Do not knead firmly
Too long, strong kneading condenses the protein and makes the meatballs compact. Only bring together the ingredients evenly.
German Recipe
Air Fryer Meatballs
Soaked bread rolls, finely diced onion and mustard keep the meatballs juicy. Eight equally large pieces cook at 190 °C and are turned after half the time.
Total time
33 min
Calories
430 kcal
Servings
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Why this recipe works
Uniformly browned meatballs without frying
The air fryer is well suited for meatballs, because hot air reaches both sides and can drop leaking fat into the basket. For a juicy centre, the mass must not be tightly kneaded. A thermometer shows more reliable than the colour when minced meat is completely cooked.
Quick Dinners
Dinner
Meat
German Recipes
Recipe
Air Fryer Meatballs
Juicy meatballs with browned surface succeed in the air fryer without a pan when the meat mass is easily mixed and cooked at internal temperature.
Ingredients
4 servings
Method
-
1
Soak the bread roll
Tear the bread roll into small pieces, pour over the lukewarm milk and soak for 8 minutes. Then squeeze it out thoroughly with your hands.
-
2
Prepare the onion
Finely dice the onion. If it tastes particularly sharp, cook it with one teaspoon of water in the microwave or a pan for 2 minutes, then leave to cool.
-
3
Mix gently
Mix the ground meat, squeezed bread roll, onion, egg, mustard, paprika, salt, pepper and parsley just until evenly combined.
-
4
Shape eight meatballs
With damp hands, shape eight meatballs weighing about 80 g each and flatten them to about 2.5 cm thick. Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes at 190 °C.
-
5
Cook and turn
Lightly oil the basket. Arrange the meatballs with space between them, cooking in two batches if needed. Cook for 8 minutes, turn and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes.
-
6
Check the internal temperature
Check that the thickest meatball has reached at least 72 °C. Remove the meatballs, rest for 3 minutes and then serve.
Kitchen know-how
Tips for Air Fryer Meatballs
Same size and flat shapes
High balls need significantly longer. Flat pieces of about 2.5 cm thick brown outside without remaining raw in the centre.
Cook minced meat completely
The colour is not reliable when seasoned. Miss in the middle side and cook each piece up to at least 72 °C.
Variations
How to adapt this recipe
Replace mixed mince with poultry chop, add another tablespoon of breadcrumbs and cook also to at least 72 °C internal temperature.
Replace paprika with a teaspoon of dried marjoram and add a small pinch of nutmeg. This seasoning fits with potato salad.
Nutrition per serving
430kcal
13.0 gCarbohydrates
31.0 gProtein
28.0 gFat
Values are estimates and may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, portion size and preparation method used.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Air Fryer Meatballs
About 80 g heavy and 2.5 cm thick meatballs need about 13 to 15 minutes at 190 °C. Turn around after eight minutes and test the internal temperature.
Yes. By turning both sides brown more evenly and the bottom is not on the basket base during the entire cooking time.
They were usually too small, too tightly kneaded or too long in the device. Shape and remove equally large pieces as soon as the centre is safely cooked.
You can mold them a few hours before and store them in the refrigerator well covered. Only take them out of the refrigerator immediately before cooking.
Heat chilled fryballs completely at 170 °C for about 5 to 7 minutes. Turn once and do not cook for unnecessarily long.
Keep cooking