Air Fryer Meatballs Marinara

These easy Air Fryer Meatballs Marinara are one of our family’s favorite dinners. With just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps, you can whip these up any night of the week.

The meatballs cook in the air fryer in just 10 minutes! The sauce can be heated with the meatballs on the stove or in the oven in 10-15 minutes more, and dinner is ready to serve.

We like to serve the meatballs over traditional pasta or, for a lower carb option, zoodles (zucchini noodles). They are also delicious as a quick lunch with a side salad and fresh bread, or packed, warm, in a thermos for protein-packed lunch-on-the-go. Or, make the meatballs on the small side and serve ’em as an appetizer with toothpicks! With so many options, you’ve just got to try them!

Although Air Fryer Meatballs Marinara are very simple to throw together, you can make them in advance to save time. They freeze well and heat up easy, so make an extra batch for another night and you’ll thank yourself later!

Air Fryer Meatballs Marinara

Ingredients

1/4 cup Panko

2 Tablespoons milk

1 egg

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (not shredded), plus more for garnish

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. grass-fed ground beef

1 jar (24 oz.) marinara or other pasta sauce

3-4 basil leaves for garnish, if desired

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together Panko, milk, egg, Parmesan, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and mix together with your hands. Using your hands, make about 15 golf-ball-sized meatballs and place in the drawer of an air fryer.
Set air fryer to 375F and cook for 5 minutes. Open drawer and turn meatballs, then cook for 5 minutes more.
To heat the sauce using the oven: Preheat oven to 375F. Pour about 1 cup sauce into the bottom of a medium-sized oven-proof dish. Add the meatballs to the sauce. Pour remaining sauce over the meatballs. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
To heat the sauce using the stove top: Pour about 1 cup sauce into the bottom of medium-sized pot. Add meatballs to the sauce. Pour remaining sauce over the meatballs. Cook over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until sauce is heated through.
Garnish with grated Parmesan and fresh basil before serving.

*I use affiliate links for my favorite products. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much for helping me keep this website up and running!

Share With A Friend

Welcome!

Hi! I’m Marie. Mama, wife, homebody. I’m a self-taught chef and cookbook author.

I love sharing fast, fresh, family-friendly recipes that will, hopefully, make your life a little easier.

Above all, I love spending time in the kitchen with family and friends. Come join us!

Contact

Watch & Cook With Me!

Other Recipes You'll Love!

One Response

CatLover says:

June 9, 2023 at 4:36 am

These are the best meatballs I’ve ever made! Followed your recipe using 93% lean Grass-fed ground beef; and measurements the same except I did add some herbs (1/2 tsp dried Italian spices, 1/4 tsp dried basil, and 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper). Having no milk on hand I substituted with 2TBSP 2% Buttermilk and omited the salt. YUM! Great consistency, flavor, moisture, and appearance. After air-frying 10 minutes, I soaked them in a pan of precooked marinara (with chopped mushrooms and 2 cloves minced fresh garlic); then heated together for 5 minutes. It was great with or without sauce. Thank you for great directions and the videotape on Youtube.com.

Reply