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Spaghetti and Air Fryer Meatballs
Air fryer meatballs make cleanup a breeze

Forget frying meatballs on the stovetop (so messy!) or baking them in the oven—air fryer meatballs are a cinch to make and even easier to clean up. Made from a mix of sweet Italian sausage and ground beef, these meatballs are juicy, tender and crisp without the need for excess oil. Serve these as a tasty fall appetizer to pair with your favorite dip recipe or serve them over spaghetti for a classic family dinner.
Don’t have an air fryer yet? Choose from our round-up of the best air fryers and you’ll be set with one of our favorite tools for faster, tastier weeknight dinners. These meatballs only take about 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer, and that includes a built-in sauce of tomatoes with red chile and garlic.
In addition to the sauce, the meatballs are seasoned with Parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley and a touch of balsamic vinegar for a little unexpected flavor. Feel free to add extra spices or substitutions based on what you like: red pepper flakes for spice, basil instead of parsley, or Pecorino instead of Parmesan, for example.
Got leftovers? They can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or, make a double batch (without the sauce) and keep in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Ingredients
- 2
large eggs
- 2 tsp.
balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt and pepper
- 1/3 cup
panko
- 4
large cloves garlic (2 grated and 2 chopped)
- 1/4 cup
grated Parmesan plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup
flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/2 lb.
sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 lb.
ground beef
- 12 oz.
spaghetti
- 1 lb.
cherry tomatoes
- 1
red chile, sliced
- 1 Tbsp.
olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups
marinara sauce, warmed
Fresh basil, for serving
Directions
- Step 1In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir in panko and let sit 1 minute. Stir in grated garlic and Parmesan, then parsley. Add sausage and beef and gently mix to combine.
- Step 2Shape meat mixture into 20 balls (about 1 1/2 inches each) and place in single layer on air fryer rack (balls can touch, but should not be stacked; cook in batches if necessary). Air-fry meatballs at 400°F 5 minutes.
- Step 3Meanwhile, cook spaghetti per package directions.
- Step 4In a bowl, toss tomatoes, chile and chopped garlic with oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Scatter over meatballs and continue air-frying until meatballs are cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes more.
- Step 5Toss meatballs and tomatoes with marinara, then gently with pasta. Serve topped with Parmesan and basil if desired.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (per serving): About 690 calories, 25 g fat (7.5 g saturated), 34 g protein, 1,180 mg sodium, 83 g carbohydrates, 7 g fiber

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