How Long to Air Fry Turkey Meatballs for Perfectly Cooked Results

These air fryer turkey meatballs are juicy, tender, and cook up in no time! They are healthy, satisfying, and super versatile.

If you’ve cooked turkey breast, turkey bacon, or turkey burgers in the air fryer, you’ll no doubt love my turkey meatballs.

I make them all the time because they are just as juicy as you’d expect pan-fried or baked ones to be, but cook up in a fraction of the time!Table of Contents

Air fryers have revolutionized home cooking, allowing us to make deliciously crispy foods like fries, chicken wings, and more with just a tablespoon of oil or less Air frying also makes quick work of cooking frozen foods like chicken nuggets and french fries One of my favorite things to make in the air fryer is turkey meatballs. They come out so juicy and flavorful!

But knowing exactly how long to air fry turkey meatballs can be tricky. Undercook them and they’ll be mushy and raw inside. Cook them too long and your meatballs will resemble dried out hockey pucks. No one wants that!

So how long should you actually air fry turkey meatballs? In this article I’ll walk you through everything you need to know for perfectly cooked air fryer turkey meatballs every time.

How Long to Cook Turkey Meatballs in an Air Fryer

The exact air fry time for turkey meatballs can vary slightly depending on the size of your meatballs and how powerful your air fryer is. But in most cases, turkey meatballs take 10-15 minutes to cook through in an air fryer set to 400°F.

To be exact, I recommend cooking 1-1.5 inch diameter turkey meatballs for 12-14 minutes at 400°F in an average strength air fryer. Giving them a shake halfway through will ensure the meatballs brown evenly all over.

Larger meatballs may take a minute or two longer. You can also reduce the cook time by about 2 minutes if using a very powerful air fryer like the Instant Vortex.

No matter what, always use an instant read thermometer to double check that the turkey meatballs have reached an internal temperature of 165°F. This ensures they are cooked through and safe to eat.

Factors That Affect Air Fryer Turkey Meatball Cook Time

There are a few variables that can slightly alter the air fry time needed for turkey meatballs. Here are the main factors to be aware of:

Meatball Size – Smaller meatballs cook faster while larger ones take a bit longer. Stick to 1-1.5 inch diameter meatballs for the 12-14 minute cook time.
Meatball Composition – Meatballs made with lean ground turkey may cook slightly faster than ones made with higher fat ground meats.
Quantity of Meatballs – The more meatballs you add to the air fryer basket, the longer the cook time since it retains more heat.
Air Fryer Power – More powerful air fryers (1800+ watts) will cook faster than less powerful models.
Altitude – Foods cook faster at higher altitudes. You may need to reduce the cook time by 1-2 minutes if at a high altitude.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

Follow these tips and tricks for tender, juicy air fryer turkey meatballs every time:

Use a light hand when mixing the meatball ingredients. Over-mixing will lead to dense, rubbery meatballs.
Chill the shaped meatballs in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before air frying. This helps them hold their shape better.
Brush or spray meatballs lightly with oil before air frying for extra browning.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave space between meatballs for airflow.
Give the basket a shake midway through cooking to promote even cooking.
Use an instant read thermometer to check doneness rather than relying solely on cook time.
Let meatballs rest 2-3 minutes after cooking before serving.

Air Fryer vs Oven – Which Cooks Turkey Meatballs Better?

While air frying is hands down faster, both the air fryer and oven can produce delicious turkey meatballs with a bit of crispy browning.

The air fryer’s rapid circulation of hot air leads to cooking up to twice as fast as the oven. Turkey meatballs take just 12-15 minutes in the air fryer while 40-45 minutes are needed in the oven.

Meatballs also brown better in the air fryer and you don’t need to preheat it like a standard oven.

However, the oven may lead to more evenly cooked meatballs since the indirect heat and larger space prevent hot and cool spots.

The best bet is to use whichever appliance fits your schedule! Both will make tasty turkey meatballs.

Tips for Reheating Leftover Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

Leftover turkey meatballs keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days. When ready to eat them, use these tips for reheating in the air fryer:

Let refrigerated meatballs come to room temperature for 10 minutes before reheating.
Place meatballs in air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each.
Set temperature to 300°F and cook 6-8 minutes until heated through.
Flip meatballs over halfway through if you want browning on all sides.
Alternatively, you can reheat in microwave or simmer in sauce on the stovetop.

