Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs (No Breadcrumbs!) Recipe
These Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs are tender, juicy, and packed with flavor from a simple herb and spice blend. Made without breadcrumbs, they are naturally gluten-free and quick to prepare, cooking in just 12 minutes in the air fryer for a healthier twist on traditional meatballs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 16 meatballs (serves 4) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) lean ground chicken
- ¼ cup fine blanched almond flour
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and use a fork to mix everything together until just combined. Be careful not to over mix as that may cause the meatballs to become tough and rubbery.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the mixture into 16 evenly sized balls, roughly one and a half tablespoons per meatball.
- Prepare Air Fryer: Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the meatballs in a single layer, ensuring they have space to cook evenly. If your air fryer basket is smaller, cook in batches.
- Air Fry: Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes. At the midway point, check the meatballs and flip them if they are browning too much on top to ensure even cooking. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve or Store: Serve the meatballs immediately for best texture and flavor, or refrigerate and consume within 3-4 days.
Notes
- If the chicken mixture feels too wet or sticky, refrigerate it for 30 minutes before rolling to make shaping easier.
- Expect your hands to be sticky while rolling; rinse or wipe them as needed.
- Darker ground chicken is preferred for moisture and flavor; white chicken cooks faster but tends to dry out more quickly.
- Cooking times are based on a Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer; adjust time and temperature as needed for other models or sizes.
Keywords: air fryer chicken meatballs, gluten free meatballs, healthy chicken meatballs, no breadcrumbs meatballs, quick meatballs, low carb meatballs
