Description
Italian-inspired air fryer meatballs combine ground beef, herbs, and parmesan for a quick, crispy protein option. Savory and juicy, these meatballs deliver restaurant-quality flavor you can easily prepare at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup (30 g) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Mixture Preparation: Thoroughly combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, gently mixing to distribute ingredients without overworking the meat.
- Shaping: Craft uniformly sized meatballs by rolling the mixture into consistent spheres, ensuring even cooking and appetizing presentation in the air fryer.
- Air Fryer Setup: Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange meatballs in a single layer, leaving slight gaps to promote optimal air circulation and crispy exterior.
- Cooking Process: Preheat air fryer to 375°F and cook meatballs for 10-12 minutes, midway rotating the basket to achieve golden-brown exterior and thorough internal cooking.
- Doneness Verification: Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches 160°F, guaranteeing safe and perfectly cooked meatballs without compromising moisture.
- Resting and Serving: Let meatballs rest for 2-3 minutes to stabilize structure and retain juiciness, then serve with desired sauce or accompanying dishes.
Notes
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Avoid overworking the meat mixture to prevent tough, dense meatballs; mix ingredients just until combined to maintain a light, tender texture.
- Uniform Size Matters: Use a cookie scoop or weigh each portion to ensure consistent cooking time and even browning across all meatballs.
- Prevent Sticking Strategy: Lightly coat the air fryer basket with non-stick spray or use parchment liners to make cleanup easier and prevent meatballs from adhering to the surface.
- Moisture Preservation Hack: Include a small amount of milk-soaked breadcrumbs or grated onion to keep meatballs juicy and prevent them from becoming dry during air frying.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg