These juicy air fryer chicken meatballs are my go-to for busy weeknights—they're flavorful and ready in just 15 minutes. Made with lean protein and hidden veggies, they're perfect for a healthy meal prep and taste amazing on their own or served with pasta, rice, basil pesto without pine nuts, or your favorite sauce.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs (15 Minutes!)
- 🕒 Ready In: 15 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 4 (easy to scale)
- 🍽 Calories: 250 per serving
- 📋 Protein: ~26g per serving
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Lean ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs (or gluten-free), garlic, onion, spinach, parmesan, Italian seasoning
- 📖 Dietary Info: High-protein, gluten-free friendly, dairy-free friendly, meal prep friendly, healthy
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: These air fryer chicken meatballs are juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and packed with flavor. They're quick, healthy, and perfect for weeknight dinners, sandwiches, or pasta night!
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
I’ve tested dozens of healthy meatball recipes, and these air fryer chicken meatballs might be my new favorite. Unlike most, this version includes spinach for a hidden veggie boost—and I tested multiple variations to nail the perfect texture, juiciness, and crispiness. Best part? They're ready in just 15 minutes. No oven preheating or 30-minute bake time required.
As a former D1 athlete and healthy food blogger, I’m all about quick, high-protein meals that taste amazing and hold up for meal prep. I adapted this recipe from my popular air fryer turkey meatballs and gave it a fun twist with spinach and parmesan. If you're looking for more easy ideas, try my Greek chicken meatballs with tzatziki or these saucy teriyaki turkey meatballs!
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitutions & Variations
- Need to substitute an ingredient?
- How to Make Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs (Step-by-Step)
- 1 Minute Video Tutorial
- Top Tips
- What to Serve with Chicken Meatballs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storage & Freezing Tips
- More Meatball Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolutely ROCKIN' recipe! Made a batch of 18 meatballs. Half for me, and half for my wife's Dad. He loved them too!
- Steve
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick & easy: Ready in just 15 minutes—no oven preheating required.
- Juicy & flavorful: Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor.
- Healthy: Made with lean ground chicken, hidden veggies, and no added oil.
- Versatile: Serve as an appetizer with dipping sauce (like this healthy ranch dip) or as a main with pasta, salad, or rice.
- Easy cleanup: Air fryer cooking means less mess and no greasy pans.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Ground chicken: I recommend 93% lean for the best balance of moisture and flavor. You can use 99% lean since the egg and breadcrumbs help keep things tender. Ground turkey works too!
- Onion: Shredded onion is my secret to extra juicy, tender meatballs. I love using yellow or sweet onions.
- Breadcrumbs: Regular or Italian-style both work great. I've tested gluten-free options too—just avoid extra-coarse varieties.
- Egg: Helps bind the mixture. Greek yogurt works in a pinch (2 Tbsp), but the texture is a little softer.
- Spinach (optional): A sneaky veggie add-in! Use finely chopped fresh or thawed frozen—just squeeze out the moisture.
- Garlic cloves: I prefer fresh minced garlic for bold flavor, but garlic powder works if you're in a hurry.
- Dijon mustard: Adds a subtle tang and depth of flavor that sets these apart. If you’re out, you can use yellow mustard, but Dijon is worth it.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated adds the best flavor, but pre-grated works too. Skip or substitute plant-based for dairy-free.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the exact quantities of all ingredients.
Substitutions & Variations
- Make them cheesy: Mix in ⅓ cup of low-moisture shredded mozzarella for extra cheesy goodness.
- Make them gluten-free: Swap breadcrumbs with almond flour, crushed gluten-free crackers, or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Make them dairy-free: Use dairy-free Parmesan or nutritional yeast instead of regular Parmesan.
- Use ground turkey: Works just as well as ground chicken—use 93% lean for the best texture.
- Make them egg-free: Use two tablespoons of Greek yogurt or a flax egg; just note the meatballs will be a little softer.
- Add heat: Mix in red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for a spicy version.
- Frozen spinach: Just thaw and squeeze out all the moisture—it works perfectly if you don't have fresh.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Ask AI for suggestions on how to substitute the particular ingredient.
How to Make Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs (Step-by-Step)
- Step 1: Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
- Step 2: Gently mix with your hands until just combined—don't overwork it or the meatballs will be tough.
- Step 3: Roll the mixture into 16–20 evenly sized meatballs and place them on a plate.
