Airfryer Chicken Meatballs

These airfryer chicken meatballs are juicy, yet light and full of umami flavors! Add a few handfuls of veggies to make them guilt-free too. Why not make my hoisin drizzling sauce too? It coats the tender chicken meatballs in a sweet, salty, garlicky glaze that will make everyone want to eat a dozen more 😜.

A pile of chicken meatballs with a shiny glaze next to rice and garnished with scallions and chili

What you’ll love about this recipe

I used to make these meatballs with beef and pork for New Year’s party as appetizers for the last ten years. They were just the highlight of each party and everyone was asking for the recipe. Rightly so, because they are tiny flavor bombs! They travel well too, so I would put them in a tinfoil tray and cover them well for the journey to the party, and once ready to serve I just gave them a quick blast in the host’s oven.

Woman with lavender colored top holding a tray with glazed chicken meatballs
  1. Quick & Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes.
  2. Light & Flavorful: Made with lean chicken mince, fresh veggies, sweet and tangy Asian-inspired flavors. Also, no egg in sight, you want juicy squidgy balls, not bullets LOL!
  3. Versatile: I serve these as a main course with fluffy rice and a colorful tangy slaw, but often as a party appetizer. We eat them cold too, because they don’t get greasy.
  4. Kids-Friendly: You know kids love bite-sized snacks, and these airfryer chicken meatballs are not too spicy and oh, so yummy 😋!
  5. Great for Parties: Make a big batch for a crowd or meal prep by freezing them ahead.
  6. Less Mess: Avoid washing up the frying pan and getting rid of the oil. You can also bake them 😜!
  7. Sneaky Veggies: I love adding grated carrot to meatballs, it’s the best bulking you can do, feel free to add even more finely chopped spring onions or chives.

Watch how to make airfryer chicken meatballs

Ingredients you’ll need

For the Meatballs:

  • Chicken Mince – I used both 6% fat and leaner mince (2%) and I had good results.
  • Garlic
  • Ginger (grated) – full disclosure though, I do sometimes use ginger paste for convenience, it’s a small compromise.
  • Carrot (finely grated) – don’t worry, it won’t change the flavor or make the mixture too wet.
  • Breadcrumbs – you can make your own if you have any stale bread or sourdough bread, store bought are fine, sometimes you just want some shortcuts (I know I do)!
  • Spring Onions – you can also use finely diced shallots, but I love the pop of green.
  • Hoisin Sauce – sweet and salty is what I’m after here, I really hope you like these flavors too.
  • Soy Sauce
  • Salt & Black pepper
  • Crushed Chili Flakes
  • Olive Oil – for brushing the airfryer tray.
  • Toasted Sesame Seed Oil

For the Sauce:

  • Toasted Sesame Seed Oil
  • Hoisin Sauce
  • Soy Sauce
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Crushed Chili Flakes
Ingredients for Aifryer Chicken Meatballs: chicken mince, carrot, chili, scallions, breadcrumbs, hoisin and soy sauce, toasted sesame seed oil

How to make airfryer chicken meatballs (step-by-step)

Time needed: 30 minutes

Get rolling these juicy airfryer chicken meatballs, packed with flavor and ready in under 30 minutes! Perfect for weeknight dinners or party appetizers.

  1. Prepare the Meatball Mixture:

    In a large mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients for the meatballs. Add the toasted sesame seed oil for that Asian inspired flavor and to keep the meatballs lovely and moist. Use your hand to mix gently, the mixture will feel more like a paste.Preparing meatballs mixture in a large stainless steel bowl

  2. Shape and Air Fry the Meatballs:

    Use an ice-cream scoop or a teaspoon to form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs (about 2 teaspoons of mixture per meatball). Preheat the aifryer to to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil the air fryer basket (I have a rack on mine) and spread the meatballs in one layer. In 15 minutes they will be lovely and golden. Turn halfway if needed.Two images of shaped meatballs on white plate and meatballs on a rack being air fried

  3. Make the glazing sauce:

    In a bowl, add the ingredients for the sauce and mix. Brush or toss the hot meatballs with the sauce and return to the airfryer for another 5 minutes.Two images of baked meatballs brushed with glazing sauce and woman holding tray with baked meatballs

  4. Serve and Enjoy:

    Drizzle with more sauce or set the sauce for dipping if you serve as appetizers. Garnish with more chopped scallions and serve with rice and an Asian slaw.

