Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
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When the kids are hungry and dinner needs to happen fast, these air fryer turkey meatballs are my answer. The garlic and onion seasoning is mild enough for picky eaters, and the whole batch is ready in under 30 minutes!
Cooking in the air fryer is one of my favorite ways to make an easy meal. The cleanup is quick, and I can essentially just pop my food in the air fryer and let it take care of the hard work. Before I know it, dinner is hot and ready to go on the table!
This turkey meatball recipe is a fabulous twist on traditional beef meatballs, and it lacks absolutely nothing in the flavor department!
So many healthy turkey meatballs turn out dry and mealy, fall apart, or just have an odd texture. But these air fryer turkey meatballs come out juicy and tender every time.
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Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite
With just seven ingredients, most of them spices already sitting in the pantry, these meatballs come together without a special trip to the store. They’re a meal prep favorite, too. Leftovers store and reheat well, and they taste just as good as when they’re fresh out of the air fryer!
Homemade meatballs are super versatile. Spoon them over spaghetti with marinara, tuck them into a sub roll, or set them out with a bowl of warm sauce for dipping.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested cooking tips for making this recipe! I’ve made this countless times, so I can save you from a failed attempt.
- Keep the meatballs the same size. A cookie scoop makes every meatball match, so the whole batch finishes cooking at the same time instead of leaving the small ones dry while the big ones catch up.
- Leave space between each meatball. Hot air needs room to circulate around every side to cook them evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in a couple of batches.
- Grease the basket first. A quick coat of cooking spray keeps the bottoms from sticking so the meatballs come out whole.
- Wet your hands before rolling. The turkey mixture is sticky, and damp hands let you shape smooth balls without it clinging to your palms.
Round out the plate with air fryer green beans or baby carrots . For something richer than marinara, spoon some gravy from my Salisbury steak meatballs recipe over them!
Ingredients
You’ll want to add these ingredients to your grocery shopping list:
Ground turkey is the base of these meatballs. Look for it near the ground beef at the meat counter. Turn these into air fryer chicken meatballs by using ground chicken instead of turkey. You can also use lean ground beef if you prefer more traditional beef meatballs.
An egg and almond flour hold everything together in place of breadcrumbs. You can find almond flour in the baking aisle. If you don’t have any, coconut flour works too, or you can use all-purpose flour or seasoned breadcrumbs.
New to making meatballs?
The process isn't difficult, but I have some simple and helpful tips in my post, How to Cook Meatballs.
Want to add some spice? Mix red pepper flakes or chili powder into the meatball mixture. Fresh herbs like basil and parsley add loads of flavor, and you can also stir in finely diced onion or freshly minced garlic.
How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
For the cook time, see the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe
- Get your air fryer preheating, then add the ground turkey and almond flour to a large bowl.
- Add the seasoning by sprinkling the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder over the turkey.
- Add the egg. Crack it right on top of everything else in the bowl.
- Mix and shape. Mix with your hands or a spoon until everything is evenly combined. Then scoop the mixture into 1 inch meatballs. Wet your hands with water to keep the meat from sticking to them.
Helpful Tip
Line a tray with parchment paper and set the meatballs on it as you shape them. They’ll be easier to move to the basket all at once, and cleanup is as simple as tossing the paper.
- Add the meatballs to the air fryer. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Now, air fry the turkey meatballs! Air fry until the meatballs are browned and cooked all the way through. Pull them out of the basket and serve them with your favorite sauce!
Make it kid friendly: Scoop the meatballs a little smaller so they’re bite size for little hands, and start checking them early, since smaller meatballs cook faster. Serve them with a small cup of marinara or ranch for dipping. Kids also love helping roll the mixture into balls while you get the air fryer going!
Meal Prep Instructions
Make a batch on Sunday, and you’ll have meatballs ready for lunches and dinners all week. The recipe doubles easily, so make extra while the air fryer is already going.
Let the meatballs cool completely before you pack them up. Trapped steam turns into moisture in the container and softens the outsides. Portion them into containers with a side like pasta, rice, or green beans. Then pack the sauce in a small separate container so the meatballs stay firm until you’re ready to eat.
They’ll keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in a preheated air fryer, in the oven, on the stovetop, or in the microwave.
To freeze, spread the cooked meatballs on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Freezing them on the sheet first keeps them from sticking together, so you can grab just a few at a time. Since this turkey meatball recipe reheats straight from frozen, there’s no need to thaw.
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs FAQs
If your meatballs have a rubbery texture, you likely packed them too tightly. Roll the meat mixture firmly enough that it holds together, but not so tight that the juices can’t keep the meat tender.
Once each meatball is golden brown on the outside and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), they are done! Use an instant read meat thermometer to get an accurate temperature check.
Air fry 1-inch turkey meatballs at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 12 minutes. Bigger meatballs will need a few extra minutes in the basket.
After you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below and comment to let me know how it went!
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup almond flour coconut flour, or all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes. If your air fryer does not have a preheat function, just turn it on for a few minutes to heat it up.
- Combine 1 lb. ground turkey, 1 large egg, ¼ cup almond flour, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder in a large bowl. Mix the meatball ingredients together with a spoon or your hands until well combined.
- Scoop out the meat mixture with a spoon or cookie scoop and roll it in the palms of your hands to form into meatballs that are about 1-inch in diameter. *Lightly wet your hands with water to prevent the meat mixture from sticking.
- Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they don’t touch each other. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes or until browned and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165℉.
- Remove the cooked meatballs from the air fryer and serve over rice, noodles, in hoagie buns, or as desired.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
