These effortless Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs are tender, juicy, and full of flavor. High in protein and ready in less than 30 minutes, these meatballs make the perfect healthy weeknight dinner option.
Jump to:
- What I Love about these Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
- Ingredient Notes & Possible Substitutions
- Notes on Breadcrumbs
- How to Make Homemade Breadcrumbs
- How to Make Paleo Breadcrumbs
- How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
- Storage
- Freezing Meatballs
- Meal Prep Tip
- Serving Suggestions
- Dietitian Notes
- Recipe Tips
- Try These Other Great Dinner Recipes
- Did you try these Air-Fryer Turkey Meatballs?
- 📖 Recipe
These low-calorie and high-protein meatballs are one of my favorite dinner recipes on busy nights. By prepping them and freezing them raw, you have a simple protein source that can be pulled from the freezer anytime and is ready in minutes. This recipe is easily made paleo, low-carb, and gluten-free by using homemade breadcrumbs (see 'Notes on Breadcrumbs' below).
Try adding these Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs to this Creamy Paleo Tomato Basil Soup or this Curry Butternut Squash Soup for a complete, high-protein meal. Toss them into this Whole30 Marinara Sauce for an easy homemade dinner, or cook them in a flavorful and convenient store-bought sauce. These savory meatballs have a versatile seasoning that can be paired with a variety of sauces, like this Easy Tzatziki Sauce, this Spicy Tahini Sauce, or this Paleo Teriyaki Sauce, for an effortless appetizer that everyone will enjoy.
What I Love about these Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
These meatballs are one of my hat tricks for easy weeknight meals. Here is why I love them:
- 30-Minute Meal - These delicious turkey meatballs are ready in under 30 minutes for an easy and healthy protein source.
- Easy Meal Prep - Freeze these meatballs raw, and cook from frozen for a simple meal in under 10 minutes.
- High Protein - Each meatball contains 5 grams of protein!
Ingredient Notes & Possible Substitutions
Ground Turkey
Use 80-90% lean meat in this recipe. With the breadcrumbs, these meatballs will be incredibly tender even when using lean turkey. Anything leaner than 90% will work, but it will be a little less flavorful and a little less moist.
I originally tested this recipe using the Costco packages of ground turkey (1.67 lbs per package). If using one of these larger packages, you can keep all ingredient quantities the same but increase the sea salt to 1 teaspoon.
Breadcrumbs
I recommend using homemade breadcrumbs in this recipe. They are easy to make and far superior to store-bought versions. You can use your favorite bread to make breadcrumbs, like fermented sourdough, gluten-free bread, low-carb bread, or paleo bread. See 'Notes on Breadcrumbs' and 'How to Make Homemade Breadcrumbs' below.
Store-bought options can be used in a pinch but they should be finely ground in a food processor before using if they are not already fine (especially Panko breadcrumbs). This helps them distribute more evenly into the meat mixture. If you need this recipe to be gluten-free, homemade breadcrumbs are preferred because store-bought gluten-free breadcrumbs clump together when wet.
Egg
I think this ingredient can be omitted if needed and the recipe will still bind together. It does help the meatballs hold moisture and is recommended but not absolutely necessary.
Avocado Oil Mayo
Paired with the egg and breadcrumbs, the mayo acts as a dairy-free way to add moisture to the meat so that they are tender and juicy.
Worcestershire Sauce
I use Lea and Perrin's Worcestershire sauce (it is a great gluten-free option), but you can use your favorite.
Fresh Parsley
Curly or Italian parsley will work. You can also substitute your favorite fresh herbs.
Seasonings
The seasonings I use in this recipe are versatile and complement a variety of flavors. Feel free to adjust seasonings to cater to the specific meal you plan to use the meatballs in.
Notes on Breadcrumbs
Although not totally necessary, I love the texture fresh breadcrumbs provide. They are easy to make, so much better than store-bought, and you can make them to cater to your specific dietary needs.
If using store-bought breadcrumbs: Choose high-quality breadcrumbs, and if you are using breadcrumbs that are not already finely ground (like Panko breadcrumbs) I recommend running them through a food processor until they are fine so that they can distribute better throughout the meat mixture. If you don't have a food processor, you can place the breadcrumbs in a Ziploc bag, seal it, and run a rolling pin over it several times until it is the desired texture.
