Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
For a quick and healthy dinner, try these juicy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs. Serve them plain or with your favorite marinara sauce. This healthy meatball recipe is made gluten-free and dairy-free. Ready in about 30 minutes.
Meatballs are such an easy weeknight meal. They are flavorful and satisfying, and can be served with pasta, zucchini noodles, or even plain.
While most meatballs are made using ground pork or beef, this recipe uses ground turkey. This lean protein is mild in flavor and low in fat, and is a great alternative.
Why You Need This Recipe
- Air frying gives you a delicious crispy outside with a juicy inside, perfect for a lean protein like ground turkey.
- Fresh onion and carefully selected seasonings shine through for a delicious meal that even picky eaters will enjoy.
- Flavorful on their own, these turkey meatballs can be served with or without sauce.
Key Ingredients
Ground turkey is a lean protein that is full of nutrition. Look for 93% lean ground turkey in the meat section at your local grocery store.
Eggs hold the meatballs together without using any cheese or bread crumbs.
Fresh onion is perfect for adding flavor and interest. Dicing them small means they may even go unnoticed.
Recipe Steps
Step One
Spray the air fryer basket with oil and preheat if your machine requires it. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Dive in with clean hands! This is truly the easiest way to get in there and mix everything well without overdoing it.
Step Three
Shape into evenly-sized meatballs and set on a tray or in a single layer in your air fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches depending on how large your basket is.
Step Four
Air fry until cooked through, and enjoy!
Serve with pasta (see my favorite gluten-free pasta brands), zoodles, cauliflower rice, and your favorite sauce. You can also serve them as meatball subs. These cooked meatballs are low carb depending on what you serve them with.
I hope your family loves this Air Fryer Turkey Meatball recipe as much as mine does.
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- Some air fryers need to be preheated. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s guide for your specific air fryer model to determine if it needs to be preheated.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook the meatballs in two batches.
- The nutrition information for this recipe only includes the meatballs and does not include any noodles or sauce.
- Cooking in batches? Let the first round of meatballs rest in a lightly simmering pot of red sauce to stay warm.
- These healthy turkey meatballs are great for meal prep. They will stay fresh in your refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but the meatballs may turn out drier and with less flavor than the 93% lean ground turkey.
These meatballs are great with any form of pasta. You can also try zoodles or cauliflower rice if you are gluten-free. They are also perfect on their own for a quick protein-filled snack.
You can use an instant read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Yes! You can freeze them in a covered container or zip-top bag for up to 2 months. Reheat your frozen meatballs from frozen to serve.
Yes, I would bake them for 20 minutes at 375 degrees F. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
More Healthy Turkey Recipes You Might Like
- Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin
- Lentil Turkey Soup
- Instant Pot No Bean Turkey Chili
- Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
- Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
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Print
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
For a quick and healthy dinner, try these juicy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs. Serve them plain or with your favorite marinara sauce. This healthy recipe is made gluten-free and dairy-free.
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 white onion, finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups warmed marinara sauce (optional, for serving)
- Cooked noodles or vegetable noodles (optional, for serving)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Spray the inside of your air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.
- Then, in a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, onion, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Use your hands to combine the ingredients.
- Roll the mixture into 1 1/2 -inch diameter meatballs. You should have enough for 12 meatballs.
- Lay the meatballs in a single layer in your air fryer. Try to keep the meatballs from touching.
- Bake at 380°F for 12 minutes, or until the outsides of the meatballs have browned slightly.
- Let the meatballs cool for a few minute before serving.
Notes
- Some air fryers need to be preheated. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s guide for your specific air fryer model to determine if it needs to be preheated.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook the meatballs in two batches.
- The nutrition information for this recipe only includes the meatballs and does not include any noodles or sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: meatballs, ground turkey, gluten-free meatballs, air fryer
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Every recipe I’ve tried so far is delicious and easy to make! I used three shallots in place of the white onion, and it turned out so good. 🤤
Thank you for making quality recipes that are quick and easy to put together!
★★★★★
These turned out so juicy and flavorful!
★★★★★