients. Made meatballs and spaghetti.
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡
Patty
Made these tonight and paired with a salad. They are delish!!!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