If you’re looking for an easy snack or meal or a fun way to get your kids involved in the kitchen, start with these Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs. Cook frozen store-bought meatballs and then coat them in BBQ sauce, sweet chili sauce, marinara, or your favorite sauce.
Cooking frozen meatballs in the air fryer is so quick and straightforward to do you will want to keep a bag on hand in the freezer all the time. They make the perfect snack for game night, movie night, or after school. These also make the perfect quick appetizer when unexpected company shows up. Just like these Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings or these Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings.
Meatballs cook up perfectly in the air fryer. They go from frozen to slightly crispy with a tender, juicy interior. Plus, you won’t be using any oil, so they are healthier yet full of flavor.
Enjoy these air fryer meatballs as a snack or combine with marinara and serve over pasta for a quick and easy dinner.
Why You’ll ♡ These
- Quick and Easy – Simple and ready in under 10 minutes.
- Crispy and tender – Crispy on the outside. Tender and juicy on the inside.
- Kid-friendly – Perfect for snacking.
- Affordable – Just grab a bag of budget-friendly frozen meatballs.
- Versatile – Coat or dip in your favorite sauce.
Tools Needed
Ingredient Notes
This recipe uses store-bought frozen meatballs that have not been thawed. They are cooked straight from frozen. No extra oil is used for cooking these.
Frozen meatballs do come in a variety of sizes. You may need to adjust your cooking time slightly for mini meatballs or larger meatballs.
Ready to see how easy it is to make air fryer frozen meatballs? Grab a bag and let’s get started.
How Do I Cook Frozen Meatballs In An Air Fryer
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F / 200C.
- Line your air fryer with about 20 meatballs cooking in batches if needed.
- Air fry for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown just on top. Turn halfway through cooking.
- These can be served alone or with the coating or dipping sauce of choice.
Expert Tips
- Don’t crowd the basket of the air fryer. Leaving a bit of space will allow the air to circulate, so the meatballs’ exterior is nice and crispy.
- You will probably only fit around 20 meatballs at a time so that you can cook these in batches.
- No extra oil is needed for this recipe.
- Gently shake the basket halfway through cooking to turn the meatballs.
Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cook time, checking for doneness, then adding more time as needed.
Flavor Variations
Frozen meatballs are available in traditional and Italian flavors. Select a meatball that will work best with your final application.
If you are looking for an even healthier option, look for frozen meatballs made from turkey or choose a vegan meatball.
Storage
Prep Ahead – For the crunchiest exterior and juiciest interior, do not make ahead. If you are serving these meatballs in a sauce, you can make them ahead of time and store them in the fridge. Add them to your sauce until heated through.
Store – Leftover meatballs should be stored in the fridge and eaten within 2-3 days.
How Long To Cook Frozen Meatballs In Air Fryer
Cooking times can vary. The size and style of your air fryer can affect cooking times, as can the size of your meatballs. Smaller meatballs will cook quicker, while larger meatballs may take a bit longer. Begin checking your meatballs at 9 minutes until you get a feel for your specific air fryer, adding additional time as needed.
How To Make Sure Airfryer Meatballs Are Fully Cooked
In most cases, the frozen meatballs you purchase at the store are already fully cooked and you are just reheating them. You will want to watch for a slightly golden exterior but don’t cook them too long. Overcooked meatballs will be dry.
If you make and freeze your own meatballs, cook them through before freezing and then follow these instructions for heating them directly from the freezer. No thawing necessary.
More Air Fryer Frozen Food Hacks.
Want even more how to cook frozen Food In the Air Fryer Hacks? Then check out these helpful posts:
- Air Fryer Frozen Burritos.
- Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings.
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings.
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries.
- Air Fryer Frozen Pizza.
- Air Fryer Frozen Corn Dogs.
- And meat lovers you can make some juicy Air Fryer Meatloaf from scratch.
Dips For Serving These With
- 5 Mins Bang Bang Sauce.
- 5 Mins Yum Yum Sauce.
- 5 Mins Remoulade Sauce.
- Or with some good ol’ ketchup.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 10 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
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Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (454g) pre-cooked frozen meatballs 1 bag
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F / 200C.
- Remove frozen precooked meatballs from the package and place them in the air fryer basket. You should be able to fit around 20, depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook in batches if needed
- Cook for 9-11 minutes, or until golden brown just on top. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to turn them.
- Remove meatballs and serve as is, or with a dipping sauce of your choice.
Notes
Expert TipsÂ
- Don’t crowd the basket of the air fryer. Leaving a bit of space will allow the air to circulate, so the meatballs’ exterior is nice and crispy.
- You will probably only fit around 20 meatballs at a time so that you can cook these in batches.Â
- No extra oil is needed for this recipe.Â
- Gently shake the basket halfway through cooking to turn the meatballs.Â
Dips For Serving These With
- 5 Mins Bang Bang Sauce.
- 5 Mins Yum Yum Sauce.
- 5 Mins Remoulade Sauce.
- Or with some good ol’ ketchup.
Never realized how easy it would be to make them in the air fryer! Love it!
What an easy way to make frozen meatballs. I would never have thought to use the air fryer, but it makes so much sense. Thanks for the tip!
Oh my, I love how quick and easy this is! I just got a new air fryer for Christmas, so I can’t wait to try these out!
What a wonderful way to quickly cook meatballs. Can’t wait to try this with the ones I premade and have in the freezer now.
Yum! This looks so delicious and tasty! My son is going to love this recipe!