The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
Looking to make frozen meatballs in the air fryer? It’s an easy way to get them juicy and lightly crispy on the outside in minutes – perfect for those days when you’re short on time.
Frozen meatballs are less work than homemade meatballs in the air fryer, but still pack all the flavor. You can serve them as a quick appetizer with your dipping sauce of choice, add them to pasta, or toss them in sauce and use them for sandwiches.
Recipe Tips
- You usually don’t need to add extra oil for the meatballs to cook and get crispy. In fact, they may release some grease during cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer so the meatballs can cook and brown evenly.
- The cooking time for the meatballs can vary depending on their size. Our guidelines are for smaller meatballs; larger meatballs will take slightly longer. Keep an eye on them when making them for the first time.
- The internal temperature of the meatballs should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). You can check this with a meat thermometer.
- You can also cook frozen turkey meatballs in the air fryer.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
If you want to see exactly how we make frozen meatballs, you can follow the photos in this section. It’s very easy!
First, preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit (195 degrees Celsius). When the air fryer is hot, add the meatballs in one even layer.
There should be some space between them so that they can cook evenly. If your air fryer is very small, you may have to cook in batches.
Cook the meatballs for 10-14 minutes, or until fully heated through and slightly brown on the outside. Shake the air fryer basket every 4-5 minutes.
These guidelines are for small meatballs – larger meatballs will need longer. Since every air fryer is slightly different, your cooking time may vary slightly.
When they are done, remove the meatballs from the air fryer basket and serve them on their own or with a dipping sauce like ketchup or a sweet/smoky barbecue sauce. You can also add them to pasta sauce or use them for sandwiches.
Storage Tips
If you have leftover meatballs, you can store them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Make sure that they have cooled first.
To reheat them, you can microwave them, pan-fry them in a little bit of oil, or toss them back in the air fryer for a few minutes!
Related Recipes
If you liked these frozen meatballs, check out these other air fryer appetizers:
- Homemade Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
- Air Fryer Frozen Sausage Rolls
- Homemade Air Fryer Mac N Cheese Balls
- Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken
- Frozen Buffalo Cauliflower Wings in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit (195 degrees Celsius).
- When the air fryer is hot, add the meatballs in one even layer. There should be space between them so that they can cook evenly. If your air fryer is very small, you might have to cook in batches.
- Air fry the meatballs at 380 degrees Fahrenheit (195 degrees Celsius) for 10-14 minutes, or until fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) and slightly browned on the outside. Shake the air fryer basket every 4-5 minutes. These guidelines are for small meatballs – larger meatballs will need longer.
- Remove the meatballs from the air fryer basket and serve them on their own or with a dipping sauce, such as ketchup or barbecue sauce.
Notes
- You typically don’t need additional oil for the frozen meatballs to get crispy.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer so the meatballs can cook and brown evenly.
- The cooking time can vary depending on the size of the meatballs and your air fryer.
- The meatballs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