Pro Tips

  • Do not skip the oil in the mixture: the chicken mince is lean so that’s what will keep your meatballs soft and juicy.
  • Don’t Overmix: Only mix the meatball ingredients until combined to keep the texture tender and juicy, you don’t want them dense or stodgy.
  • Wet your hands with water when you roll the meatballs, it helps with stickiness.
  • Preheat the Air Fryer: Always preheat your air fryer if you want to get that lovely golden crispy crust on the outside.
  • Lightly Oil the Basket or Rack: I brush my rack with a little olive oil or you can spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent the meatballs from sticking.
  • Even Sizing: Use an ice cream or cookie scoop or even a spoon to shape the meatballs. You want to get roughly the same size for even cooking.
  • Don’t Overcrowd: My oven has an air fryer function, so I can cook this batch in one go. Depending on your equipment, you may have to cook the meatballs in batches in your air fryer, leaving a little space between each for proper air circulation.
  • Turning Midway: This is optional and depends on your air fryer, I found that I did not need to turn my meatballs halfway through cooking for even browning.
  • Brush or Toss: If you watch the video, you will see that I brush the meatballs with the sauce, but you can also just toss them gently in a bowl to coat them evenly. They are sturdy enough not to fall apart.
A pile of chicken meatballs with a shiny glaze next to rice and garnished with scallions and chili

Preparation time

It takes around 5 -10 minutes to grate the carrot, chop up the scallions, mix and roll the meatballs.

I am being generous here, because I know myself (not always super organised 😉).

cooking time

The meatballs cook fast, in only 15 minutes. Coat with the sauce if you like then give them another 5 minutes to get that beautiful shiny glazing.

Nutritional benefits

Of course the addition of vegetables makes what looks like an indulgent dish, a better choice. Carrots, scallions, garlic, ginger and chili they all add up to that optimum 30 plants a week! Feed those friendly gut bacteria happy!

Servings

This recipe yields 20 meatballs, enough for a small family.

What to serve with chicken meatballs

A pile of chicken meatballs with a shiny glaze next to rice and garnished with scallions and chili
  • Serve the airfryer chicken meatballs over steamed rice, noodles or in a fluffy sub sandwich.
  • I typically pair them with a crunchy Asian slaw for a complete meal (made with shredded carrot, cabbage and pickled shallots), or you can serve them with my pickled green tomatoes or my pink sauerkraut to cut through the sweetness.
  • Fill lettuce cups with juicy sticky meatballs, they make an incredibly delicious party appetizer.
  • Top them with black or white sesame seeds and a snip of chives to make them even fancier!

variations and substitutions

  • Protein: Swap chicken mince for turkey, pork or beef ground meat.
  • Oil: use olive oil or even sunflower or avocado oil if you don’t have sesame oil.
  • Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari instead of soy sauce. Watch the label on the hoisin sauce or make your own homemade hoisin sauce with one of my favorite recipes.
  • Vegetables and Herbs 🌿: You can swap the spring onions (scallions) for finely diced shallots, red onions or chives.
  • Mild or Hot 🌶️: These meatballs only have a mild spiciness, but you can always up the chili flakes or add more fresh finely diced chilies.
  • Bake instead: if you don’t have an airfryer, that’s fine, because my original recipe was calling for baking these in the oven, so I know it works, phew 😉!
  • And if you are looking for an every day meatball recipe, I beg you to try my beef meatballs in marinara sauce recipe or even my meatball soup that is crammed full of vegetables to enhance the nutrition.
A pile of chicken meatballs with a shiny glaze next to rice and garnished with scallions and chili

These airfryer chicken meatballs have been my family’s favorite for New Year’s Eve party, I would love to see you making them for your parties too. And then again on busy weeknights or simply when you are craving bold flavors and juicy morsels of joy!

  • If you make my recipe, take a snapshot for your Instagram
  • Post and tag me @candyflossiecooks😉🤗!
  • Don’t forget to rate my recipe! It will make my day!

recipe FAQ

Can I bake these instead?

