• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nutrition to Fit

  • ABOUT
    • Press
    • FREE eBook
  • SERVICES
  • RECIPES
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • SERVICES
  • RECIPES
  • THE BLOG
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • SERVICES
    • RECIPES
    • THE BLOG
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Blog » Recipes

    Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

    Published: Mar 1, 2022 · Updated: Mar 7, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    turkey meatballs inside the air fryer basket
    Turkey meatballs on a white plate garnished with fresh parsley

    These delicious air fryer turkey meatballs are crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Plus they come together in less than 20 minutes for an easy, healthy weeknight dinner.

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to learn more.

    Let me introduce you to my five year old's favorite meal: spaghetti and these air fryer turkey meatballs.

    When I'm menu and grocery planning, I often ask my husband and kids for a meal they would like to have over the next week. Nine times out of ten, my daughter asks for these meatballs. But what's even better is that this recipe is simple enough that she can easily help make them. Mom win!

    We love to serve them with pasta (we love high fiber chickpea-based Banza noodles, but don't discriminate against whole wheat or regular pasta, either!). And of course, a vegetable or two! They're delicious with blistered tomatoes, healthy sauteed mushrooms, or air fryer broccoli. Or even a simple side salad with my favorite 3-ingredient honey mustard dressing!

    Side bar: if you want more recipes that are easy for your kids to make, too, our favorites are spinach banana muffins, overnight chia oats, and smoothies of any kind!

    Ingredients

    ingredients to make turkey meatballs
    • Ground Turkey: I use a 93% lean ground turkey (the label will likely say 93/7), but feel free to use whichever type of ground turkey you prefer or have access to.
    • Egg: helps bind the meatballs, and also adds moisture.
    • Breadcrumbs: another binding agent for the turkey meatballs. Any kind of breadcrumb will work (i.e. plain, Italian seasoning, whole wheat, gluten free)
    • Milk: I used nonfat milk, but use whichever you drink. This adds a little moisture to the recipe, as it helps moisten the breadcrumbs required for binding.
    • Soy Sauce: helps season the meatballs and is yet another ingredient designed to help keep the turkey nice and juicy. I use reduced sodium soy sauce to keep the sodium content lower.
    • Seasoning: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. But of course, if there are other seasonings you prefer, season with your heart!

    How to Make Turkey Meatballs in the Air Fryer, Step-by-Step

    4 process shots depicting how to make turkey meatballs in the air fryer
    1. Add milk to breadcrumbs and toss gently to evenly combine.
    2. Add milk-soaked breadcrumbs, a beaten egg, soy sauce, and seasonings and stir until evenly incorporated.
    3. Roll meat into small balls (cook time and nutrition is based on a recipe yield of 16 meatballs).
      1. TIP: If your mixture is too warm, it may be a bit sticky and hard to shape. If that's the case, pop it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to chill and become easier to work with.
    4. Place meatballs in the air fryer and air fryer for a total of 8 minutes, turning them over halfway through at the 4 minute mark.

    Recipe Tips & Tricks

    TIP 1: Beat the egg before adding to the meat mixture, to help create a more even meatball without having to overmix.

    TIP 2: Use a small scooper to make meatballs more uniform in size and shape to help them cook more evenly. (I like this set of cookie dough scoops - they work perfect for meatballs, too!)

    TIP 3: Keep the meat mixture cold before cooking so they will form meatballs much easier. If needed, you can pop the meat mixture in the freezer for 10-20 minutes to help cool it.

    TIP 4: Cook meatballs until their inside temperature reaches 165 degrees (I love this meat thermometer!). Cooking by temperature can be very helpful for both food safety (you don't want to eat undercooked ground turkey!) and to ensure the meatballs aren't overcooked. Especially with how easy it is to have variations in meatball shapes and how much some air fryers can differ, cooking to 165 degrees will help you achieve the perfect turkey meatball in the air fryer!

    TIP 5: The meatball mixture is supposed to feel wet! It's what helps keeps these turkey meatballs moist, juicy, and flavorful. If you're having trouble forming into meatballs, see tip 3.

