Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Add Preferred Source
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs are my lighter take on the comfort food I grew up loving. The air fryer gets them golden and juicy without the mess, and they finish in a savory beef broth and sour cream gravy that’s just silky enough. Spooned over creamy mashed potatoes, it’s hearty, warm, and never feels heavy.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a commission. Thank you!
I make these for busy weeknights, but they’re honestly good enough for family dinners and holiday gatherings too. Leftovers reheat really well, which makes them great for meal prep. Store the meatballs and gravy together in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze the meatballs separately for up to 2 months.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
These juicy turkey meatballs come together with simple seasonings and cook up golden brown in the air fryer basket in just minutes.
Mix and Shape the Meatballs
Combine the onion, minced garlic, ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, dried parsley, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. You can swap the breadcrumbs for panko bread crumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs, depending on what you have on hand.
Mix well until everything is fully incorporated, then roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs. I use an ice cream scoop to keep them evenly sized so they all cook at the same rate.
Add a pinch of Italian seasoning or swap the dried parsley for oregano to customize the flavor. Transfer the meatballs to a baking dish and brush them with olive oil, or give them a quick spray with cooking spray.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Includes ad-free recipes like:
Air Fry the Meatballs
Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket and bake at 320ºF (160°C) for 15 minutes, flipping the meatballs halfway through. If you’re making a larger batch, cook them in two batches rather than crowding the basket.
Make the Gravy
Pour the beef broth into a large skillet over medium-high heat, then whisk in the all-purpose flour until dissolved. I always reach for my heavy-bottomed saucepan with a lid for this step since the heat distributes evenly and nothing scorches.
Throw in the Worcestershire sauce, parsley, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
Keep stirring to prevent lumps from forming. If any lumps do appear, you can sieve the sauce to smooth it out. You can also adjust with a splash more Worcestershire sauce if needed.
Add the Sour Cream and Meatballs
Reduce the heat to medium-low, then stir in the sour cream and air-fried meatballs. I use a silicone spatula to fold everything together gently without breaking the meatballs. Cover the skillet and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded together, 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve over mashed potatoes. A ladle with a pour spout makes plating the gravy over the mashed potatoes so much cleaner and easier. Enjoy!
If you’re bringing these to a gathering, transfer everything into a deep lidded container and keep them warm in an insulated casserole carrier for the drive.
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper
To serve:
- Fresh parsley
- Mashed potatoes
For the sauce:
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pinch salt to taste
- ¼ cup light sour cream
Instructions
- Combine onion, garlic, turkey meat, bread crumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, dried parsley, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl; mix well to combine. Form mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Transfer to a baking dish and brush with olive oil (you can also use the spray).1 teaspoon olive oil, ½ cup onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 pound lean ground turkey, ½ cup bread crumbs, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, Salt and pepper, Cooking spray
- Bake in the air fryer at 320ºF (160°C) for 15 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through, (flip them halfway through).
- Pour beef stock into a large skillet over medium-high heat, dissolve the all-purpose flour. Add Worcestershire sauce, parsley, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. (Stirring will prevent lumps from forming, but if you have any lumps you can sieve the sauce to remove them, also you can adjust with Worcestershire sauce if needed).2 cups low-sodium beef broth, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 pinch salt
- Reduce heat to medium-low; stir in sour cream and meatballs. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors combine, 10 to 15 minutes.¼ cup light sour cream
- Garnish with fresh parsley and mashed potatoes. Serve and enjoy!Fresh parsley, Mashed potatoes
Notes
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform meatballs: Rolling the meatballs to the same size means they all finish cooking at the same time in the air fryer, so none come out undercooked or overdone.
- Don’t skip flipping halfway through: Flipping the meatballs at the halfway mark at 320ºF (160°C) gives you an even cook all around instead of one flat or overcooked side.
- Stir the gravy constantly while it thickens: Keeping the whisk or spoon moving during the 2 to 3 minute simmer prevents lumps from forming. If lumps appear anyway, just sieve the sauce, and you’re back on track.
- Adjust the gravy with Worcestershire sauce: If the gravy tastes a little flat after simmering, a small splash of Worcestershire sauce deepens the flavor quickly without overpowering the sour cream.
- Simmer low and slow after adding sour cream: Once the sour cream and meatballs go in, keep the heat at medium-low for the full 10 to 15 minutes. Higher heat can cause the sour cream to separate and the sauce to lose its silkiness.
- Freeze meatballs before adding gravy: For best freezer results, freeze the cooked meatballs on a baking sheet for about an hour before transferring them to a container so they don’t clump together. Make a fresh batch of gravy when you’re ready to serve.
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Includes ad-free recipes like:
How to Store Leftovers
Let the cooked meatballs cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container with the gravy. They’ll keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm them gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of broth if the gravy has thickened too much in the fridge.
To freeze, I recommend storing the meatballs and gravy separately when possible. The meatballs freeze well in an airtight glass container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then gently reheat frozen meatballs on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of broth to loosen the gravy.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Mashed potatoes are the classic pairing here. The creamy gravy soaks into the potatoes and makes every bite deeply satisfying. You could also serve the meatballs over egg noodles, steamed white rice, or toss them over spaghetti or your favorite pasta as a hearty appetizer or main.
On the side, roasted green beans, steamed broccoli, or a simple cucumber salad all work beautifully to balance the richness of the gravy. A little grated parmesan cheese on top adds a nice savory finish, and a slice of crusty bread on the side is always a welcome addition for mopping up every last bit of sauce.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
If you love easy air fryer recipes, these are right up next on your list.
