Air Fryer Spaghetti Meatballs

by: Air Fryer Eats Team
Updated: May 11, 2024

When you want to make a classic spaghetti and meatballs dish without all the fuss and wait, turn to your air fryer! You’ll have Air Fryer Spaghetti Meatballs on the table in half the time!

four meatballs sprinkled with green chopped herbs over a pile of spaghetti with red sauce on a white plate

Air Fryer Spaghetti Meatballs is a quick and simple way to have dinner served in no time!

Hearty air-fried meatballs made with your choice of ground protein, combined with fresh cooked pasta & sauce, then topped with fresh herbs – it’s a classic dish that everyone knows and loves.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb of ground protein
  • Chopped onion
  • Chopped parsley
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Eggs
  • Garlic Salt
  • Pasta and sauce of choice

Prepping the Meatballs

Step by step images showing how to prepare for making air fryer meatballs
  1. Place a pound of fresh or thawed ground protein in a bowl.
  2. Add some chopped onion (red onion is great for meatballs because of its potent flavor.)
  3. Add some breadcrumbs.
  4. Add some fresh chopped parsley to the bowl to give the meatballs some incredible Italian-style flavor.
  5. Add an egg to the bowl. The egg will work together with the breadcrumbs to bind the mixture together.
  6. Finally, add some garlic salt to top off the flavor of these delicious air fryer meatballs.

Cooking the Meatballs

Step by step instruction on how to form and cook air fryer meatballs.

Once you have all of your meatball ingredients in your bowl, here’s what to do next:

  1. Combine the ingredients using your hands or a spoon. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Roll the meatball mixture into 1-1.5 inch meatballs.
  3. Place the meatballs in a single layer in a foil-lined air fryer basket. Space the meatballs at least a half inch apart to avoid sticking. You may need to work in batches depending on how big your air fryer basket is.
  4. Cook the meatballs in the air fryer at 380 degrees for 15 minutes or until they’re golden brown.
  5. Boil water to cook your pasta. When the pasta is cooked, drain and toss with sauce.
  6. Add the meatballs and you’re done!
seven brown meatballs over red tomato sauce in a white bowl with a silver spoon

Tips for Making Meatballs

  • Be sure to use ground protein that is fresh or thawed through. If your meat is still a bit frozen it’ll be harder to get the ingredients mixed completely and the meatballs may not cook evenly.
  • Don’t skip the breadcrumbs and the egg! These ingredients act as a binding agent for the meat.
  • Use wet hands while rolling the meatballs. This will help cut down on mess and will help you to shape your meatballs nicely.

How to Serve Meatballs

a white plate with a pile of spaghetti topped with meatballs with red sauce

Toss both the meatballs and pasta with sauce before serving. If you’re feeding a crowd, you can place the pasta in a big bowl and top it with the meatballs in a single layer.

Serve with a large pair of serving spoons and pass the bowl around the table so that everyone can help themselves, family style.

Provide small bowls of fresh parsley, Parmesan cheese, and buttery toasted breadcrumbs for topping.

If you’re serving a small family, plate servings of spaghetti and meatballs individually. Top with a sprinkling of desired toppings before serving.

a pile of spaghetti and meatballs in red sauce on a white round plate
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5 from 5 votes

Air Fryer Spaghetti and Meatballs

When you want to make a classic spaghetti and meatballs dish without all the fuss and wait, turn to your air fryer! You'll have Air Fryer Spaghetti and Meatballs on the table in half the time!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 595kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground protein (beef, pork, veggie protein)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup red onion diced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 12 oz pasta
  • 1 jar spaghetti sauce
  • fresh basil optional
  • Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

  • Combine the ground protein, breadcrumbs, onion, parsley, egg, garlic salt, and oregano in a bowl.
  • Roll the mixture into 1-1.5 inch meatballs.
  • Line your air fryer basket with foil or parchment paper.
  • Arrange the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  • Cook at 380 degrees F for 15 minutes.
  • While the meatballs are cooking, cook the pasta according to package instructions.
  • When the pasta is done cooking, toss it with 1/2 cup of the spaghetti sauce to coat.
  • Pour 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce in a bowl and toss the cooked meatballs in the sauce to coat.
  • Divide the pasta and meatballs onto 4 plates.
  • Top with additional spaghetti sauce, fresh basil, and Parmesan if desired.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.

Nutrition

Calories: 595kcal | Carbohydrates: 94g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 2079mg | Potassium: 1058mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1111IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 10mg
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11 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Not only do these sound like they’d make amazing meatballs, but made in my air fryer!?!? I’m in love! Trying this ASAP!

  2. 5 stars
    I love my air fryer and these meatballs were delicious cooked in there! They get so much crispier compared to the oven!

  3. This looks like a delicious dish, Cindy! My husband and I have been using our air fryer for almost 3 years and we’d be lost without it lol! Our recipes are limited though so your site will definitely come in handy in the future. ๐Ÿ™‚

5 from 5 votes

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