Cooking frozen meatballs in the air fryer is quick and easy. Crispy on the outside and juicy inside, these meatballs are perfect for serving with your favorite sauce or dip. You can add them to a sandwich, serve them over rice, or add some BBQ sauce for a great appetizer. If you’re looking for an easy snack or meal or a fun way to get your kids involved in the kitchen, start with teaching them how to cook frozen meatballs in air fryer. Yep, these air fryer frozen meatballs are a quick and simple way to get kids to love cooking.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE!
Super Quick and Easy! Meatballs go straight from the freezer into your air fryer. They cook up in just minutes to make a meal in no time!
Kid-Friendly! The kids (and the rest of the family) will be thrilled to find these on the table!
It’s Delicious! Meatballs are great no matter how you serve them! Plain, sauced, sandwiched, or tossed with pasta you’re sure to love these easy air fryer frozen meatballs!
How to Make Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer?
INGREDIENTS
- Frozen Meatballs – Make sure you don’t thaw these before they go in the fryer! You don’t even need any extra oil!
- BBQ Sauce – Make your own or pick some up at the store.
Directions
- First, preheat your air fryer. Set the temperature to 390℉ (199℃). All air fryers are a little different, so consult your owner’s manual for more detailed operating instructions.
- Add the meatballs. Put 16 ounces of frozen (not thawed!) meatballs in the basket of your air fryer in a single layer.
- Bake. When the fryer is fully preheated, replace the filled basket. Cook for approximately 10 minutes. Rotate the meatballs halfway through in order to cook things evenly. You can also just shake the basket to keep a more rounded shape vs. getting a crust on just the top and bottom.
- Finally, mix with barbecue sauce. When your timer goes off and the meat is cooked, transfer the contents of the basket to a bowl or serving dish. Stir in ½ cup barbecue sauce making sure to coat each piece thoroughly.
- Serve. The meatballs will be hot right out of the air fryer. You can plate up immediately or give them a minute or two to cool down.
TIPS FOR RECIPE
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. Place frozen meatballs in a single layer, leaving a bit of space will allow the air to circulate, so the exterior gets nice and crispy.
- As per the instructions preheat the air fryer for best results.
- You will probably only fit around 20 meatballs at a time, so you plan to cook meatballs in batches.
- Good frozen meatballs can be served as is or coated in sauce.
- No extra oil is needed for this recipe.
- Gently shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking time to turn the meatballs.
FAQ
How will I know when my meatballs are cooked?
Frozen meatballs are already fully cooked, so the only thing you’ll need to worry about is that they’re heated all the way through. They’ll be a golden brown when finished.
When in doubt, cut a meatball in half and check. It’s important not to overcook them, as they’ll become dry and hard.
Is it possible to get a slightly crispy texture on the outside of the meatballs using the air fryer?
Yes. Any time you cook things in close proximity to each other, they will start to steam. This will cause them to be soft.
So if you want the meatballs extra-crisp, make sure they’ve got plenty of room in your air fryer basket or on the racks. Don’t crowd them while they’re cooking. You may need to cook fewer pieces at a time in order to give them enough space.
HOW TO REHEAT MEATBALLS IN THE AIR FRYER
- Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees.
- Cook the meatballs for 3-4 minutes, until heated thoroughly.
- Remove the meatballs from the air fryer and enjoy!