Store-bought gluten-free breadcrumbs tend to stick together when wet. They will still work, but homemade gluten-free breadcrumbs will work much better.
How to Make Homemade Breadcrumbs
Making breadcrumbs is super easy and only takes about 20 minutes! Here is how you do it:
- Preheat the oven to 250 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Take your preferred bread (regular, sourdough, or low-carb bread can all be used!) and lay out 4-8 slices of bread on the baking sheet. Place into the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the bread is dry but not toasted.
- Break the bread up and place it in a food processor and process until fine breadcrumbs are achieved.
Tips:
- For this recipe, 4 slices of bread should be enough to yield ½ cup of breadcrumbs; however, I always make extra and save it for another recipe. The size of bread slices can vary quite a bit so it is better to have too much than too little.
- Generally, freshly baked bread is not ideal for breadcrumbs because it contains more moisture. Homemade bread can be used, but wait a day or two after baking it.
Follow this recipe for The Best Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs. The process is slightly different when making breadcrumbs with gluten-free bread, but it is simple and only takes about 30 minutes.
Breadcrumb Storage
Store leftover breadcrumbs in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 2 months (as long as no moisture enters the container).
How to Make Paleo Breadcrumbs
I love making these paleo breadcrumbs for meatballs! They help the meatballs stay juicy and offer a great grain-free and lower-carb alternative to conventional breadcrumbs without sacrificing flavor. I've also tested conventional store-bought breadcrumbs in this recipe, but these paleo breadcrumbs taste like the real thing and are my preference.
I use a Simple Mills Artisan Bread Baking Mix to make these paleo breadcrumbs. Here is how to do it:
- Using a Simple Mills Artisan Bread Baking Mix, bake 2 loaves using the flatbread instructions on the box.
- Preheat the oven to 250 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Once baked, allow the loaves to cool slightly then break them up into bite-size pieces on the lined baking sheet. If you do not want leftover breadcrumbs, you could use half of 1 loaf to yield enough breadcrumbs for this recipe.
- Place in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the bread is adequately dried out.
- Place the dry bread pieces in a food processor and process until fine breadcrumbs are achieved.
- Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 weeks.
How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
These meatballs are ready in under 20 minutes. Here's how to do it:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for turkey meatballs. Mix together with clean hands until the seasonings and breadcrumbs are well distributed.
- Using a 1-ounce cookie scoop, divide the meat mixture into about 23 meatballs (if using 1 lb of meat). If you don't have a small cookie scoop, you can use about 2 tablespoons of the mixture per meatball. Once divided, roll each meatball between your hands until smooth and round. Set on the baking sheet.
- If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat the air fryer to 375 F for about 4 minutes (I have never found it necessary to preheat mine). Place meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding by leaving about 1 inch of space between each meatball. Work in batches if needed.
- Place the meatballs in the air fryer and air fry for about 8-12 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of at least 165 F (10 was perfect for my air fryer, but cooking time will vary based on how close the meatballs are together and the type/size of the air fryer). Repeat until all of the meatballs are cooked.
Cooking in the Oven
Alternatively, these meatballs can be cooked in the oven. To do so, cook them on the lined baking sheet leaving about 1 inch between each meatball. You can either cook them at 375 F for 15-18 minutes (16 minutes worked well for me) or broil them for 7-8 minutes or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 F.
Storage
Store leftover cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3-4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave or air fryer.
For longer storage, freeze meatballs. See the instructions below.
Freezing Meatballs
These meatballs freeze so well! I love to prep the raw meatballs ahead of time and cook from frozen in the air fryer or oven for a quick and easy lunch or dinner.
Freezing Cooked Meatballs
You can freeze leftover cooked meatballs in a freezer-safe airtight container. Consume within 1 month for best quality. Simply thaw in the fridge for 12 hours and reheat, or reheat from frozen in the microwave or air fryer until warmed through. I prefer to freeze the meatballs raw because they taste fresh and only take a few extra minutes to cook.
