Delicious air fryer turkey meatballs can be prepared without the need for a fryer or deep fryer at all. Instead, you might want to air-fry meatballs! Air frying is the choice for properly cooking ground turkey, reducing the saturated fat content. This results in crispy and juicy ground turkey balls, making them an ideal snack or part of an easy dinner.
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs: Preparation And Cooking Process
Preparation Tips
Below are the dry ingredients to add to your bowl. As part of preparing, you’ll combine both dry and wet components. For the wet mixture, you’ll need eggs, water, garlic powder, ground black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Eggs bind the ingredients, offering richness and essential monounsaturated fat, while water and oil serve as options for the liquid component. Using oil prevents the lean ground turkey meatballs from sticking to the pan while adding water helps prevent overcooking.
Mixing The Ingredients
- Place the ground turkey meat in a large bowl.
- Add the flour, bread crumbs, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and powdered black pepper in a bowl and mix well.
- Use your hands to thoroughly combine all of the ingredients for turkey meatballs. Make sure that no traces of flour or cornstarch remain and that the meatball mixture is well combined. You’ll want the mixture of air fryer turkey meatballs to have a bit of a crumbly texture, but it shouldn’t be so crumbly that it’s difficult to roll into balls.
- After that, you will form the meat mixture into balls and put them on a cookie sheet. This will create more room between the meatballs and the pan, which will prevent the frozen meatballs from sticking. (When you are shaping your meatballs, you want to aim for a size that is slightly larger than the diameter of a golf ball.)
- You may use a spoon or your hands to form the meatballs into the desired shape. After they are cooked, they should be dipped in flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs and rolled before being placed on a baking pan.
Air-Frying Process
After getting everything prepped, it’s time to start cooking. They should be done in around 20 minutes. You should proceed in the same manner as when deep frying in the air fryer basket since this will ensure that the air-fried meatball is both crispy and crunchy.
- Set your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to preheat, and use cooking spray. Before you begin cooking, you will need to use the preheating function to get the temperature of your air fryer basket up to the desired level. Your air fryer turkey meatballs will brown more evenly if you do this first.
- Transfer the ingredients you used to make the turkey meatballs to a large baking sheet and spray it with cooking spray. Make sure that there is enough room between each ball so that they do not adhere to the pan.
- Ensure that the turkey meatballs have a thin flour coating on both sides and then set them in the air fryer basket. After they have been cooked for 20 minutes, cook them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an additional 15 minutes.
- After the turkey meatballs have finished cooking, place the air fryer turkey meatball set on a cooling rack and let them cool down completely for ten minutes before serving. As a result, the outside of the turkey meatballs will develop a mild crunch.
Before Serving, You Have The Option Of Seasoning Your Meatball
You may season the meatballs while they are still hot if you want to give them a little bit of an additional kick of flavor. In contrast, if it is served at room temperature, the oil and spices will not be able to penetrate.
- Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and turmeric should be mixed in a little bowl. Cayenne pepper may also be used, but keep in mind that most people cannot handle hot foods.
- After thoroughly combining the spices in a bowl, sprinkle them over the meatballs while they are still sizzling in the pan. This will provide a touch of additional taste, and it will also assist in the seasonings’ ability to adhere to the meatballs.
- Allow the cooked meatballs to rest for five minutes before serving them with marinara sauce, roasted veggies, zucchini noodles, or the side dish of your choosing.
Some Important Tips
- If your air fryer is a standard or medium-sized model, you will need to make appropriate adjustments to the air fryer recipes provided below. For instance, lightly grease ground turkey meatballs made with leaner meat like ground chicken, requiring more cooking time, with olive oil in a large bowl before cooking. Preheat the air fryer for optimal results.
- Air fryers are not the same as traditional ovens or deep fryers in any way, shape, or form. They do not have a reservoir for hot oil, and their temperatures do not become high enough to properly crisp dishes like French fries or turkey wings.
- If you want to achieve the greatest results from your air fryer, you need to ensure that your ingredients are distributed uniformly throughout the air fryer, that you do not overfill the air fryer itself, and that you do not overfill the air fryer basket, and aim for a single layer. For instance, you will be utilizing flour, cornstarch, panko bread crumbs, baking powder, Italian seasoning, and salt as the dry components. The egg, water, and monosaturated fat make up the wet components, while the other ingredients are dry. Adding a touch of sesame oil or parmesan cheese to the mixture can enhance the flavor. Shaking halfway through the cooking time will ensure even cooking.
These meatballs not only become deliciously cooked meatballs but also retain a healthier profile with lower trans fat and polyunsaturated fat. Aim for the correct internal temperature to ensure they are cooked thoroughly. For a twist, add ricotta cheese to your mixture for a creamier texture. Remember, turning halfway through the cooking process will result in even cooking.
This recipe can be stored in an airtight container for up to four days, making it a convenient option for meal prep. It’s advisable to use parchment paper in your air fryer to prevent sticking and for easier cleanup. The prep time for this recipe is minimal, making it a quick option for busy days. You might need to cook in two batches if you have a smaller air fryer.
Wrap Up
In conclusion, air-fried turkey meatballs offer a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional fried ones. By following the procedure and tips outlined in this article, you can enjoy flavorful meatballs with a crispy exterior, perfect for any meal or snack. Be sure to note this recipe on your recipe card for future reference!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Last Updated on April 13, 2023 by Rejie Salazar
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