- Prep Time15 mins
- Cook Time12 mins
- Resting Time5 mins
- Total Time35 mins
INGREDIENTS
▢1 pound ground beef, I prefer 80/20
▢1 pound ground Italian pork sausage, I like sweet Italian sausage, but spicy will work as well
▢½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
▢1 large egg
▢2 tablespoons olive oil
▢1½ teaspoons sea salt
▢1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
▢1 teaspoon garlic powder, or 2 cloves minced garlic
▢1 small yellow onion, finely diced
▢⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
▢¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, optional
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the air fryer to 400˚F.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground Italian sausage, seasoned breadcrumbs, egg, olive oil, sea salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion, parsley, and cilantro.
Use your hands to mix all of the ingredients together until a homogenous mixture is achieved. Be careful not to over-mix.
Form the mixture into 1.5-inch balls. You can use a cookie scoop if you’d like to keep the meatballs as close to equal in size as possible.
Arrange the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer’s basket. Depending on the size of the air fryer, you might have to cook them in batches.
Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes or until a test meatball is no longer pink on the inside or until the internal temperature registers at 165˚F on a meat thermometer.
Remove the meatballs from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
EQUIPMENT
Air Fryer
Mixing Bowls
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Cookie Scoop
NOTES
Ground Meat: I love using a mixture of beef and Italian pork sausage for my meatballs. You can, of course, use all ground beef or all Italian sausage if you choose.
Breadcrumbs: I use plain breadcrumbs or pork rind crumbs for my meatballs, but you can also use seasoned breadcrumbs, panko crumbs, or gluten-free crumbs.
Skip the cilantro if you do not like the taste of it; add more parsley if you want, or any other freshly chopped herbs.
Don’t overmix because the meatball mixture will be dense, creating tough meatballs. Mix everything just until incorporated.
Make the meatballs equal in size so they will cook evenly and at the same time.
Don’t crowd the air fryer. Arrange the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and if you run out of room, cook the meatballs in batches.
Oven Method: No air fryer, no problem! You can bake the meatballs at 375˚F for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meatballs registers at 165˚F.
