Air Fryer Asian Meatballs

Ingredients for Asian Meatballs

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this recipe. For exact measurements, keep scrolling down to the printable recipe card below.

• Ground pork – I think pork works best with these flavors, but you could easily swap this out for chicken, turkey, or beef if you prefer. Keep in mind that pork is generally 10-15% fat, so choosing a leaner protein could result in dry meatballs.
• Breadcrumbs – These can be homemade, store-bought, gluten-free, whatever you’d like. If you want a low-carb, keto-friendly option, use ground pork rinds instead! That would make one serving (5 meatballs) come to just 2.5 carbs.
• Sweet chili sauce, Soy sauce (low sodium), Green onion (finely diced) – These add loads of flavor. Feel free to use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce if you prefer!
• Garlic powder, Onion powder, Dry ginger, Salt, Crushed red pepper – This dry mix can be prepped several days ahead of time to make it quicker; just store in an airtight container in a cabinet until you’re ready to cook.
• Large egg – This helps bind the meatballs together and adds moisture. Unsweetened apple sauce (about 3 tablespoons) can work as an egg substitute.

You will need a mixing bowl, an air fryer, and cooking spray for this recipe. You may also find liners or this 2″ scoop helpful.

How to Make Asian Meatballs in the Air Fryer

This is a simple recipe that can be prepped and cooked in 20 minutes! Even better, it doesn’t even require chopping. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to making these juicy meatballs.

Combine ingredients

In a mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, breadcrumbs, sauce, green onion, soy sauce, seasonings, and egg. Use your hands to mix these until all ingredients are incorporated and well combined. Shape into 2-inch balls and place on a plate until ready to cook.

Meal prep idea! Consider making a double batch. You could freeze half right now before cooking, then you’ll have a quick meal straight from the freezer later.

Air fry meatballs

Spray the air fryer basket or rack with cooking spray or brush with oil. Place meatballs about 1 inch apart in a single layer, making sure to leave room for air circulation. Air fry at 400 degrees F for 8-9 minutes or until cooked through.

Don’t overcrowd the basket! You may have to cook these in batches if your air fryer isn’t large enough. My first batch took 9 minutes, but my subsequent batches only took 8 minutes each because the air fryer was already preheated.

Serve

Toss hot meatballs into remaining sweet chili sauce and serve immediately! You could garnish with more green onions, fresh herbs, or sesame seeds. If you need to keep them warm at a potluck, you could keep on “warm” in a slow cooker (This shallow one makes them easy to serve).

Store

Allow the meatballs to cool completely then transfer them to an airtight container. Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage. These meal prep containers are perfect for packing meatballs and cauliflower rice.

Freeze

First, make sure meatballs are completely cooled. Any residual heat can turn into condensation and moisture that can lead to freezer burn. Once cooled, vacuum seal meatballs in individual servings or all together. You can also use freezer bags, just try to squeeze out as much air as possible to protect them.

Helpful tip: If you want to be able to pull out just the right amount of meatballs at once, you could first freeze them on a plate (not touching) for 1-2 hours. Once the surface is frozen, they won’t stick together, so you can bag them for later.