Freezing Raw Meatballs
Freezing these meatballs raw is my favorite because they taste fresh and can be cooked from frozen or thawed. To freeze, place the formed meatballs on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and place it in the freezer for about 20 minutes, or until partially frozen. Line the bottom of a large freezer-safe airtight container with parchment paper, then place the partially frozen meatballs into the container in a single layer. If you have space, you can add another layer in the same container by separating it with an additional sheet of parchment paper. Place the container in the freezer and freeze for up to 1 month.
To cook: Either thaw the raw meatballs in the fridge for about 12 hours or cook from frozen. Cook thawed meatballs in the air fryer at 375 F for about 10 minutes. Frozen meatballs will require an extra minute or two in the air fryer to reach an internal temp of 165 F.
Meal Prep Tip
I am the queen of freezing meatballs raw so that I always have a fresh-tasting, high-protein meal on hand.
To do so, freeze the meatballs according to the instructions above. When you are ready to eat them, pull as many meatballs from the freezer as you want to eat and cook in the air fryer for about 11 minutes at 375 F or broil them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet for 8-9 minutes (or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 F). Enjoy the meatballs by themselves, or add them to a salad, sauce, or soup for convenient protein.
Serving Suggestions
These meatballs are savory, tender, and packed with flavor, but the seasonings used are relatively subtle. They can complement a variety of dishes. Use them on top of a salad, in a soup, with pasta, serve them with a dipping sauce for an appetizer, or enjoy them on their own as a high-protein snack.
Dietitian Notes
- Each meatball contains 39 calories, 2 grams of carbs, and 5 grams of protein. Using my paleo breadcrumbs will yield meatballs with less than 1 gram of net carb per meatball.
- Prepping these meatballs ahead of time and freezing raw allows for an effortless homemade meal that is healthy and high in protein.
Recipe Tips
- I like using a 1-ounce cookie scoop to help divide the meatballs evenly. You can use about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture per meatball if you do not have a 1-ounce scoop.
- Use an internal thermometer to ensure the turkey meatballs are fully cooked, especially if cooking from frozen. They must be at least 165 F.
- Homemade breadcrumbs are my favorite in this recipe, but store-bought can be used. I recommend finely ground breadcrumbs rather than panko. Use homemade breadcrumbs if you need the recipe to be gluten-free.
Try These Other Great Dinner Recipes
Looking for other tasty recipes? Here are a few you might like:
Did you try these Air-Fryer Turkey Meatballs?
I would love to see how it went! Share a photo and tag me on Instagram or leave a comment on Pinterest.
Love this recipe? Connect with me by leaving a comment below! 😊
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Rubber Spatula
- 1-ounce cookie scoop
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Air Fryer optional
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground turkey, 80-90% lean You can use a 1.67 lb package of ground turkey (found at Costco) to yield 38 meatballs just increase the salt to 1 tsp, everything else can remain the same.
- 1 Large egg
- ½ cup Breadcrumbs, finely ground I used homemade paleo bread crumbs, but regular and GF bread crumbs will work. I prefer homemade but store-bought can be used. (See 'Notes on Breadcrumbs' and 'How to make Homemade Breadcrumbs')
- 2 Garlic cloves finely minced (about 1 tbsp)
- 1 tablespoon Avocado oil mayo
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce gluten-free if needed
- 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley finely chopped
- 2 teaspoon Granulated sugar optional
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Sea salt
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. The baking sheet is optional. I use it to hold the meatballs as I work in batches with the air fryer. Alternatively, you can roll the meatballs and place them directly in the air fryer as you go.
- Mince the garlic and finely chop the parsley. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix together with clean hands until all seasonings are well distributed.
- Using a 1-ounce cookie scoop, divide the meat mixture into about 23 meatballs. If you don't have a small cookie scoop, you can use about 2 tablespoons of the mixture per meatball. Once divided, roll each meatball between your hands until smooth and round. Set on the baking sheet.
- If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat the air fryer to 375 F for about 4 minutes (I have never found it necessary to preheat mine). Place the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding by leaving about 1 inch of space between each meatball. Work in batches if needed.
- Place the meatballs in the air fryer and air fry for about 8-12 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of at least 165 F (10 minutes was perfect for my air fryer, but cooking time will vary based on how close the meatballs are together and the type/size of the air fryer). Repeat until all of the meatballs are cooked.
KD says
Yay