Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs

Quick and easy air fryer chicken meatballs, juicy inside and perfectly browned on the outside, are ready in 30 minutes. and perfect for a main dish, appetizer, or as a tasty addition to your pasta dishes.

I make meatballs at least once a week because they are versatile and everyone loves them in my family.

These air fryer chicken meatball recipe is my go-to during busy weeks. Because I can prepare a large batch and pair them with various sides for up to three days.

They are also ideal for my son's lunch box - they're mess-free and easy to eat by hand.

These meatballs are so juicy and flavorful that they don't even need sauce.

My secret is in using not-so-lean meat and adding some grated veggies. They look so appetizing and will complete any of your meals. 

If you cannot find ground chicken at the store, you can easily make it at home using one of our four methods for mincing chicken. I like to make mine with both white and dark meat. 

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Ground Chicken - I used home-made chicken mince. You can use store-bought ground chicken, make sure that the fat content is not less than 7%. The lean ground chicken will be dense. 
• Vegetables: I used zucchini, carrots, and spinach. Vegetables will add flavor, juiciness, and extra fiber. You can skip the vegetables or use only one kind.
• Egg - the egg will bind all the ingredients and hold the meatballs together.
• Bread Crumbs - I used plain bread crumbs. You can also use Italian or Panko breadcrumbs instead.
• Parmesan Cheese - you will need grated Parmesan cheese.
• Olive Oil - Olive oil will improve the great texture and prevent the meatballs from drying out.
• Tomato Paste - you can skip it, but adding a little bit of tomato paste will add great flavor and balance the taste.
• Salt and spices - I used salt, dry oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. You can also add thyme, and basil or use Italian seasoning.

Directions

Prepare the veggies - use a grater box or food processor to shred zucchini and carrots. I like to grate the carrots on the fine side of the grater box and the zucchini on the coarse side. Set them aside. Chop the spinach finely and set aside separately from other vegetables.

Make the meatball mixture -in a large bowl, add whisked egg, ground chicken, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, tomato paste, salt, and spices. Use a spoon or hands to mix everything well until all ingredients are evenly combined. Do not overmix the meat mixture. Squeeze out any extra juice from zucchini and carrots and add them to the bowl. Add chopped spinach there as well. Mix again to combine.

Form the meatballs -prepare a board or baking pan by lining it with some parchment paper. Use a spoon or a cookie scoop for the even-sized balls. Form meatballs with your hands. Set the meatballs on a prepared board. You will more likely be cooking them in batches. 

Air Fry - preheat your air fryer to 375°F for about 5 minutes. Arrange the first bath of chicken meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd and make sure the meatballs are at least one each apart from each other. Air fry meatballs for 10-15 minutes or until they are browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Repeat with the rest of the meatballs. 

Nataliia's tips

• For juicy meatballs use a meat with a minimum of 7% fat content. Very lean meat will result in dry meatballs.
• If you are adding shredded zucchini or other moist vegetables, make sure to squeeze extra liquid.
• Cook meatballs in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer for even cooking and browning. 
• Cooking times can vary depending on your specific air fryer model. I recommend always using a meat thermometer to ensure the meatballs are fully cooked.

Serving ideas

There are probably hundreds of ways you can serve with chicken meatballs. Below, I am sharing with you my favorite ways to enjoy them. 

• With sauce and pasta: toss them in your favorite marinara sauce and serve them over spaghetti or zucchini noodles. 
• Meatball subs: change it up and use them to make delicious sub sandwiches, by adding some bread, sauce, and mozzarella cheese. 
• Grains: for extra fiber, try them with buckwheat, barley, or millet. 
• Salads and bowls: you can add them as your choice of protein to any salad or bowl.