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Crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside- these Air Fryer frozen meatballs are absolute perfection.
This simple recipe is an absolute game-changer for days when you need to whip up a quick and easy meal (like my Air Fryer chicken Parmesan meatballs). With barely any effort, you’ll be able to put together a juicy meatball dinner, appetizer, or snack.
My family is obsessed with meatball dinners- we’ve experimented with a ton of meatball recipes at this point- everything from spaghetti and pasta dinners to sandwiches. My Air Fryer turkey meatballs and Air Fryer cheese stuffed meatballs have been huge hits, but on days when I don’t want to make everything from scratch, I turn to this effortless and ridiculously easy recipe.
If you love using frozen foods to whip up quick meals for your family, don’t forget to try my Air Fryer frozen turkey burgers and Air Fryer frozen steaks recipe. And if you love pork, I also make Frozen pork chops in the Air Fryer.
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Hearty and savory.
⏱️ Prep time: 1 minute.
🔥 Cook time: 10 minutes.
⏲️ Total time: 11 minutes.
👥 Servings: 4 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer and a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
❄️ Freezer friendly: Yes. Air fry frozen meatballs in batches, freeze and store for later.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: Make sure you preheat the Air Fryer before you add the meatballs in. This gives the meatballs a nice bit of golden brown caramelization on the outside.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Air Fryer frozen meatballs are quick and easy to make. You don’t even need to thaw them first- they go straight from the freezer to your Air Fryer.
- They’re versatile! Pair them with Air Fryer frozen lasagna or Air Fryer frozen garlic bread to make a filling meal or serve as an appetizer.
- The recipe is foolproof- you just can’t go wrong with it!
Recipe Ingredients
- Frozen meatballs: Use your favorite brand or pre-made frozen homemade meatballs. I absolutely love these Italian style meatballs from Rosina.
- Olive oil spray: A light spray will help prevent them from sticking and can make the outside just a little crispier. This is a must, especially when you’re cooking meatballs- even homemade ones like my Air Fryer Greek meatballs.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- Smother the meatballs with tomato sauce or marinara or team them up with a dipping sauce like some ketchup or cheese sauce.
- You can also sprinkle some freshly grated Parmesan or mozzarella cheese on the meatballs during the final couple of minutes of cooking time to make them extra cheesy. I did this when I made my sliced potatoes in the Air Fryer and they turned out SO good.
How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs
Start by preheating your Air Fryer to 380 F for about 3-5 minutes. Lightly spray the basket with olive oil spray to prevent sticking.
- Transfer the frozen meatballs to the basket. Make sure you don’t overfill the basket, which can block air flow.
- Air fry the meatballs for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to make sure they are evenly cooked.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
These Air Fryer frozen meatballs are really versatile, and can be put to use in many ways. You can use them as a filling for your sandwiches, or serve them with some spaghetti or any other pasta- just like my Air Fryer frozen chicken thighs.
You can also serve these meatballs as an appetizer with a nice dipping sauce. I usually like to pair them with a bread side like my Air Fryer garlic knots or Air Fryer pesto pinwheels. You can also use them as a topping for your Air Fryer pizza, or add them to your Air Fryer pizza pasta casserole to make it more hearty and wholesome.
I also can’t wait to try them with my Air Fryer spaghetti squash for a nice low-carb dinner.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Avoid adding too many meatballs in the basket at the same time. Arrange them in a single layer and make sure there’s enough space for the hot air to circulate through the basket.
- Shake the basket, or toss the meatballs during air frying at least once. I do this when I make my Air Fryer frozen potatoes too and it just helps them get that uniform golden brown color.
- You can also let the meatballs sit at room temperature for a few minutes before you air fry them. Remember that they thaw pretty quickly, so you’ll need to adjust the cooking time accordingly if you’re doing this.
- If you love the convenience of air frying frozen foods, also try my Air Fryer chicken Parmesan and Air Fryer eggplant Parmesan recipes, that are perfect for a weeknight meal.
Recipe FAQs
No, you can cook them straight from frozen. That’s actually what’s so great about this recipe.
To store leftovers, first allow them to cool down completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for 3-4 days.
To reheat leftover meatballs, pop them back in the Air Fryer for 3-5 minutes, or until they are nice and warm all through.
To ensure your meatballs are perfectly cooked, use a meat thermometer to check that they have reached their proper internal temperature. For beef meatballs, it should be at least 160 degrees F, and for chicken or turkey meatballs, it should be 165 degrees F.
Yes, but you’ll have to adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure they are cooked through. Follow my Air Fryer meatball recipe to do it right.
More Air Fryer Frozen Foods
Frozen Foods
Frozen Egg Rolls in Air Fryer
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Frozen Breadsticks
Appetizers
Air Fryer Frozen Pretzels
Dinner
Air Fryer Frozen Burger
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Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen meatballs
- olive oil , or cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees F for about 3-5 minutes. Then, lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray to prevent sticking.
- Place the frozen meatballs in the basket. Be sure you don't overfill the basket, which can block air flow. Work in batches, and don't cook more than you need. Just return the remaining frozen meatballs to the freezer for future use.
- Air fry the meatballs for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the air frying time to make sure they are evenly cooked.
Notes
- Avoid putting too many meatballs in the basket at one time. Place them in a single layer, allowing the air to flow properly. The nice thing about using frozen foods is that you can just cook what you need, and save the rest for later.
- Toss the meatballs during air frying so both sides get cooked properly.
- If you want to let the meatballs sit at room temperature, they thaw pretty quickly. This only saves a minute or two of air frying time, but don’t forget to adjust your times if you do thaw them first. Overcooking them can dry them out.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
