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Air Fryer Party Meatballs. Introducing you to my aunt Sheila’s party meatballs, modernised for the air fryer. A true American Italian air fryer meatballs recipe passed down through the family.
Air Fryer Party Meatballs with a true American Italian taste was among the first recipes ever to be published on RecipeThis.com and I am now updating it. I am updating my air fryer party meatballs with more information so that you can make the best ever Italian meatballs in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Party Meatballs
These EXACT party meatballs are the same ones that I used to enjoy as a kid. I had a lovely aunt that used to come and visit us in England from America. She was my mum’s sister and lived near New York and as such she was always up to date on the latest food trends.
You know how it is living in Europe, you’re always a good few years behind what is happening in the United States and food was very much like that.
My aunt would visit for a couple of weeks and stay at my grandma’s house. It was a small house with a small kitchen and yet she would manage to make a huge pan of meatballs and then serve them with pasta and tomato sauce.
I always felt honoured to be able to be part of her meatball moments. A lot of the time she would also serve them up on their own on sticks.
Her husband that she married was American Italian and she always had a thing for food that fitted in with his culture such as party meatballs. Or her love for chicken parmesan.
Sadly, she has since passed away and it is nice to bring her meatballs recipe back to life on Recipe This.
I will always remember her for delicious food and that amazing American accent. Nobody ever said my name with the same over the top accent as what she did.
Plus I am giving it a modern twist of cooking them in the Air Fryer instead of the pan like she would have done.
So let’s keep her party meatballs going and celebrate proper American Italian meatballs!
Best Air Fryer Meatballs
If you want the best air fryer meatballs, then this is it.
They are so easy to make yourself at home.
In fact, they would be easy to call dump and go meatballs as it is as simple as that. Throw all the ingredients into a bowl, mix them, turn them into meatball shapes and cook them.
Of course, the air fryer helps make this process even better as it makes your air fryer party meatballs taste so good!
You can then eat them over my Instant Pot Garlic Spaghetti or serve them on sticks and have them as a true Air Fryer Party Food!
Meatballs In Air Fryer
The hubby and I always discuss what’s for dinner the next day, in the same way, every day.
- Dom: Are you getting something out of the freezer for dinner tomorrow?
- Sam: Yes, what do you want?
- Dom: Anything that can be cooked in the air fryer!
- Sam: I got some mince out!
- Dom: What are we making?
- Sam: Don’t know yet!
Because mince (aka ground meat) is so versatile I can then decide what to cook the next day. It might be air fryer burgers, but quite often it is meatballs in the air fryer as they are so delicious.
The conversation can also be very similar for cooking in the Instant Pot, the Sous Vide or the Slow Cooker. Plus, because we eat in the air fryer so frequently, I can be talking about mince, chicken breast or sausages as we eat these the most.
Using A Meatball Press
There is such a thing as a Meatball Press to make your meatball shapes PERFECT. I love it and it keeps my meatballs all the same size and stops your meatballs from looking ugly.
Which is perfect for parties too.
MORE Air Fryer Meatball Recipes
I am a HUGE fan of meatballs and cook them frequently in the air fryer. I love them with different types of mince including chicken meatballs, pork meatballs, turkey meatballs and of course beef meatballs.
Here are a few Air Fryer Meatball Recipes:
- Air Fryer Honey & Mustard Pork Meatballs
- Air Fryer Meatball Sub
- Air Fryer Vegan Meatballs
- Air Fryer Moroccan Couscous Meatballs
- Air Fryer Jamaican Chicken Meatballs
Air Fryer Party Meatballs
Ingredients
Kitchen Gadgets:
Meatball Maker
- Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 lb Mince Beef
- ¾ Cup Tomato Ketchup
- 1 Tbsp Tabasco
- 21/2 Tbsp Worcester Sauce
- ¼ Cup Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar
- ½ Tsp Dry Mustard
- 3 Gingersnaps crushed
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl place on your seasonings and mix well so that everything is evenly coated.
- Add the mince to the bowl and mix well.
- Form into medium sized meatballs and place them into your Air Fryer.
- Cook them for 15 minutes on a 190c/375F heat or until nice and crispy and cooked in the middle.
- Place them on sticks before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Can’t make it now? Then pin it for later!
I like this technique for making meatballs in the air fryer! I find the flavor profile of this recipe so interesting. Is the gingersnap traditional? Sounds so unique. I will give this one a try!
Hi Margaret,
Thank you for the comment. This recipe was my aunties meatball recipe and she moved over to the United States when she was around 21 as she married an American Italian, so she picked up many interesting recipes which I like to cook ????
These look great! Just becoming familiar with my air fryer. What would you suggest as a dipping sauce when serving these on picks as an appetizer. Thanks!
Hi Dona,
We would suggest a good ranch dressing or if you like some spice with your meatballs a nice and spicy salsa, unfortunately we do not have any homemade recipes for any of these 🙂
The nicest air fryer meatballs i have ever tried. Thank you.
Help what happened followed party meatballs recipe exactly far too moist in fact soggy I used 93% lean
Hi Rocky,
Sorry to hear that. Apart from the meat suggestion i do not know why they turned out to moist (soggy). Also i would take the vinegar down to 2 tbsps and see how the mixture is then, it should be alot drier. You could add some breadcrumbs to it which would soak up the leftover liquid.
Kind Regards
Sam
Help what happened followed party meatballs recipe exactly far too moist in fact soggy we love the flavour but wanted them to be firm not falling apart. Thanks Julie
Hi Julie,
The only thing i can think of is the mince might have had more fat in it and this made them over moist. I cannot think of any other reason but these are quite a moist meatball as my auntie used to like them like that 🙂
Kind Regards
Sam
These sound delicious. I’ve been looking to purchase an air fryer but I’m still not sold on it. I don’t deep fry foods because of the mess with all the oil needed but I’m still hesitant to buy an air fryer. Is it better than just baking foods that are traditionally deep fried?
Hi Joybee,
I think a lot of people use airfryer for all sorts of things and not just for French Fries and other deep frying alternatives. Thanks for how quick it does the cooking and the style of cooking I use my airfryer as my deep fryer, microwave and grill alternatives.
Way better! I bought mine from Costco. the brand is Nuwave.
Just spray it and it tastes like fried food without the grease! Plus it does not only fry but you can grill and bake as well! I have used mine to cook turkey burgers and meatballs, fish, and veggies like calabasa (squash). I haven’t tried potatoes as I am trying to cook the healthier version of it. What I am excited about is to doing kale chips! I have tried it the traditional way and they were awesome but now I have an option to cook its healthier version!
Ah, my mum has just had an air fryer for her birthday and is just getting to grips with it. I think she might like this recipe so I’m pin it aand send her a link. Thanks for sharing.
These look delicious- I am fascinated by air fryers- we love fried food but not all the grease. I’m dying to get one!
Best kitchen gadget we ever bought and they last years. Got mine 2011/2012 time and it is still in really good condition now even though it has been used a lot!