    Substitutions

    While it's impossible to test all substitutions, here are some substitutions that I know work:

    • Ground Turkey - you can use this meatball recipe with whichever ground protein you prefer, like ground chicken, ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, or ground venison.
    • Breadcrumbs - any type of breadcrumb works well here, like plain, seasoned, whole wheat, or gluten-free. If you're using a seasoned bread crumb, adjust the overall seasonings as needed.
    • Soy Sauce - you can use a reduced sodium soy sauce (my preference), a gluten-free soy sauce or gluten-free tamari, or you can also use coconut aminos for a gluten, wheat, and soy-free alternative.
    • Milk - you can use whatever milk you drink
    • Egg - you can substitute a flax egg, made by mixing 1 tablespoon ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons warm water. Give it a stir and let it sit for 5 minutes and you've got a flax egg!
    • Seasoning - get creative here! Season and measure with your heart. I kept the seasonings basic here, as these are things I always have on hand. But I also love adding finely chopped fresh parsley and basil when I have it. And you can season to create other variations, too (see below!).

    Variations

    Take a basic recipe like this and add some variety with seasonings!

    • Spicy - add chili pepper flakes and even a little buffalo sauce to make spicy turkey meatballs
    • Rosemary Parmesan - add finely chopped fresh rosemary (1-2 tablespoons) and grated parmesan (2-4 tablespoons)
    • Curry - omit the Italian seasoning and instead use a teaspoon of curry powder

    Let me know in the comments if you try any delicious flavor variations!

    Equipment

    Let's chat a second about air fryers! Because as amazing as air fryers are, they're not immune to imperfection!

    A couple things to be aware of when cooking with an air fryer:

    • The bigger your air fryer, the longer it will take to heat. I strongly recommend preheating your air fryer if yours is larger.
    • Cooking times can vary based on the air fryer. Smaller air fryers may sometimes require a little less time, whereas larger air fryers with more space to heat may require a couple extra minutes of cook time.
    • Always be sure to start on the low end of the cook time. You can always add more time, but you can't cook less once something is already overcooked.

    The best thing to do is really get to know your air fryer. If you find most air fryer recipes typically are resulting in dryer, slightly overcooked food? Drop your cook time. Not quite done? Plan that recipes will take a little longer for you.

    I have an Instant Vortext 6 quart air fryer and love it!

    Turkey Meatball Meal Prep, Storage, & Reheating

    Air fryer turkey meatballs are fantastic to meal prep.

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Alternatively, you can also freeze these meatballs up to 6 months.

    Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or on the defrost setting in your microwave.

    Turkey meatballs can be reheated in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes, in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or can be warmed through in a pot of sauce on the stove.

    crispy turkey meatballs in the air fryer basket

    Turkey Meatball Nutrition

    Turkey meatball nutrition will vary based on the size of the meatballs you make, as well as any substitutions you make (like a higher fat or different type of ground meat).

    Based on a yield of 16 meatballs, each turkey meatball has 75 calories, 8.5 grams protein, 3.7 grams fat, 2 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar, and 59 mg sodium.

    "Healthy" is Subjective - You Do You

    Know, too, that “healthy” is subjective. The foods that help one maintain their health may or may not work for you - and that’s okay! Honor the body you have. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I suggest eating a variety of nourishing foods that help you feel good and achieve or maintain your health, balanced with the foods you love. Remember - an election isn’t won with every vote, but the majority. Your health is the same way - the overall dietary pattern is what matters most.

    Food Safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C).
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat.
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
    • Never leave cooking food unattended (especially if you have young children!).

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    More Recipes You'll Love

    If you're a fan of ground turkey and looking for more recipes, I highly recommend my gluten-free turkey chili and taco stuffed peppers.

    Want more air fryer recipes? (Who doesn't, I mean it's my favorite kitchen appliance for a reason!) Try air fryer BBQ chicken, air fryer chicken cordon bleu, and my ultra-popular air fryer mozzarella sticks (with options for gluten-free included!).

