These air fryer turkey meatballs are a healthier alternative to traditional pan-fried meatballs. They are made with ground turkey and are cooked in the air fryer until golden brown. You can also add some vegetables to the air fryer basket to make a complete meal. These air fryer turkey meatballs are a quick and easy recipe that is perfect for a weeknight meal.
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These air fryer turkey meatballs are a quick and easy way to get a delicious, healthy meal on the table. The air fryer helps to cook the meatballs quickly and evenly, and the resulting product is tender and juicy, with a crispy exterior. The recipe is also simple to follow and can be easily adapted to your own flavors and preferences. Serve these air fryer turkey meatballs with your favorite dipping sauce, or add them to a healthy salad for a complete meal. Either way, you're sure to enjoy this healthy and delicious dish!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Introducing the air fryer turkey meatballs recipe! This dish is healthy, flavorful, and perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Here are three reasons why you'll love this recipe:
- The air fryer cooks the meatballs evenly and quickly, so you'll never have to worry about under or overcooking them.
- The combination of herbs and spices in the recipe give the meatballs a delicious flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
- This dish is relatively low in calories and fat, so you can enjoy it without feeling guilty.
So go ahead and give this air fryer turkey meatballs recipe a try - you won't be disappointed!
What You’ll Need To Make Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Ground turkey: You'll need 1 pound of ground turkey for this recipe. You can use either white or dark meat turkey, depending on your preference.
Egg: One large egg is all you'll need to bind the meatballs together.
Bread crumbs: You'll need ⅔ cup of panko bread crumbs for this recipe. You can use regular bread crumbs, but panko bread crumbs will give the meatballs a light and crispy texture.
Oil: You'll need 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, which will help to keep the meatballs moist as they cook.
Herbs and spices: For this recipe, you'll need salt, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, thyme, and oregano.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Now that you know what you'll need to make this recipe, here are the simple steps for how to make air fryer turkey meatballs:
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, egg, bread crumbs, olive oil, and spices.
Step 3: Use your hands to form the mixture into small meatballs.
Step 4: Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket, making sure to not overcrowd them.
Step 5: Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
Step 6: Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Recipe Notes & Tips
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making this air fryer turkey meatballs recipe:
- Use a cookie scoop or kitchen scales to make sure that you have the same amount of meat for each meatball. This will ensure that your meatballs are an even size.
- Make sure to not overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this will cause the meatballs to cook unevenly.
- If you want to add some vegetables to the dish, you can place them in the air fryer basket along with the meatballs.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd.
Serving Suggestions And Substitutions
Here are a few suggestions for how to serve air fryer turkey meatballs:
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, such as BBQ sauce, ketchup, or ranch dressing. You can also serve them with this delicious Cranberry Sauce with Orange for a festive twist.
- Add them to a healthy salad for a complete meal.
- Serve with some steamed vegetables and rice for a complete and balanced meal.
- Combine the meatballs with a jar of marinara sauce and serve over pre-cooked spaghetti for an easy spaghetti and meatballs dinner.
- Serve with a side of these Cheesy Mashed Potatoes for a hearty meal.
While these turkey air fryer meatballs are delicious as-is, there are plenty of substitutions you can make. Here are a few ideas:
- If you don't have ground turkey on hand, you can use ground chicken or beef in this recipe. I recommend this recipe for Air Fryer Meatballs or Spanish Meatballs if you'd prefer to use beef.
- If you're looking for a vegetarian option, you can substitute the ground turkey for 1 pound of cooked and crumbled tofu.
- The bread crumbs can be swapped for crushed crackers, oats, or quinoa flakes.
- If you don't have any dried herbs on hand, you can use fresh herbs instead or omit the herbs completely.
How To Store Leftovers
Air fryer turkey meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
If you want to freeze them, you can do so either as raw meatballs or cooked meatballs. Simply place the raw or pre-cooked meatballs on a baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours, or until solid. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat, simply thaw the meatballs overnight in the fridge and cook (or reheat) according to the instructions below.
How To Reheat Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
To reheat air fryer turkey meatballs, cook them in the air fryer at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-6 minutes if they're cooked, or 8-10 minutes if they're raw. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most likely reason is that you overworked the meat when forming the balls. Be sure to mix everything together until just combined, and then use your hands to gently form the balls.
Yes! You can either cook them ahead of time and store them in the fridge, or freeze them raw or cooked.
Yes! You can cook the meatballs in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes.
To make this recipe gluten-free, simply use gluten-free bread crumbs or swap them for crushed gluten-free oats, quinoa flakes, or crackers.
Turkey meatballs are cooked through when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tools And Equipment For This Recipe
GoWISE USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer With Dehydrator: This is a great budget-friendly air fryer. It’s large enough to cook a big batch of turkey meatballs, and it also has a dehydrator function, which is awesome to have.
Glass Mixing Bowls: These glass mixing bowls are super versatile. You can use them for mixing, storing, and serving. In this recipe, you can use one of the larger bowls to mix the ingredients together to make the turkey meatballs.
Cuisinart 17-Inch Chef’s Classic Nonstick Bakeware Cookie Sheet: This cookie sheet is a great option when making turkey meatballs. The nonstick surface makes cleanup a breeze, and the large size is perfect for preparing a big batch of meatballs.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- ⅔ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, egg, bread crumbs, olive oil, and spices.
- Use your hands to form the mixture into small meatballs.
- Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket, making sure to not overcrowd them.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Nutrition
* Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content may vary based on brands of ingredients used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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