Make tender air fryer chicken meatballs in under 30 minutes using this easy ground chicken recipe. They’re perfect as a weeknight dinner option or chicken appetizer because they’re easy to make and use simple ingredients. Plus, I include a simple food hack to keep these ground chicken meatballs moist as they cook.
Why Make Ground Chicken Meatballs
There are lots of reasons to make these air-fried chicken meatballs. Here are my top three:
- Quick and easy using simple ingredients: This easy recipe for homemade meatballs is simple to follow and uses a handful of basic ingredients. The whole process takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. That said, make these delicious chicken meatballs for an easy weeknight meal, and add them to your list of air fryer recipes and favorite recipes.
- Great for meal prep: If you’re meal prepping, you can cook these in large quantities and store them in the fridge or freezer.
- Moist and tender meatballs without pork or beef: if you don’t eat pork or beef, this recipe proves that you can still have moist, tender, and juicy meatballs.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s the list of ingredients for these ground chicken meatballs:
- Ground chicken: I am using 93% lean ground chicken because it has the highest fat content that I could find at the grocery store. Ground dark meat works best.
- Plain breadcrumbs: I prefer to add my own seasoning to most recipes. With that in mind, I’m using unseasoned breadcrumbs.
- Egg
- Onion powder
- Sea salt
- Garlic powder
- Dried parsley
- Black pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Mayo: this helps to keep the chicken from drying out as it cooks so be sure to include this!
- Marinara sauce: To save time, I buy my favorite jarred pasta sauce from the market. But, you can also use homemade marinara sauce.
Be sure to visit the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the exact ingredient amounts and full instructions.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Here are the steps to make these tasty, juicy chicken meatballs using your meatball mixture:
- Add spices, mayo, egg, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese to a large mixing bowl. Whisk (or use a fork) to combine (it will look like a paste).
- Add the ground chicken to the bowl. Use a rubber spatula or hands with gloves to mix to combine.
- Form 14 raw meatballs with the meat mixture. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees.
- For best results, line the air fryer with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Place meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the meatballs generously with oil spray and air fry them for 6 minutes. Spray again, then air fry meatballs for 6 more minutes until they are golden brown. Add the juicy meatballs to the warm marinara sauce, then top with more parmesan cheese and parsley.
Recipe Tips & FAQs
- Use high-fat meat: The extra fat ensures the meatballs are super tasty and remain juicy as they cook.
- Alternative for meatball scooper: You can use a scooper or a round tbsp to scoop the meat to form the meatballs. If using your hands, be sure to keep your hands wet as you shape them so they don’t stick.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheating the air fryer helps in searing and starting the cooking process as soon as the meatballs hit the air fryer basket.
- Pro Tip: You can eat these easy chicken meatballs on long rolls to have delicious meatball subs.
How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
If you have any leftovers from this air fryer chicken meatball recipe, the best way to store them is in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Additionally, you can place them in a freezer bag and put them in the freezer for next time.
I prefer to reheat cooked meatballs in the microwave since it takes just a few seconds. You can also reheat cooked meatballs in the air fryer for about 5-10 minutes at 375 degrees.
You can make frozen meatballs in an air fryer. But, you can also thaw out your frozen meatballs before you air fry them. Simply, add them to the air fryer and cook them for 5-10 minutes at 375 degrees.
Put the meatballs and sauce in an oven-safe dish before placing the dish into your air fryer basket. You can also reheat the meatballs in the air fryer and use another method to warm up the sauce.
You’ll need about 12 minutes to cook your meatballs in this air fryer chicken meatballs recipe.
More Chicken Main Dishes
Here are some other easy main dishes that pair well with any side dish:
- Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Cast Iron Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken Wings
- Pan-Fried Chicken Tenders (No Breading)
Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken 93% lean ground chicken (works best with the highest fat content available)
- 2 tbsp plain breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 1.5 cup Marinara Sauce warmed
Instructions
- Add spices, mayo, egg, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese to a large mixing bowl. Whisk (or use a fork) to combine – it will look like a paste.
- Add the ground chicken to the bowl. Use a rubber spatula or hands with gloves to mix to combine.
- Form 14 meatballs (using a meatball scooper or round tbsp measuring spoon – about 1.5 tbsp per meatball)
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 min at 400 degrees.
- Line the air fryer with parchment paper for easy clean-up. Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the meatballs generously with oil spray.
- Air fry the meatballs for 6 minutes.
- Spray again and air fry for 6 more minutes.
- Add the meatballs to the warm marinara sauce. Top with more parmesan cheese and parsley.
Notes
- Use high-fat meat: The extra fat ensures the meatballs are super tasty and remain juicy as they cook.
- Alternative for meatball scooper: You can use a scooper or a round tbsp to scoop the meat to form the meatballs. If using your hands, be sure to keep your hands wet as you shape them so they don’t stick.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheating the air fryer helps in searing and starting the cooking process as soon as the meatballs hit the air fryer basket.
- Pro Tip: You can eat these easy chicken meatballs on long rolls to have delicious meatball subs.