15 Minute 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, as a hearty meatball sub, or made into a kid-friendly meal they'll absolutely adore.
If you are looking for more chicken meatball ideas, try my chicken veggie meatballs or the cheesy baked chicken meatballs in sauce.
These air fryer chicken meatballs 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.
These chicken meatballs cook almost as quickly as boiling pasta. Serve them with warm marinara sauce for a simple spaghetti and meatballs dinner, or turn them into delicious meatball sandwiches. They're also perfect as snacks or appetizers!
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Reasons to love it
Healthier: There is just one tablespoon of oil in the recipe
Texture: They are juicy, tender and moist
Adaptable: Use ground turkey instead
Endless possibilities: Ideal to be used in pasta, pizza, sandwiches or salads.
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" ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.
Variations
These air fryer 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.
- Italian - 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.
- Greek - 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.
How to make chicken meatballs in air fryer?
You can find the full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
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How do you know they are done cooking? The cooking time varies based on size! 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.
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.
- On pizza - Elevate your pizza night by topping it with sliced meatballs.
- 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.
Recipe tips
- 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
15 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 egg large
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or other melting cheese
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a large bowl and mix well until thoroughly combined.
- Use about 3 tablespoons mixture to gently roll into smooth balls. If the mixture sticks to your hands when rolling, lightly coat your hands with oil or water.
- Pre heat 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.
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.
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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 ♡