I found the best way to cook frozen meatballs in the air fryer that turn out soft and juicy! My trick is to air fry meatballs at a lower temperature so they cook evenly without getting tough on the outside.
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My Favorite Way to Cook Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs
The day I tried making frozen meatballs in the air fryer, I swore I’d never make them any other way again! Frozen meatballs are great for a quick dinner, but whenever I made them in the microwave, they turned out tough, and the oven method took forever.
I was short on time one night and wanted some meatballs to go with a simple pasta dinner. I decided to throw them in the air fryer and see what happened.
I tossed them with some nice and served them on top of some quick spaghetti and I’ve never seen my daughter Leah eat them so quick!
My husband Ben even told me that they have a nice texture on the outside while the insides were still juicy.
I’ve never seen my kids scarf down pasta so fast, and my husband actually asked if the meatballs were homemade. He was shocked when I said they were the store-bought frozen kind!
And, for more delicious meatball recipes, check out my homemade air fryer meatballs, air fryer turkey meatballs, and meatballs with grape jelly and BBQ sauce.
Why should I use an air fryer instead of an oven or microwave?
I love making frozen meatballs in the air fryer because it’s faster than the oven and gets way better results than the microwave! The microwave always makes them tough, and while the oven is better, it just takes much longer.
With the air fryer, the meatballs come out juicy on the inside and soft with a little bit of crispiness on the outside. They’re absolutely irresistible!
Air Fry Frozen Meatballs ingredients
- Meatballs – Large, small, or mini meatballs will work
- Sauce – I use marinara, alfredo, pesto, or any other sauce I’m craving
What brands are good to Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Air Fryer?
There are a lot of store-bought frozen meatball brands out there, and I think I’ve tested almost all of them!
My favorite pre-cooked meatballs straight from the freezer section are Rosina Home-Style Meatballs, Nature’s Rancher Fully Cooked Angus Beef Meatballs from Whole Foods, Farm Rich Italian Style Meatballs, and Omaha Steaks Fully Cooked Beef Meatballs. Kirkland and Costco meatballs are delicious too!
How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Air Fryer
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees.
STEP 2: Place the meatballs inside the air fryer basket or tray and cook for 9 to 11 minutes until thoroughly heated, turning the meatballs halfway through cooking. Larger meatballs may take 11-13 minutes.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs
- Always preheat the air fryer before adding the frozen meatballs. In my experience, this cooks them way more evenly so they heat all the way through without making the outsides tough.
- I use a lower temperature to cook the meatballs so they turn out tender and not dried out or overcooked.
- To make sure the meatballs are done, I use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F all the way through.
- Cook the meatballs in a single layer for best results. I try to leave a little space between each one so the hot air can flow around each meatball. I also flip or lightly shake the basket halfway through cooking.
- I use beef, chicken, and even turkey meatballs in the air fryer, and all of them turn out delicious!
Some Meatball Sauce Ideas
I love to toss meatballs in sauce to give them some good flavor. Some of my favorite sauces include mushroom gravy, pasta sauce with some mozzarella cheese on top, and swedish meatball sauce to serve as the main dish and 3 ingredient BBQ sauce, honey garlic sauce, and honey Sriracha sauce to serve them as an appetizer.
I also love using air fryer meatballs to make my meatball sandwich subs in the air fryer!
What To Serve with Air Fry Frozen Meatballs
I usually serve air fryer meatballs over spaghetti or air fryer spaghetti squash. My family loves a classic spaghetti dinner!
My meatballs are also delicious with air fryer gnocchi, garlic cheese bread, garlic mashed potatoes, and Velveeta mac and cheese!
Frozen Meatballs in the Air Fryer FAQs
How long to cook frozen meatballs in air fryer?
The cooking time will always depend on the size of the meatballs. I’ve found that air frying smaller or mini meatballs takes about 9-11 minutes while larger meatballs take 11-13 minutes.
How to store leftover air fryer meatballs
I let my leftovers fully cool to room temperature, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for 3-4 days.
How to reheat meatballs in the air fryer
To reheat any leftover meatballs, I start by preheating my air fryer to 320 degrees F. Once it’s hot, I add the meatballs, then air fry for 3-4 minutes until they’re heated all the way through. That’s it!
Can I put the whole bag of frozen meatballs in the air fryer?
I recommend cooking frozen meatballs in the air fryer in a single layer with space between each one. This allows the hot air to properly circulate so each one cooks evenly and gets crispy on the outside.
I avoid adding the whole bag and overcrowding the basket. I think it’s much better to cook the meatballs in batches for the best results!
More Frozen Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Tater tots in the air fryer
- Frozen burgers in the air fryer
- Pizza rolls in the air fryer
- Taquitos in the air fryer
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Easy Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 12 frozen meatballs large or small
- Desired sauce such as BBQ, honey garlic, or pasta sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees.
- Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer and cook for 9 to 11 minutes (11 to 13 minutes for larger meatballs) until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove the meatballs from the air fryer, toss in sauce if desired, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Always preheat the air fryer before adding the frozen meatballs so the meatballs cook evenly from the inside out.
- I use a lower temperature to cook the meatballs so they turn out tender and not dried out or overcooked.
- Leave a little space between each meatball so the hot air can flow around each meatball.
- You can use beef, chicken, and even turkey meatballs in the air fryer using these directions!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheat meatballs in a preheated air fryer at 320 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
