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    Home » Recipes » Main Course

    How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in an Air Fryer

    Modified: Aug 7, 2024 • Published: Feb 11, 2021 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • Leave a Comment

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    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.
    Table of Contents
    • Why you will love this cooking method:
    • Ingredients: 
    • How to cook (step-by-step):
    • Top tips: 
    • How to serve:
    • How to store:
    • How to reheat:
    • Frequently asked questions: 
    • Other air fryer recipes you will love: 
    • Recipe

    Why you will love this cooking method:

    • These air fried frozen meatballs are so quick easy to make and are ready in under 15 minutes! Plus the clean up is so simple.
    • 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. You can use 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 compliant and carnivore.

    Not sure which air fryer to get? I have a review on the best non-toxic air fryers you can read.

    Ingredients: 

    • Frozen meatballs - I use grass fed pure beef meatballs but you can use any beef meatballs that you like including either homemade frozen meatballs or store bought frozen meatballs.

    How to cook (step-by-step):

    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.

    Top tips: 

    • Cooking times will vary depending on the model of air fryer you have, so you may need to adjust this recipe slightly.
    • For this recipe I do not preheat my air fryer. If you do preheat yours decrease the cook time by a few minutes.
    • Don't overlap the meatballs when putting them in the air fryer. Place them in a single layer to ensure they cook evenly and that the air can circulate around them.
    • Depending on the size and brand of meatballs you use, you may need to adjust the cook time.
    • If you are using a basket style air fryer be sure to shake the basket half way through the cook time to help the meatballs cook evenly on all sides.

    How to serve:

    • You can enjoy meatballs plain or with a dipping sauce such as mustard, ketchup or bbq sauce. 
    • Add the cooked meatballs to pasta dishes such as spaghetti or marinara sauce. 
    • Add them to soup or stew recipes for some added protein. 
    • Serve these juicy meatballs 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: 

    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: 

    • Easy Frozen French fries in the air fryer
    • Frozen burgers in the air fryer
    • Lamb chops in the air fryer
    • Super easy air fryer pork belly
    • Air fryer salmon 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!

    Recipe

    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!

    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!

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    Hi everyone!

    My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialties 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.

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