    Did you make this recipe? Give it a 5★ rating below! For more healthy recipes and tips to create your own balanced relationship with food and health, be sure to follow Nutrition to Fit on Instagram!

    a plate of crispy meatballs garnished with fresh parsley, with one meatball cut open to exhibit juicy interior
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

    These delicious air fryer turkey meatballs are crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Plus they come together in less than 20 minutes for an easy, healthy weeknight dinner.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time8 mins
    Total Time18 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 16 meatballs
    Calories: 75kcal
    Author: Lindsey Janeiro, RDN

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • ⅓ cup bread crumbs
    • 2 tablespoon nonfat milk
    • 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
    • 1 egg, beaten
    • 1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Combine milk and bread crumbs to slightly moisten bread crumbs.
    • Add moistened bread crumbs to a large bowl with ground turkey, a beaten egg, soy sauce, and seasonings. Mix until evenly incorporated (be careful to not overmix!).
    • Roll meat mixture into 16 balls. The mixture best forms when it is cold, so if you're finding it too wet and difficult to shape, try freezing the meatball mixture for 10-20 minutes.
    • Place meatballs in the air fryer. Air fry for 4 minutes, flip meatballs, and air fry for another 4 minutes (8 minutes of cook time total).

    Notes

    Recipe yields 16 meatballs. Nutrition information is listed per meatball.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 59mg | Potassium: 98mg | Vitamin A: 66IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    « Banana Peach Smoothie
    Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome, friend!

    Welcome to Nutrition to Fit! I'm Lindsey, a balanced nutritionist and Registered Dietitian obsessed with helping you find your healthy balance with food and health! I'm not going to tell you what I think you should do, but instead my goal is to empower you to create your own balance (which, PSA, absolutely includes delicious foods!). Learn More

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    As Featured In:

    Featured Recipes

    overhead shot of 6 glasses of brightly and different colored agua frescas

    How to Make Agua Frescas

    Maple dijon brussels sprouts are your answer to add flavor to easy roasted brussels sprouts. Try this easy, healthy side dish recipe today!

    Maple Dijon Brussel Sprouts

    a bite from a decadently fudgy, ganache frosted avocado brownie on a white plate

    The Best Avocado Brownies

    green spinach banana muffins on a metal tray - some with almonds, some plain, some with blueberries

    Spinach Banana Muffins

    • ABOUT
    • SERVICES
    • RECIPES

    Footer

    Leave a ❤️ if you needed to see this. Leave a ❤️ if you needed to see this.
    Sacrificing your life for your "health" is a red f Sacrificing your life for your "health" is a red flag that diet or those methods may not be the healthiest for you.

Create a healthy balance that helps you feel at home in your body and lets you live your life!
    Feeling a little off-balance in your eating and he Feeling a little off-balance in your eating and health habits after the weekend? Or just in general lately?

It happens!

But if this has typically triggered restrictive or extreme habits or eating patterns, let's try something different:

Can you try to gently step back into caring for yourself?

Check in with your baseline habits.
+How are you sleeping?
+Managing stress?
+Has your water intake turned to mostly coffee intake? 
+Are you moving your body in a way that feels good right now?
+How are your eating habits?

Then, when the opportunity next presents itself to do something a little different, like adding vegetables to your lunch or skipping Netflix to actually go to bed at a decent time😘, act on it!

What's one thing you're going to do today to support nourishing and caring yourself and getting back to any of your health goals?
    Don't shoot the messenger!!🙈 I have nothing aga Don't shoot the messenger!!🙈 I have nothing against coffee or protein coffee, but neither👏are👏a👏meal👏

Per usual, remember to add - swipe for some ideas of protein coffee pairings that make a better balanced breakfast.

Are you a protein coffee fan?
    Friendly reminder for the first Monday of the new Friendly reminder for the first Monday of the new year: unless you're allergic or the food's gone bad, you don't have to cut any foods from your diet!

Instead, shift your focus to what you can add - like more fiber, more fruits and veg, more water, more joyful movement. It's going to be more enjoyable, sustainable, and may be the shift that helps you find your healthy balance!

#healthybalance #balanceddiet #foodfreedom #dietitian #nutritiontips #newyearnewme

    back to top | privacy policy | affiliate disclaimer | contact | © 2022 all rights reserved

    as an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT