Homemade Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs (for Pasta and More)

Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs made from ground turkey are an easy and versatile meal option ready and on your table in about 30 minutes! These tasty little nuggets are tender, moist, and flavorful. 

No air fryer? No problem, find directions to cook these delicious turkey meatballs in your oven or stove top in the recipe card too!  

Ground turkey is one of my favorite proteins to make for dinner. My family LOVES this recipe for Ground Turkey Meatloaf and my middle son frequently requests it for his birthday dinners! 

This recipe for air fryer ground turkey meatballs take all that goodness from my ground turkey meatloaf recipe and inserts it into tasty little meatball form. 

Can you air fry turkey meatballs?

Yes! you can air fry turkey meatballs. In fact, air frying is my favorite way to prepare any kind of meatball. (Beef, turkey, lamb, chicken...homemade and raw or pre-cooked and frozen.) 

Why air fry turkey meatballs, you ask? The advantages of cooking turkey meatballs in the air fryer are numerous. They include a shorter cook time, less mess to clean compared to pan frying, and keeping their round shape better.

How long do you air fry turkey meatballs?

For this recipe for turkey meatballs in the air fryer, you will preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F, according to manufacturer directions. The turkey meatballs are then cooked for 8 minutes once the air fryer has come to temperature. After 8 minutes of cooking you will shake the basket of the air fryer, and air fry an additional 2-3 minutes or until the internal temperature of the turkey meatballs reach 165 degrees F. These directions work perfectly for golf ball sized meatballs. 

How do you know when a turkey meatball is done?

The only way to know if a turkey meatball is done and safe to eat is to check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. It should read 165 degrees F. If it does, it is done. If it doesn't, you should continue cooking it in the air fryer for a few more minutes until it does. 

How well do air fryers make meatballs?

Oh my goodness, in my opinion, air fryers were made to make meatballs. I swear, once I started making meatballs in the air fryer, I haven't wanted to make them any other way. 

Like I said previously, the air fryer reduces cook time and maintains the round shape meatballs are supposed to have. Nice and round!

The air fryer cooks quickly, and that means you'll end up with juicy and tender meatballs. 

Can you freeze turkey meatballs?

Yes! You can freeze turkey meatballs. y When it comes to freezing turkey meatballs you have two choices: 1) You can freeze them before you cook them and 2) you can freeze them after you cook them. 

Each option will require different times in your air fryer to either cook from frozen or reheat pre-cooked turkey meatballs. 

To freeze and cook raw turkey meatballs from frozen in the air fryer:

**Only use this method if your ground turkey has not been frozen and defrosted already.** 

To freeze raw turkey meatballs, follow the directions to shape the meatballs and place them on a parchment lined sheet pan. Place in freezer for 30 minutes, or until they are somewhat firm, then take them and place in a freezer safe bag or container and return to freezer to complete the freezing process. 

To cook raw turkey meatballs from frozen, take out desired amount of meatballs and place in basket of your air fryer. Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F and follow directions on recipe card below, but add 5 minutes to total cooking time. Check to make sure the internal temperature is at least 165 degrees F. If not, add a few more minutes to the cook time until your instant read thermometer reads that. 

To freeze and reheat fully cooked meatballs from frozen in the air fryer:

To freeze fully cooked turkey meatballs, place them in a freezer safe bag or container and place in freezer. 

To reheat frozen fully cooked meatballs, preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F. Place frozen precooked  meatballs in air fryer, and heat for 8 - 10 minutes, or until heated through, shaking basket halfway through cook time. 

What are good side dishes to serve with turkey meatballs?

These air fryer turkey meatballs are perfect for throwing into your favorite pasta sauce (jarred or homemade) and served over pasta. Because they don't have a strong Italian flavor, they are very versatile. 

They are also great for dipping in sauce such as tzatziki, honey mustard, or ranch. But those are just a few ways to enjoy these turkey meatballs. Try some of these serving ideas with them:

• Tossed in a sweet and sour sauce for Sweet and Sour Meatballs (Here is a recipe for Sweet and Sour Ground Pork Meatballs that you could substitute these Airfryer Turkey Meatballs for the pork meatballs in. Delicious!
• Combine with jarred mushroom gravy and serve over egg noodles for a comfort food favorite. Serve these Country Green Beans on the side. 
• Combine 1 1/2 cups grape jelly and 12 ounces of chili sauce and toss with a double batch of these cooked turkey meatballs in a slow cooker until heated through. Serve with toothpicks for a delicious appetizer
• Put 3 or 4 meatballs on a sub roll and cover in marinara sauce and provolone cheese for a delicious meatball sub! Serve this yummy Amish Macaroni Salad on the side!

Honestly, the ways you can serve these meatballs is almost endless.  

How do you make turkey meatballs in the air fryer? 

(FIND INGREDIENT AMOUNTS AND FULL DIRECTIONS IN RECIPE CARD BELOW THE TUTORIAL)

Grab a one pound package of ground turkey (93% lean) and combine with the following ingredients: (exact amounts needed for recipe included in recipe card below)

• seasoned dried bread crumbs
• salt and pepper
• Parmesan cheese
• dried parsley
• dried minced onion
• dried marjoram
• garlic powder
• a pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• milk
• egg

Food Blogger Tip--> Marjoram is a milder and sweeter cousin to the herb oregano. If you can't find or don't have marjoram on hand, you can substitute it with oregano in this recipe. Just use slightly less than what the recipe states for marjoram. 

Combine until the mixture comes together, avoiding overmixing. Overmixing will make your meatballs tough. 

Form into 12 meatballs. I like to use a small ice cream scoop to help form into balls. Place formed turkey meatballs on parchment or foil covered sheet pan. 

Food Blogger Tip --> Form meatballs with clean wet hands! The meatballs will not stick to your hands when you form them if your hands are wet. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after you handle the raw turkey meatballs. 

If you are planning on freezing the raw turkey meatballs, at this point, place in freezer for 30 minutes, or until they are somewhat firm, then take them and place in a freezer safe bag or container and replace to freezer to complete the freezing process. Otherwise, continue on.

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F, according to your air fryer brand's manufacturer directions. 

Once the air fryer has completed preheating, spray the basket with cooking spray. Place 6 meatballs evenly in a single layer on the basket rack, spray with cooking spray, and close the airfryer. 

Cook meatballs for 8 minutes at 350 degrees F. 

Food Blogger Tip --> Line the bottom of the basket below the rack with a little foil to make clean up a breeze! 

When the air fryer timer goes off at 8 minutes, shake the basket and roll the meatballs around. Cook on 350 degrees F for another 2-3 minutes, or until the turkey meatballs internal temperature is 165 degrees F when checked with an instant read thermometer. 

Repeat the cooking process with the remaining 6 meatballs. 

We love these meatballs, so I often make them in a double batch and freeze them after they cool so I can have them on hand whenever I need them. 

I hope that your family enjoys them as much as mine does and I think you will love the easy preparation!

More Air Fryer Recipes you might enjoy:

• Sauerkraut Balls
• Easy Chilaquiles

Air fryer Turkey Meatballs, Turkey Meatballs in Air Fryer, Ground Turkey Meatballs in Air Fryer

dinner, ground turkey, air fryer

American

Yield: 4 servings

Author: Renee Paj

Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 20 Min

These moist and tender turkey meatballs cooked in the air fryer made from ground turkey are one of the most versatile meatball recipes you'll find.

Ingredients

• 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
• 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs (like 4C seasoned bread crumbs)
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 TBSP dried parsley
• 1 TBSP dried minced onion
• 1/2 tsp. marjoram
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 2 - 3 TBSP milk
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten

Instructions

Cook Turkey Meatballs in the Air Fryer

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients to make the meatballs until just combined. I like to use my clean hands to mix the ground turkey with the rest of the ingredients. Make sure to wash hands thoroughly after mixing meat. Do not overmix. Overmixing will make your meatballs tough. Mix until everything is just combined and holds together.
2. Form 12 meatballs. I like to use a small scoop and wet hands to help form them. Keeping your hands wet keeps the mixture from sticking to them. Place formed meatballs on a foil or parchment lined sheet pan.
3. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F.
4. Once the preheating is done, spray the basket of the air fryer lightly with cooking spray and place half the meatballs in the basket, leaving space between them and not overcrowding. Spray the tops of the meatballs lightly with cooking spray.
5. Cook the turkey meatballs at 350 degrees F for 8 minutes. Shake the basket, and continue to cook an additional 2-3 minutes longer, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F when tested with an instant read thermometer.
6. Take meatballs out and let them rest on clean platter and loosely cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat step 5 with the remaining meatballs. Add to platter when fully cooked.
7. Enjoy!

Cook Turkey Meatballs in the Oven

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above, except lightly spray foil or parchment lined baking sheet BEFORE placing meatballs on.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
3. Spray meatballs lightly with cooking spray. Place in oven and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. If your oven runs hot, you might want to reduce the temperature by 25 degrees to prevent the bottoms from getting too brown.

Cook Turkey Meatballs in Skillet

1. Follow Steps 1 and 2 above.
2. Place a TBSP of oil in large non-stick skillet and heat to medium high. When oil begins to shimmer, add meatballs to the pan. Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook in two batches if you need to.
3. Cook meatballs in skillet, turning them often to retain their shape, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, or about 10-15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

285.92

Fat (grams)

13.59

Sat. Fat (grams)

4.21

Carbs (grams)

13.45

Fiber (grams)

1.16

Net carbs

12.29

Sugar (grams)

1.9

Protein (grams)

27.5

Sodium (milligrams)

704.64

Cholesterol (grams)

137.14

Nutritional Information provided is an estimate.

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