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I love these easy homemade turkey meatballs made in the air fryer! They’re quick and light on calories! Serve with your favorite marinara sauce, over pasta or in a sub sandwich.
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of meatballs and lately I’ve been obsessed with my air fryer. So why not combine two of my great loves?
These meatballs are healthy (made with turkey and without breadcrumbs!) and are beautifully flavored with dried herbs and seasonings.
They’re so easy to make. Just combine the ingredients in a bowl, form the meatballs, and air fry! So quick and minimal clean up!
For this recipe you’ll need (full list of ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below):
- Ground turkey
- Fresh parsley
- Egg
- Minced garlic
- Seasonings
To make, preheat the air fryer. Combine the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and form into balls. Wipe the bottom of the air fryer with oil or use an oil spray (I love 100% avocado oil spray). Add the meatballs in a single layer to the air fryer. Now cook and eat!
What ground turkey is best to use?
I like a lean ground turkey for less air fryer mess (no fat dripping into the bottom). 93% lean is what I use most often.
Do you need to spray the air fryer?
Yes. Ground turkey meatballs and patties will stick to the bottom if you don’t use an oil spray. I recommend 100% olive oil spray and use it every single time. Another solution is to wipe the bottom of the air fryer (where the meatballs will sit) with olive or avocado oil.
How to freeze meatballs
To freeze, first spread the cooked meatballs in a single layer on a parchment paper lined plate or baking sheet. Place in the freezer until meatballs are frozen (at least two hours). Then store the meatballs in a large freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer. They’ll remain good in the freezer for up to 3 to 4 months.
To thaw frozen meatballs, place in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in a skillet. If you don’t have the time to thaw overnight you can reheat from frozen in the microwave in 30 second increments until warmed through.
You can cook these meatballs from frozen if incorporating them into a slow cooker or stovetop soup or sauce.
How to serve these
Pair these meatballs with your favorite marinara sauce and enjoy as an appetizer or entree. Serve over pasta or in a sub!
More healthy air fryer recipes like this:
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ¾ tsp onion powder
- avocado oil spray, You can also wipe down the bottom of the air fryer with extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil to prevent sticking.
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, chopped parsley, egg, garlic, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Use your hands to gently roll into 10 to 12 meatballs. (Ground turkey is mushy so don’t expect it to behave like ground beef. Your meatballs won’t be very firm until they’ve been cooked and that’s okay.)
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket/pan with avocado oil spray. Add the meatballs to the air fryer in an even layer so they're not touching.
- Air fry for 5 minutes. Carefully flip the meatballs and air fry for another 5 minutes. Check one meatball to make sure it's done and add extra time as needed. (Cooking time can vary depending on the the model air fryer used. Other factors include the size of the meatballs and how close they are to each other.) Serve immediately with your favorite marinara sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The recipe and instructions were perfect and the meatballs turned out great! I just started using an air fryer and this is by far one of the best recipes yet (this one and air fryer chicken breasts which I also tried for the first time this week!) ! All your tips were appreciated. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Kim!
I am so happy that you are helping me with my fear of the airfryer.
All of your recipes are so good! And this one not only tastes good but I’m loving how low the calories are 🙂
So happy you enjoyed, Suzanne!
Made with ground chicken because it’s what I had on hand and they were delicious!! Will definitely make again!! Love your recipes!
So good to know that ground chicken worked well too! Thank you, Dana!
These are a big hit with the whole family. My 5 year old doesn’t usually like meatballs, but he declared them “the best meatballs ever” and asked for seconds. So easy, quick, and delicious! The perfect combo for our busy family!
Made a double batch and so glad I did – these are delicious! And so easy. Served them over spaghetti squash with a little sauce and even my picky husband approves. If you’re looking for a quick, easy weeknight dinner this is where it’s at.
Thank you, Brittany! So happy you enjoyed these!