Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

These air fryer turkey meatballs are juicy, tender, and cook up in no time! They are healthy, satisfying, and super versatile.

If you’ve cooked turkey breast, turkey bacon, or turkey burgers in the air fryer, you’ll no doubt love these turkey meatballs.

They are just as juicy as you’d expect pan-fried or baked ones to be, but cook up in a fraction of the time!

Why you’ll love this recipe 

• Healthy. Compared to ground beef or chicken, using ground turkey has less saturated fat and calories.
• Fast. These meatballs take less than 10 minutes to cook from prep to plate. 
• Versatile. Toss them through a sauce, stuff them in a meatball sub, or serve them over some salad: endless possibilities.
• Mess-free. With no deep frying involved, you won’t have to deal with extensive clean-ups once done.

What I love most about this recipe is just how incredible the texture is. Just like in our original air fryer meatball recipe, the combination of ingredients guarantees that the meatballs are never dry or flavorless and are perfectly juicy and moist in the middle. 

Ingredients needed 

This recipe calls for simple meatball staple ingredients that you’ll likely already have on hand. Here is what you’ll need:

• Ground turkey. Both lean and standard ground turkey work. I prefer the former as it is healthier and yields a more tender meatball.
• Breadcrumbs. Standard or wholewheat. 
• Garlic. Minced 
• Dried basil. To add flavor. 
• Salt. To taste. 
• Egg. Room temperature. 
• Milk. Adds moistness to the meatballs. 

How to air fry turkey meatballs 

These meatballs are an easy meal and follow just 4 simple steps below: 

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer

Start by preheating the air fryer at 200C/400F for 5 minutes. 

Step 2: Mix all the meatball ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, add all your ingredients including the ground turkey, and mix using a spatula or even your hands to thoroughly work the mixture. 

Step 3: Shape meatballs

Using your hands, shape 12-15 meatballs. I like lightly wetting my hards beforehand as it helps the meat from sticking to my fingers. 

Step 4: Air fry the meatballs

Place the meatballs in a greased air fryer basket. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. The meatballs are ready to eat once they reach an internal temperature of 165F.

Allow the meatballs to rest for 5 minutes before serving. 

Variations 

Like any good meatball, these ones are easy to customize to suit your preferences. Here are some ideas: 

• Use other ground meat. As long as it is ground/ minced, they are equally good with any type of your favorite meat, especially beef.
• Add them to your sandwiches. Chopped or whole, they go great with your choice of sub sandwiches.
• Add more spices. We kept things simple with just some dried basil but you can add smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, or even some Cajun seasoning.

Storage instructions 

To store. Place leftovers in a shallow container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

To freeze. Freezing them in airtight containers or freezer-safe bags helps them retain their juicy tenderness for up to 6 months.

To reheat. Either reheat in a non-stick skillet until hot or back again in the air fryer.

More air fryer recipes to try

• Hamburgers
• Pork tenderloin
• Meatloaf
• Fried chicken
• Chicken parmesan
• Ribs

Frequently asked questions