Air fryer turkey meatballs are juicy, moist, and packed with flavor. The best thing about turkey meatballs is they can be served as an appetizer and are perfect for meal prep. Other than that I love turkey because it is low in carb and keto friendly too.
Turkey meatballs are super easy to make and it gets ready in no time. I love making turkey meatballs because it only requires a handful of recipes and the result is the best. You can make turkey meatballs instead of the whole turkey for your thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Because trying something new is not going to hurt.
You might not always be in the mood to make meatballs from scratch. For those times you can throw the frozen meatballs in the air fryer and cook. Serve your juicy and warm meatballs with dips for an appetizer or serve with some gravy and noodles for a fuller meal.
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How to make air fryer turkey meatballs?
Turkey meatballs are super easy to make. Take a large mixing bowl add all the ingredients and mix. Roll the meat mixture into a ball shape and air fry them. Here is the step-by-step process of making turkey meatballs.
Ingredients for turkey meatballs:
- 1lb turkey mince
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 medium size onion (diced)
- 3 tablespoon fresh coriander/parsley (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions for turkey meatballs:
- Preheat your air fryer at 180C/355F for 4-5 minutes. Before heating the air fryer spray or brush a thin layer of oil on the basket.
- Take a large mixing bowl to add turkey mince, egg, garlic, breadcrumbs, onion,
- Parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. Give a good mix with your hand because this way the spices will mix very well with the meat.
- Take a tablespoon or a scooper if you have to scoop out the meat mixture. Take 1 ½ tablespoon of meat mixture and roll them into a ball shape with your palms.
- Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the basket leave some space between the meatballs.
- Cook the turkey meatballs at 180C/355F for 12-15 minutes or until they are fully cooked. Flip them halfway through the cooking process to make sure the meatballs are evenly cooked.
- Remove the meatballs from the basket and continue to cook the remaining. Remember the second batch cooks a bit quicker than the first one so adjust the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy.
You can find the air fryer turkey meatballs recipe in the printable card below
How to serve turkey meatballs?
Turkey meatballs are versatile because you can serve them as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce. Or if you want to serve these meatballs for a fuller meal you can try some of these ideas:
- Mashed Potatoes: A classic combination of mashed potatoes and meatballs is something worth trying. Creamy mashed potatoes with juicy meatballs are just amazing.
- Meatball sub sandwich: Take a thick, crispy bread spread some marinara sauce place the juicy meatballs, and top with cheese. Your sub sandwich is ready to serve.
- Roasted Veggies/Salad: Adding some veggies to your dinner table is essential. Serve the air fryer turkey meatballs with roasted broccoli, green beans, and asparagus. Or simply serve them with your favorite salad.
- Spaghetti: Spaghetti and meatballs with gravy are classic dishes that cannot be left out.
Tips for making perfect turkey meatballs
- Make sure the meatballs are similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Don’t overwork the meat mixture because meatballs can turn rubbery.
- Beat the egg separately before adding it to the meat mixture to avoid overwork.
- Try to use a meat thermometer while cooking any kind of meat item. The turkey meatballs are done when the internal temperature hits 165F.
- Feel free to add any other spices depending on your liking.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket instead do it in batches.
- Spray or brush a thin layer of oil on the air fryer basket to avoid sticking the meatballs.
How do you store leftovers?
If you have any leftovers make sure to let them cool completely. Place the meatballs in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They are good for 3-4 days.
You can reheat them at 175C/350F for 2-3 minutes or until they are warm through. And serve them and enjoy.
How do you know when turkey meatballs are done?
The easiest way to find out if the meatballs are done is to use a meat thermometer. When the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165F they are done. Or cook them for at least 15 minutes and check the meatballs color by cutting them in half. The air fryer turkey meatballs should turn more to the white side when cooked.
How to keep turkey meatballs from falling apart?
Most of us might face this problem while making meatballs. The reason behind falling meatballs is the binding agent. Here in this recipe, the egg and bread crumbs play the role of the binder. If there is not enough binder in the mixture there is a high chance of meatballs falling apart.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions:
Why are my air fryer turkey meatballs rubbery?
The meatballs turn rubbery if they are overworked. Mix the meat mixture with a light hand while mixing all the ingredients and while making balls too.
Why are my turkey meatballs falling apart?
The meatballs fall apart because there is not enough binding agent in the mixture. The binding agent in these turkey meatballs is the egg and breadcrumbs.
How do I keep air fryer turkey meatballs from being dry?
To avoid the turkey meatballs from turning dry, make sure not to use ground turkey breast.
Can you freeze turkey meatballs?
Yes, you can freeze the turkey meatballs. Line a tray with parchment paper on it and place the meatballs in a single layer. Put them in the freezer until they are frozen for about an hour or so. Put them in an airtight container and store them for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Thaw the meatballs before reheating them.
Can I make these meatballs with any other type of meat?
Of course, you can. Choose the meat of your liking, you can work with chicken, pork, or beef.
If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more easy & Tasty air fryer recipes.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb turkey mince
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 medium size onion (diced)
- 3 tablespoons of fresh coriander/parsley (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer at 180C/355F for 4-5 minutes. Before heating the air fryer spray or brush a thin layer of oil on the basket.
- Take a large mixing bowl to add turkey mince, egg, garlic, breadcrumbs, onion, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. Give a good mix with your hand because this way the spices will mix very well with the meat.1 lb turkey mince, 1 egg, 2 cloves of garlic, ½ cup breadcrumbs, 1 medium size onion, 3 tablespoons of fresh coriander/parsley, 1 teaspoon paprika, salt to taste, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Take a tablespoon or a scooper if you have to scoop out the meat mixture. Take 1 ½ tablespoon of meat mixture and roll them into a ball shape with your palms.
- Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the basket leave some space between the meatballs.
- Cook the turkey meatballs at 180C/355F for 12-15 minutes or until they are fully cooked. Flip them halfway through the cooking process to make sure the meatballs are evenly cooked.
- Remove the meatballs from the basket and continue to cook the remaining. Remember the second batch cooks a bit quicker than the first one so adjust the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy.
