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These Air Fryer turkey meatballs are healthy, satisfying and super delicious. Ground turkey comes together with a simple mix of spices, some egg and bell pepper to create a hearty, low-carb and gluten-free dish that barely takes 15 minutes from start to finish.
Once you give this recipe a try, you’ll find yourself making it a part of your weekly meal prep for sure. Craving for some extra indulgence? Try my Air Fryer cheese stuffed meatballs recipe.
These meatballs are one of my favorite things to make in the Air Fryer. They are perfect for meals, appetizers, and even meal prep. The last time I batch made my classic Air Fryer meatballs, everyone loved them.
So of course, I had to try making meatballs using another meat, and I did. I tried these with ground turkey, and also made Air Fryer chicken meatballs, and they both turned out SO good.
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Moist, juicy and savory!
⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes.
🔥 Cook time: 10 minutes.
⏲️ Total time: 15 minutes + 5 minutes resting time.
👥 Servings: 6 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer, mixing bowl, chopping board, knife, Air Fryer liners.
❄️ Freezer friendly: Yes.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: Use a scoop and then hand roll the meatballs to pack them. Don’t pack them too tightly or they will cook unevenly.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They’re so quick and easy to make. You’ll need just under 20 minutes to whip these up from scratch.
- They’re incredibly versatile- just like my Air Fryer chicken thighs. You can pair them with a pasta or serve them as an appetizer.
- They’re perfect for meal prepping- much like my Air Fryer honey garlic chicken tenders. Batch make these over the weekend and use them for your lunches during the week.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground turkey: Use the 93% or 99% lean version- whatever you prefer.
- Red bell pepper: For a pop of color and a bit of flavor.
- Parsley: For the freshness.
- Egg: To hold the meatballs together. Egg is the best binding agent here, especially since we’re not using breadcrumbs.
- Seasonings: I used a mix of Italian seasoning, salt and ground black pepper. You can also use some of my homemade poultry seasoning if you want some extra flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- Experiment with different flavors by changing up the herbs and spices you’re adding into the meatball mixture. I love adding my Air Fryer roasted garlic for a bit of a smoky, garlicky flavor.
- For a cheesy flavor, you can also add grated Parmesan or crumbled feta (like I did when I made my Air Fryer Greek meatballs) into the mixture.
How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 F. Grease the basket with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
- Combine ground turkey, bell pepper, parsley, egg, and seasonings in a bowl. Mix gently.
- Use an ice cream scoop or a tablespoon to portion out the mixture an shape each meatball into 1 1/4” balls.
- Arrange the meatballs in a single layer in the prepared Air Fryer basket, leaving room between the meatballs.
- Cook at 400 F for 8-10 minutes, or until cooked completely through. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
Team up these Air Fryer turkey meatballs with some spaghetti noodles (or zoodles if you want to keep it low carb) and your pasta sauce (like I did with my Air Fryer chicken Parmesan meatballs), or on a bun with sauce and cheese as a sub sandwich.
I personally love serving these meatballs as an appetizer along with a nice dipping sauce and other appetizers like Air Fryer stuffed mushrooms or Air Fryer bacon wrapped scallops. And of course, these meatballs can taste fantastic when served alongside some Air Fryer garlic bread or Air Fryer mac and cheese.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Mix the ingredients just until they’re combined. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough.
- Arrange the meatballs in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch. This allows the hot air to circulate freely, cooking them evenly and giving them a nice outer crust. I realized this when I made my Air Fryer pork chop bites.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), which is the safe temperature for poultry.
- To achieve a nice golden brown caramelization on the outside, you can spray a bit of cooking oil or cooking spray over the meatballs before air frying them. Refer to my post about best oils for Air Fryer for more details.
- Allow the meatballs to cool for a few minutes before serving. If you want to store them for later, get them to room temperature first. This prevents condensation inside the storage container, which can make them soggy.
Recipe FAQs
Store the cooled meatballs in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. They should last in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Yes, you can. Simply freeze them on a lined baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
To reheat the leftovers, simply air fry them for 3-5 minutes in a preheated Air Fryer, until they’re nice and warm. If you’re reheating from frozen, let them air fry for 6-8 minutes- no need to thaw them! You can also reheat the meatballs in a saucepan with a sauce (like marinara or gravy) over medium-low heat.
It’s generally a good idea to preheat your Air Fryer for a few minutes before cooking. This ensures the meatballs start cooking immediately and helps achieve a more even cook.
More Air Fryer Appetizers
Appetizers
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Appetizers
Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Breakfast
Air Fryer Candied Bacon
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Tater Tots
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR ⭐️ RATING in the COMMENTS 📝 SECTION below.
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs ground turkey
- 1 medium bell pepper, red
- 1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare the air fryer basket.
- Add ground turkey, bell pepper, parsley, egg, and seasonings to a bowl. Mix well.
- Use a scooper or a tablespoon to shape each meatball into 1 1/4” balls.
- Place the meatballs in a single layer in the prepared air fryer basket
- Cook at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Remove the cooked meatballs from the air fryer and continue to cook the remaining meatballs.
Notes
- Arrange the turkey meatballs in a single layer, and avoid overcrowding the Air Fryer basket.
- Don’t overmix the meatball mixture, or they’ll turn out chewy.
- Leftover turkey meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before discarding.
- You can also freeze any remaining turkey meatballs in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Reheat frozen turkey meatballs by thawing overnight in the refrigerator and then placing them in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
