Last updated on December 12th, 2021
These air fryer chicken meatballs are perfect for lunch or dinner. They are great in salads, in a sandwich or a wrap and can be stored for meal prep when you’re busy and on the go. By the way, they’re also tasty, and delicious too! Place on a tray and serve with tzatziki sauce, and you have the perfect appetizer in a snap.
Tips & Tricks for making the best Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients:
- lean ground chicken
- panko bread crumbs
- red onion
- salt
- black pepper
- egg
- dried oregano
- dried basil
- dried parsley
One of the best things about these air fryer chicken meatballs, is that they’re made with easy-to-find pantry staples. This recipe is flexible, you can add or subtract herbs and spices to suit your taste. I’ve found that for my family, this is what works for us. I left out garlic, in favor of using sauces to enhance the flavor of the meat instead. If you’re not planning on serving with sauce, you may want to add in a few cloves of garlic, or a half-teaspoon of granulated garlic powder.
Prepare air fryer by preheating to 375 degrees – according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Spray air fryer basket with oil-based cooking spray (optional).
In small bowl, combine lean ground chicken, panko bread crumbs, chopped red onion, salt, ground black pepper, beaten egg, oregano, basil, and parsley.
Stir together with fork, mashing until well mixed and all seasonings have been combined, scraping bottom of bowl if necessary.
Form seasoned chicken mixture into 2-inch meatballs by hands and place directly in prepared air fryer basket or on a piece of non-stick parchment paper, one inch apart.
Cook for 8 – 10 minutes, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked through. Chicken has been fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. (Source, FDA)
Remove from heat and serve immediately.
These meatballs go well on a salad, in a gyro, in a wrap or served as an appetizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you find the meatballs getting a little bit too dry before they have finished cooking, you can take the basket out of the air fryer and spritz them with cooking spray. This will not add a significant amount of calories. If you use a light oil such as avocado with a high smoke point, it shouldn’t smoke.
Yes, you can use aluminum foil or parchment paper while cooking your chicken meatballs. You may need to cook your food a little bit longer, however.
You should safely be able to store the fully cooked meatballs in the refrigerator for up to one week tightly covered and in the freezer for up to six months in a freezer-safe container.
Related Links
Greek-Style Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground chicken
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Prepare air fryer by preheating to 375 degrees – according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (See note)
- Spray air fryer basket with oil-based cooking spray (optional).
- In small bowl, combine lean ground chicken, panko bread crumbs, chopped red onion, salt, ground black pepper, beaten egg, oregano, basil, and parsley.
- Stir together with fork, mashing until well mixed and all seasonings have been combined, scraping bottom of bowl if necessary.
- Form seasoned chicken mixture into 2-inch meatballs by hands and place directly in prepared air fryer basket or on a piece of non-stick parchment paper, one inch apart.
- Cook for 8 – 10 minutes, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked through. Chicken has been cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. (Source, )
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. These meatballs go well on a salad, in a gyro, in a wrap or served as an appetizer with tzatziki dipping sauce.
