Easy & Quick 20 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Meatball Recipe

This 20 minute quick and easy chicken meatball air fryer recipe is great for the whole family and also make a great addition to your list of freezer meals ideas (including postpartum freezer meals!).

It all started when I was strolling down the freezer aisles of Target and I stumbled upon the golden frozen chicken meatballs. As a working mom, I often need a quick and easy meal to make for lunch or dinner for the family and this seemed like the best option for something quick, easy and delicious. When I looked at the list of ingredients on the back of the package (like the health conscious mother I aspire to be), I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were vegetables listed! Like, actual vegetables and not just vegetable powders. 

Not too soon after, I realized that $9.99 per bag was not economical, especially when my hungry toddler goes through the bag in about a week or two AND tasty chicken meatballs are not that difficult to recreate. One of my favorite things about this simple chicken meatball recipe is that you can swap out the seasonings according to your preference. Plus, you can make a quick and easy dinner, like a classic spaghetti and meatballs dish. 

First Things First

Gather and portion of all the ingredients needed: zucchini, carrots, cheese, breadcrumbs, each of the seasonings, and the pound of ground chicken. The most time consuming part of this recipe is grating and draining the zucchini and carrots. First, you’ll need to peel the zucchini and cut it in half, vertically, for easier grating. After, peel the carrots. Now, finely grate the veggies. This grater makes slicing and shredding veggies so much easier. Next, you’ll need to squeeze the excess water from your carrots and zucchini. It’s best to gather a small amount into the palm of your hands and gently squeeze the excess water out.

Next

Sort out your seasonings, egg, meat and panko breadcrumbs. Here is where you may want to grab a pair of plastic gloves! Once you’ve got your ingredients ready to go, add it to the ground chicken and mix well by hand. 

Preheat your air fryer to 375° and start shaping your meatballs. This recipe will make 13 meatballs if you make them the size of the middle of your palm. The great thing about this recipe is that you can make them whatever size you and your family prefer!

After you’ve sized your meatballs and your air fryer has finished pre-heating, add the meatballs in a single layer and allow them to cook for at least 12 minutes or until they’ve reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

**If you want a double batch of these juicy chicken meatballs simply double up on the measurement of ingredients, which are listed below.

If You’re Planning To Freezer Prep…

• You can cook the chicken veggie meatballs first, let them cool down and then freeze them.
• If you do want to freeze them after cooking, add the meatballs to your prepared freezer meal.
• You can freeze the raw ground chicken meatball mixture, just make sure to store them in parchment paper within an airtight container or freezer bag, in a single layer.

Quick Tips

• To reduce total cook and prep time, you can buy pre-shredded carrots (aka matchstick carrots).
• Sprinkle a bit of salt over the grated veggies to extract the excess water.
• Feel free to use fresh herbs, such as minced garlic and onion. If you do, about 1/4 cup of each will be fine.
• The ground chicken can be substituted for ground turkey or ground beef. You can also substitute mozzarella cheese for parmesan cheese.
• Olive oil isn’t necessary as the meat is already juicy, but if you do opt for adding it in, I suggest using 1/2 tablespoon.
• If the ground chicken is too moist, use power towels and tap off the excess liquid.

Quick 20 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Veggie Meatballs

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 egg

1 zucchini, grated

1/2 cup of carrots, grated

3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 lb. ground chicken

1/2 tbsp. salt

1/2 tbsp. oregano

1 tbsp. fresh or dried parsley

1 tbsp. onion powder

1 tbsp. garlic powder

Directions:

1. Gather all of your ingredients. Make sure to have your ground chicken set aside in a large bowl. Add all of the seasonings, breadcrumbs, egg, and cheese to the ground meat. Mix it all together and set aside.
2. Preheat your air fryer to 375°.
3. Measure out portions from the meat mixture and roll each portion into a ball. After your air fryer is done pre-heating, add the meatballs and allow them to cook for 12 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the meatballs have reached an internal temperature of 165°.
4. Serve and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

Chicken Veggie Meatball Dinner Ideas for Freezer Meals 

If you’re starting to prepare your home and kitchen for the postpartum period or need meal prep ideas for the week, this chicken veggie meatball recipe is a great option for simple and delicious . Below are some suggestions for meals that include chicken veggie meatballs:

1. Vegetable Fried Rice
2. Diced or Mashed Sweet Potatoes
3. White Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
4. Mediterranean Orzo Pasta
5. Mexican Meatball Soup
6. Pasta & Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
7. Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
8. Zucchini Noodles in Savory Sauce

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