- Step 4: Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (188°C). Arrange the meatballs in a single layer in the basket—cook in batches if needed.
- Step 5: Air fry for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the meatballs are golden and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Step 6: Serve warm with marinara, pesto, or your favorite sauce over pasta, rice, or in a wrap or sub!
1 Minute Video Tutorial
Top Tips
- Shred your onion, don't chop it: I've tested both, and finely shredding the onion with a box grater makes a huge difference—it keeps the meatballs super juicy without chunks.
- Don't overmix the meat: I learned this the hard way. If you mix too aggressively, the meatballs turn out dense and dry. Use your hands and stop as soon as everything is combined.
- Preheat your air fryer for even browning: It's tempting to skip this step, but preheating gives you that golden exterior. I always preheat for 3–5 minutes while I'm rolling the meatballs.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. I always make sure to air fry in a single layer. If you pile them up, they won't get that crispy texture we all love. I cook them in batches, and it's totally worth it.
What to Serve with Chicken Meatballs
These air fryer chicken meatballs go with just about anything! Here are some of my favorite sides and pairings to round out the meal:
- Pasta: Serve over spaghetti, linguine, or penne with marinara or pesto. I love them with my nut-free basil pesto for a fresh twist.
- Salad: Add them to a hearty salad like my kale crunch salad or this strawberry goat cheese salad.
- Rice: Pair with brown rice, jasmine rice, or a simple rice pilaf for a comforting combo.
- Vegetables: Serve with roasted or air-fried vegetables like air fryer broccoli and cauliflower, carrots, air fryer green beans, or caramelized balsamic Brussels sprouts.
- Garlic Bread: Try this gluten-free garlic bread or this air fryer garlic bread!
- Zoodles: A great low-carb swap—spiralized zucchini is perfect with these juicy meatballs. I love these low-carb air fryer spaghetti squash noodles, too.
- Dipping sauces: Serve as an appetizer with marinara, homemade healthy ranch, healthy Greek yogurt Caesar dressing, buffalo sauce, healthy tzatziki, or easy hummus made in a blender.
- Sweet Potato Fries: I love these with air fryer sweet potato wedges.
- Crispy Potatoes: Same with regular potatoes—try my air fryer fingerling potatoes and these oven-roasted crispy baby potatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ai fry chicken meatballs at 360°F for about 8 to 10 minutes. They're done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. I always use a meat thermometer to be sure they're cooked through—it's the easiest way to avoid any guesswork!
Yes! I've made this recipe with both, and ground turkey (especially 93% lean) works perfectly.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil before adding the meatballs. I also recommend preheating the air fryer so the meatballs start cooking right away—this helps prevent sticking and gives them a crispier exterior. Avoid using parchment paper unless it's perforated, since it can block airflow.
Yes! You can freeze them cooked or uncooked. To freeze raw meatballs, shape them and freeze on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Air fry straight from frozen—just add 2–3 extra minutes. For cooked meatballs, let them cool, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat in the air fryer or oven until warmed through.
Storage & Freezing Tips
Store leftover air fryer chicken meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. To reheat, microwave gently, warm them in a covered skillet with a splash of broth or water, or pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 5–6 minutes until heated through.
More Meatball Recipes You'll Love
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Did you make this recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken, 93% lean is best (99% works too!)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs, gluten-free if needed
- ⅓ cup yellow onion, shredded or minced
- 1 ½ cups baby spinach, finely chopped (optional)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ - 1 teaspoon red chili flakes, optional for spice
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Set to 370°F (188°C) and lightly spray the basket or line with perforated parchment paper.
- Mix the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, onion, spinach (if using), parmesan, Dijon, garlic, parsley, paprika, salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
- Don’t overmix: Gently mix with your hands until just combined to keep the meatballs tender.
- Shape the meatballs: Form into 16–20 evenly sized meatballs using your hands or a scoop.
- Arrange in the basket: Place meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer; cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry until golden: Cook for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until browned and cooked to 165°F (74°C).
- Serve and enjoy: Pair with marinara, pesto, or your favorite sauce over pasta, rice, or zoodles.
Steve Gamlin says
Absolutely ROCKIN' recipe!
Made a batch of 18 meatballs.
Half for me, and half for my wife's Dad.
He loved them too!
Jessica Sanders says
What’s a serving size of this?
Tati Chermayeff says
Hi! 4 servings of about 7 - 9 meatballs each. It depend on the size of the meatballs.