• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pure and Simple Nourishment
  • About
    • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
    • My Food Philosophy
    • Press and Publications
    • Contact
  • Free Resources
  • Recipes
    • Holidays
      • Fall
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Breakfast
    • Main Course
    • Dessert
    • Sauces and Dips
    • Side Dish
    • Drinks
    • Vegetables
    • Snack
    • Meat and Fish
    • Recipe Wrap-Ups
    • SCD
    • GAPS
    • Whole30
    • AIP
    • Vegan
    • Paleo
    • Dairy-Free
    • Gluten-Free
    • Low FODMAP
    • Refined-Sugar-Free
  • Health
    • Health Information
    • Book Club
  • Nutrition
  • Beauty
    • Beautycounter
    • Skin Care
  • Fitness
    • Fitness Information
    • Weekly Workouts
  • Favorites
    • Books
    • Tools
    • Skincare
  • Work With Me
    • Services
    • Skin Care Quiz
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Health Information
  • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
  • Services
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Health Information
    • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
    • Services
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×

    Home » Course » Main Course

    Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs

    Published: Feb 11, 2021 · Modified: Feb 19, 2023 by Erin Carter · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    23 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cooking air fryer frozen meatballs is so easy! They turn out so juicy and tender and are ready in under 15 minutes. These beef meatballs can be used for so many things including being added to pasta dishes, eaten as an appetizer or as a snack.

    A bowl of cooked meatballs with marinara sauce on top and garnished with fresh parsley.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • These air fried frozen meatballs are so easy to make and are ready in under 15 minutes!
    • The clean up is so simple since they're made in an air fryer.
    • The meatballs turn out so juicy and tender even though they are cooked from frozen.
    • You can use any brand of frozen meatballs that you like when you cook frozen meatballs in an air fryer including Trader Joe's meatballs. You can also use either frozen beef meatballs, frozen pork meatballs, frozen chicken meatballs or frozen turkey meatballs. You can also use your own frozen homemade meatballs too. 
    • You can use these meatballs in so many ways: add them to pasta dishes, serve as an appetizer or eat as a snack.
    • Meatballs are a healthy snack or meal that are gluten free, paleo, keto, low carb, Whole30 and carnivore.

    Taste and texture:

    When cooked in the air fryer, meatballs turn out so juicy and tender. They are never dry or tough and the flavour will depend on the spices added to your meatballs.

    Ingredients: 

    • Frozen meatballs - I use grass fed pure beef meatballs but you can use any meatballs that you like including either homemade frozen meatballs or store bought frozen meatballs including both Trader Joe's frozen meatballs and Ikea frozen meatballs. 

    How to cook:

    Step one:

    Simply place the frozen meatballs on the rack or in the basket of your air fryer and cook them for 11-12 minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using a basket style air fryer, be sure to shake the basket half way through the cooking time. 

    Frozen meatballs on the rack of an air fryer.

    Chef's tips: 

    • Cooking times will vary depending on the model of air fryer you have, so you may need to adjust this recipe slightly.
    • Don't overlap the meatballs when putting them in the air fryer. Place them in a single layer to ensure they cook evenly. 
    • Depending on the size and brand of meatballs you use, you may need to adjust the cooking time.
    • This method of air fryer meatballs is for frozen beef meatballs, if you use another type of meat you will likely need to adjust the cooking time slightly. 

    How to serve meatballs:

    • You can enjoy them plain or with a dipping sauce such as mustard, ketchup or bbq sauce. 
    • Add them to pasta dishes such as spaghetti or marinara sauce. 
    • Add them to soup or stew recipes for some added healthy protein. 
    • Serve them as appetizers at your next tailgate or Super Bowl party! 

    How to store:

    Store any leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    How to reheat:

    If you have any leftover cooked meatballs, simply reheat them in your air fryer for 2-4 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

    A bowl of cooked meatballs in tomato sauce, garnished with fresh parsley.

    Frequently asked questions: 

    How long does it take to cook frozen meatballs? 