Flavorful Recipes for Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

While plain turkey meatballs are delicious, adding herbs, spices, cheese and other mix-ins takes them over the top. Here are some of my favorite recipe flavors:

Italian – Use Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs.
Buffalo – Toss cooked meatballs in buffalo sauce. Serve with blue cheese dressing.
Greek – Add oregano, mint, feta, lemon zest, ground lamb.
BBQ – Brush with your favorite bbq sauce during last 2 minutes of cooking.
Southwest – Mix in cumin, chili powder, pepper jack, cilantro. Top with guacamole.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to seasoning turkey meatballs! Use your favorite flavors.

Serving Ideas for Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

The best part about turkey meatballs is how versatile they are. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve them:

Classic spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce and Parmesan.
Meatball subs with melted mozzarella on hoagie rolls.
Appetizers with toothpicks and dipping sauces like bbq, marinara or tzatziki.
Added to soups and stews for extra protein.
Over pasta, rice, or mashed cauliflower instead of grains.
In salads for a hearty protein topping.

However you choose to serve them, air fryer turkey meatballs make a deliciously easy meal or appetizer. Enjoy!

The Takeaway on Air Frying Turkey Meatballs

Cooking turkey meatballs in the air fryer results in quick cooking, tender and juicy meatballs with crispy browning in just 10-15 minutes.

Stick to an internal temperature of 165°F and a cook time of 12-14 minutes at 400°F for perfectly cooked 1-1.5 inch meatballs. Monitor closely and adjust time as needed based on meatball size and air fryer power.

Flavor them simply with Italian seasoning or get creative with fun mix-ins. Serve air fried turkey meatballs over pasta, in subs, or as appetizers for an easy, healthy dish the whole family will love.

how long to air fry turkey meatballs

How to air fry turkey meatballs

These meatballs are an easy meal and follow just 4 simple steps below:

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer. Start by preheating the air fryer at 200C/400F for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Mix all the meatball ingredients. In a large bowl, add all your ingredients including the ground turkey, and mix using a spatula or even your hands to thoroughly work the mixture.

Step 3: Shape meatballs. Using your hands, shape 12-15 meatballs. I like lightly wetting my hards beforehand as it helps the meat from sticking to my fingers.

Step 4: Air fry the meatballs. Place the meatballs in a greased air fryer basket. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. The meatballs are ready to eat once they reach an internal temperature of 165F.

Step 5: Rest and serve. Allow the meatballs to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Healthy. Compared to ground beef or chicken, using ground turkey has less saturated fat and calories.
Fast. These meatballs take less than 10 minutes to cook from prep to plate.
Versatile. Toss them through a sauce, stuff them in a meatball sub, or serve them over some salad: the possibilities are endless. I typically cook them as a dinnertimee main dish but they make a healthy appetizer too.
Mess-free. Probably my favorite reason for using the air fryer is that there is no deep frying or pan-frying AKA no oil splutter or clean up.

What I love most about this recipe is just how incredible the texture is. Just like in our original air fryer meatball recipe, the combination of ingredients guarantees that the meatballs are never dry or flavorless and are perfectly juicy and moist in the middle.

This recipe calls for simple meatball staple ingredients that you’ll likely already have on hand. Here is what you’ll need:

Ground turkey. Both lean and standard ground turkey work. I prefer the former as it is healthier and yields a more tender meatball.
Breadcrumbs. Standard or wholewheat. I don’t recommend panko bread crumbs as they tend to dry out the meat when air frying.
Garlic. Always use the fresh kind, not dried garlic.
Dried basil. To add flavor.
Salt. To taste.
Egg. Room temperature.
Milk. Adds moistness to the meatballs.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

FAQ

How do you know when turkey meatballs are done?

Once the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), remove them from the pan. Thermapen ONE is fast enough that you can easily check every meatball.

Can you air fry Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs?

Trader Joe’s frozen turkey meatballs are absolutely delicious and cost $4.49 a bag. They’re already fully cooked, so all you have to do is heat them up. I like to spray some avocado oil in my air-fryer basket and cook them on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 14 minutes.

Can I put my turkey in the air fryer?

We’ve tested both oven and air fryer methods and the air fryer definitely cooks a turkey to be juicy. Only way it would turn out dry is if you cooked it too long or you waited too long to eat it.