Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

5 from 1 vote

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.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: meatballs

Calories: 39kcal

Author: Amanda McGillicuddy

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.

Notes

Scroll up to see recipe tips, ingredient notes, and possible substitutions.

Finely ground homemade breadcrumbs work best in this recipe, but you can choose to use store-bought. See 'Notes on Breadcrumbs' and 'How to make Homemade Breadcrumbs'.

Nutrition