    When you cook frozen meatballs in an air fryer it only takes 11-12 minutes to cook them at 390 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to at least 20 minutes when you cook them in an oven. 

    Can you put frozen meat in an air fryer?

    Yes! You can cook many frozen meats in an air fryer including meatballs, chicken wings, steak, chicken tenders and more!

    What temperature should meatballs be cooked to?

    Meatballs are done cooking when they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Can you air fry Trader Joe's meatballs? 

    Absolutely! You can cook any brand of meatball in an air fryer and you can cook them either from fresh or frozen, whichever you prefer. 

    Do I need to preheat my air fryer for this recipe?

    For this air fryer recipe you do not need to preheat your air fryer. If you do choose to preheat it, subtract 2-3 minutes from the cooking time.

    Other air fryer recipes you will love: 

    • Frozen French fries in the air fryer
    • Frozen burgers in the air fryer
    • Lamb chops in the air fryer
    • Air fryer pork belly
    • Air fryer salmon cakes with lemon dill aioli 
    • Air fryer frozen chicken wings

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs

    Cooking frozen meatballs in the air fryer is so easy! They turn out perfectly tender and moist and are ready in just 15 minutes.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course, Meat, Snack
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 1 minute minute
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 13 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 298kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb frozen beef meatballs

    Optional

    • spray oil (if food tends to stick to your air fryer, spray it with some oil before placing the meatballs on it)

    Instructions

    • Place the frozen meatballs on the top tray of your air fryer and cook at 390F for 11-12 minutes.

    Notes:

    • If you are using a basket style air fryer, be sure to shake the basket half way through cooking.

    Notes

    1. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of your meatballs.
    2. You do not need to preheat your air fryer for this recipe. 
    3. These cooking times are for beef meatballs.
    4. If food tends to stick to your air fryer, spray it with some oil before placing the meatballs on or in it.
    5. Nutritional values will vary depending on the specific type of meatballs you use. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 298kcal | Protein: 19g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 325mg | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    More Healthy Main Courses

    • A plate with pan seared shrimp on it with lemon wedges beside them.
      Quick and Easy Pan Seared Shrimp
    • Two over medium eggs on a plate and one of them has the yolk cut open.
      Quick and Easy Over Medium Eggs
    • A plate with over hard eggs on it and a small bowl of blueberries and raspberries.
      Quick and Easy Over Hard Eggs
    • A piece of Mahi Mahi cooked in an air fryer on a plate.
      Air Fryer Mahi Mahi

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Dr. Erin Carter wearing a floral dress in her kitchen.

    Hi everyone! My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialities in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Air Fryer Hash Browns
    • A bowl of protein baked oats topped with melted chocolate with a spoon in it.
      The Best Protein Baked Oats
    • An omelette with chicken, spinach, tomato and cheese in it on a plate.
      Chicken Omelette
    • Two soft boiled eggs in the shell that have been cut in half.
      Soft Boiled Eggs in Microwave

    Healthy Main Dishes

    • A bowl of mango chicken curry topped with white rice and garnished with cilantro.
      Mango Chicken Curry
    • A bowl of paleo curried butternut squash soup garnished with flowers and fresh parsley.
      Paleo Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • A plate with a cut up steak on it covered in chimichurri sauce.
      The Best Denver Steak
    • A piece of blackened mahi mahi on a plate with cooked asparagus and lime wedges beside it.
      The Best Blackened Mahi Mahi
    • A pan filled with tuna fried rice with chop sticks on top.
      Quick and Easy Tuna Fried Rice
    • A bowl of veggie pesto pasta with chopped baby tomatoes and basil leaves on top.
      The Best Veggie Pesto Pasta

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    Some of the links on this website are affiliate links whereby we make a small percentage if you purchase the product through that link. It does not cost you anything extra and helps us keep this website running. As an Amazon associate we earn a small percentage from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Pure & Simple Nourishment

    23 shares
    23 shares