Yes you can! Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes, shuffling or turning the meatballs on the baking tray halfway through to get them golden evenly.

What to do with leftover meatballs?

Easy! Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stuff them in a pitta or wrap for lunch with colorful vegetables and hummus or add them to a noodle and vegetables stir fry. You can also freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months.

Can I double the recipe?

If you cook in an oven with air fryer function, no problem, plenty of space! But in a counter top air fryer, you will need to cook them in batches, to avoid overcrowding.

Can I make them ahead?

Yes, you have two options here: to make the mixture a day ahead and store it covered in the fridge until ready to cook them or make the balls and freeze them on a tray then transfer them to a ziplock bag. They make take extra 5 minutes longer to cook from frozen though.

Can I make these airfryer chicken meatballs without breadcrumbs?

Certainly! I would add another grated carrot though.

A pile of chicken meatballs with a shiny glaze next to rice and garnished with scallions and chili

Airfryer Chicken Meatballs

Flossie
Get rolling these juicy airfryer chicken meatballs, packed with flavor and ready in under 30 minutes! Perfect for weeknight dinners or party appetizers.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, main meal
Cuisine Asian, Chinese, International
Servings 20 meatballs

Equipment

  • air fryer (or use air fryer feature on your oven)
  • 1 large bowl to make meatballs mixture
  • 1 small bowl to make the sauce
  • 1 garlic press or grater
  • 1 ice cream or cookie scoop
  • 1 pair of tongues optional to turn meatballs

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs:

  • 500 g chicken mince
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 inch ginger grated
  • 1 carrot grated
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (30 g)
  • 3 spring onions chopped
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce preferably light
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seed oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil to brush or spray the air fryer rack

For the Sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seed oil
  • 4 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 4 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 inch ginger minced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

Instructions
 

Prepare the Meatball Mixture:

  • In a large mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients for the meatballs. Add the toasted sesame seed oil for that Asian inspired flavor and to keep the meatballs lovely and moist. Use your hand to mix gently, the mixture will feel more like a paste.

Shape the Meatballs:

  • Use an ice-cream scoop or a teaspoon to form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs (about 2 teaspoons of mixture per meatball). Wet your hands to avoid sticking.

Cook the Meatballs in the Airfryer:

  • Preheat the aifryer to to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil the air fryer basket (or rack if an oven with air fryer function) and spread the meatballs in one layer. Cook for 15 minutes until golden. Turn halfway if needed.

Make the glazing sauce:

  • While the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce. In a bowl, add the ingredients for the sauce and mix. Brush or toss the hot meatballs with the sauce and return to the air fryer no more than 5 minutes. You may want to check after 2 minutes though just in case, your airfryer may dry the glaze too quick.

Serve and Enjoy:

  • Drizzle with more sauce or set the sauce for dipping if you serve as appetizers. Garnish with more chopped scallions and serve with rice and an Asian slaw.

Video

Notes

Do not skip the oil in the mixture: the chicken mince is lean so that’s what will keep your meatballs soft and juicy.
Skip or half the salt if you are avoiding salty food, the soy and hoisin sauce come with salt content already.
Don’t Overmix: Only mix the meatball ingredients until combined to keep the texture tender and juicy, you don’t want them dense or stodgy.
Wet your hands with water when you roll the meatballs, it helps with stickiness. 
Don’t Overcrowd: My oven has an air fryer function, so I can cook this batch in one go. Depending on your equipment, you may have to cook the meatballs in batches in your air fryer, leaving a little space between each for proper air circulation.
Turning Midway: This is optional and depends on your air fryer, I found that I did not need to turn my meatballs halfway through cooking for even browning.
Brush or Toss: If you watch the video, you will see that I brush the meatballs with the sauce, but you can also just toss them gently in a bowl to coat them evenly. They are sturdy enough not to fall apart. You may want to check after 2 minutes though just in case, your airfryer may dry the glaze too quick.
Keyword air fry chicken meatballs, air fryer chicken meatballs, air fryer chicken meatballs recipe, air fryer ground chicken meatballs
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