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Quick, juicy air fryer frozen meatballs mean that a filling meal or a fun appetizer are never more than 15 minutes away! Make sandwiches, serve with pasta, or enjoy in a classic 2-ingredient sauce.
Cooking frozen meatballs in the air fryer is so easy, you’ll love using this method to speed up all kinds of meals! When done just right, these come out super juicy with a nice, crisp exterior that will hold all kinds of sauces and cheeses. I tested these with small, 1/2-ounce meatballs (great for appetizers) and larger, 1-ounce meatballs (good for sandwiches and pasta) so you’ll be able to get these perfectly on your first try. Check out the optional sauce for a classic, go-to dip!
Want more easy Air Fryer ideas? Try this Easy Fish Taco Recipe, Air Fryer Corn Dogs, or this great Meatball Sandwich!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Frozen 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!
- Frozen Meatballs – I tested these with two styles, 1/2-ounce and 1-ounce. Use whichever works best for you!
- Optional Sauce Ingredients: Grape Jelly and Barbecue sauce. Chopped parsley is a nice garnish, too.
You’ll just need an air fryer and a bowl for this recipe. You may want to use an air fryer liner to make cleanup easier, and maybe grab some appetizer skewers for serving!
How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer
This recipe is so simple and perfect for a last minute cookout or potluck! Here’s a step-by-step recipe for this easy appetizer.
- Preheat air fryer. Allow the appliance to warm up for 3-4 minutes for the best results.
- Cook frozen meatballs. Spray air fryer bucket or rack with oil, then place meatballs inside in a single layer. Leave some room for air flow. Cook 10-12 minutes for small meatballs or 12-15 for the larger size. Shake basket every 3-5 minutes for even cooking.
- Optional: Mix sauce & coat meatballs. While meatballs are cooking, mix together your grape jelly and BBQ sauce, then microwave for 30 seconds. Once meatballs are cooked through, toss to coat in sauce, garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.
What to serve with meatballs
If serving as an appetizer, add a few other party favorites like feta dip and pasta salad. For a meal, try making a Meatball Sandwich, using them as toppings for a flatbread pizza, or adding to a pasta.
Storage & Reheating
- Fridge: airtight container, 3-4 days
- Freezer: freezer-safe container, 2-3 months
- Reheat: microwave on 50% power in 1-minute increments, slow cooker on low, in covered skillet over low heat) or covered in oven at 350 degrees F until warmed through.
Air Fryer Frozen Meatball FAQs
Yes, you can freeze these after cooking! Simply vacuum seal the meatballs in the sauce (or use freezer bags). You could also freeze the meatballs and sauce separately if you’d prefer, but freezing together means you can put the bag in the fridge overnight to thaw, then dump in a slow cooker and put on low or warm before serving!
For 1/2-ounce meatballs, cook 10-12 minutes in the air fryer on 375 degrees F. If your meatballs are 1-ounce, you’ll want to cook them 12-14 minutes at 375 degrees F. Shake the basket every 3-5 minutes for even cooking.
Beer cheese dip, A1 steak sauce, Pesto, Marinara, Queso, Buffalo sauce
More Easy Recipes
- Air Fried Ravioli
- Egg Rolls in Air Fryer
- Pizza Rolls in Air Fryer
- Frozen French Fries in Air Fryer
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How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen meatballs, 26 ounces total, 1/2 ounce size meatballs
Optional Sauce:
- 1/2 cup grape jelly
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- Pour meatballs into the air fryer, cooking them in a single layer with a little room between each if at all possible. You may need to cook in multiple batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket every 3-5 minutes for even cooking.
- While meatballs are cooking, mix together the jelly and barbecue sauce. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir until smooth.
- Once meatballs are cooked through, toss with grape barbecue sauce in a bowl until well coated, then serve. For an easy potluck dish, pour into a slow cooker and keep on "warm." Alternatively, serve with the sauce on the side so that guests can dip!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi, I’m Maggie! After obtaining a Master of Education degree in 2020, I decided to combine my love of teaching with my passion for food. Cooking good food feeds our bodies and souls, but it also helps give us a confidence that empowers us far beyond the kitchen. I hope to share my knowledge and experience to help cooks of all levels create delicious meals, snacks, and desserts for everyone they love!
