Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: cooking spray; 16 oz meatballs (frozen ); 1 cup sauce (BBQ, pasta (spaghetti) or no sauce at all)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

With these air fryer frozen meatballs, you can cook up a delicious and healthy meal in minutes! Pre-frozen meatballs make this recipe incredibly easy to make.

Plus, the air fryer cooking method locks in flavor and moisture, so your meatballs will be tender and juicy every time. Serve them as an appetizer at your next party, or add them to a pasta dish for a hearty main course.

close up horizontal view of a pile of air fryer frozen meatballs cooked with sauce on them. One meatball has a bite taken out of it.

If you're like me, you love meatballs. They're versatile, filling, and delicious. But who has time to make them from scratch? That's where the air fryer comes in.

You can cook frozen meatballs right in your air fryer, and they turn out perfectly every time. So if you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

Air Fryer Meatballs

This was inspired by my Baked Garlic Parmesan Meatballs Recipe on this site, and pairs well with this delicious Instant Pot Cheesy Broccoli Rice recipe.

Ingredients

You only need a few basic ingredients to make these air-fried meatballs. Just made a quick trip to the grocery store and you'll be ready for an easy dinner!

Cooking spray
Frozen meatballs
Bbq or pasta/spaghetti sauce

See the recipe card below for specific ingredient quantities.

Instructions

This meatball recipe could not be any easier, as it only requires a total of three ingredients to make!

Step 1: Prep & Cook Your Meatballs

Place the frozen meatballs in a greased air fryer basket. Air fry at 400ºF for 12 minutes or until the meatballs are heated through.

Step 2: Serve Your Meatballs

Once done cooking, transfer the meatballs to a medium mixing bowl. Combine them with BBQ or pasta/spaghetti sauce and serve immediately.

Hint: if you are new to air fryer cooking, start with a small batch of meatballs first to see what cook time will work best. Adjust the time as needed for your make and model of air fryer.

close up vertical view of a pile of air fryer frozen meatballs cooked with sauce on them. One meatball has a bite taken out of it.

Substitutions

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this frozen meatballs recipe.

Sauce - instead of using store bought pasta or bbq sauce you could make some homemade if that is what you prefer.
Meatballs - you don't need to buy store bought meatballs, you can use leftover homemde frozen meatballs as well.

Variations

Want to personalize this air fryer frozen meatballs recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

Sauce - instead of pasta sauce or bbq sauce, you can try other sauces like pesto, vodka or alfredo.
Meat - instead of using traditional beef frozen meatballs for this recipe you could try to find frozen chicken or turkey meatballs instead.
Kid friendly - serve this meatballs with your kids' favorite sauce and over their favorive pasta like rainbow or bowtie pasta.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs.

Storage

Refrigerate any leftover meatballs in a shallow airtight container or wrap them tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Your leftover meatballs will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs

Such a simply made and delicious recipe deserves an ultimate side dish to make it even better. Take a look at the list that Ken and I created to find your heart's desire!

Tips

This is a very recipe that anyone can make whether they have any cooking experience or not. But there are a few tips I’ve learned over time making this that I recommend to make sure you attain the ideal outcome.

Make sure to place your meatballs in the air fryer basic in one layer without touching for even cooking
You can coat the meatballs with cooking spray to make the outsides slightly browned and crispy if that is what you prefer.
There is no need to thaw the frozen meatballs ahead of time. You can cook them straight from frozen.

hand holding a toothpick that is stuck into a meatball from this air fryer frozen meal bals recipe. The hand is dipping it into a dish of sauce.

More Meatball Recipes

Do you like meatballs? Here are some recipes you may also like to try

FAQ

Do you have questions about air fryer frozen meatballs? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about frozen meatballs in the air fryer.

Can you reheat meatballs once cooked?

Yes, you can! You can easily microwave your leftover cooked meatballs. Just make sure to use a lower power level such as 50-80% so that you do not overcook them. Start with one minute and cook in extra 30-second intervals and needed to warm through.

Can you put cooked meatballs in the freezer?

Yes, you definitely can! Just make sure to let your cooked meatballs cool completely before freezing. Store your leftover meatballs flat in a freezer bag for up to two months.

Can you cook meat from frozen in an air fryer?

Yes, you can! You will usually need to cook frozen meat a bit longer than thawed meat in your air fryer, but it will take a lot less time than cooking it in the oven. Just be sure to check the temperature of your meat before serving to make sure that it has cooked properly.