These air fryer pork meatballs with pasta are a delicious and super easy meal that you’ll want to make over and over again! Once you try cooking meatballs in an air fryer, you may never go back to baking them in the oven or pan-frying them again. The air fryer offers a quick and healthier method for preparing this classic Italian dish. As it uses significantly less oil than traditional frying methods. I used pork mince for this recipe, but you can easily substitute it with beef, chicken, or turkey mince, depending on your preference.
One of the best things about making meatballs in the air fryer is that it saves you time, energy, and the hassle of extra washing up. No need to stand over a hot stove, frying meatballs in a pan, or wait for the oven to preheat. The air fryer makes the process much more efficient. While still giving you perfectly cooked, juicy, and crispy meatballs. Plus, they turn out beautifully browned without being greasy, which is a great bonus!
This recipe is perfect for anyone looking to prepare a quick and convenient meal. In less than twenty minutes, you can have tender, flavourful, and crispy meatballs ready to serve with pasta and a rich, savoury tomato sauce. It is an easy, flavourful dish that the whole family will love, and it’s versatile enough to be enjoyed all year round. Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a weekend treat, these air fryer pork meatballs with pasta are bound to be a hit!
PREP 5 minutes
COOK 10 to 12 minutes
SERVES 2 people
KIT you will need an air fryer and a large mixing bowl
Ingredients for Air Fryer Pork Meatballs
500g of ground pork (but beef, chicken or even turkey mince also work well)
60g of breadcrumbs
60g of grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon of garlic paste
1/4 of a teaspoon of dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon of dried basil
Salt and pepper, to taste
150g of dried spaghetti
1 jar of passata (or homemade tomato sauce)
Fresh basil leaves to serve
Method
So start by preparing the meatball mixture. In a large mixing bowl, combine your minced pork with half of the grated Parmesan cheese (save the rest for topping later), a spoonful of garlic paste, and a generous pinch each of dried oregano and dried basil. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use your hands or a spoon to thoroughly mix everything together until all ingredients are evenly combined.
Once mixed, roll the pork mixture into small meatballs, roughly 1 inch in diameter. Try to keep them uniform in size so they cook evenly. You should end up with around 16 to 20 meatballs, depending on how large you make them.
Place the meatballs into your air fryer basket in a single layer, keeping the crisper plate in. Make sure the meatballs aren’t touching. This helps the hot air circulate and gives you that nice, even browning. Set the air fryer to 190°C and cook them for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure all sides cook evenly. The meatballs should be golden brown and fully cooked through.
Once cooked, pour passata or your favourite homemade tomato sauce directly into the air fryer basket with the meatballs. Stir gently so the meatballs are coated in the sauce, and cook for an additional 2–3 minutes to warm the sauce through.
While the meatballs are cooking, bring a pot of salted water to the boil and cook your pasta according to the packet instructions. I used spaghetti, but penne, rigatoni, or linguine would all work well. Drain the pasta once it has cooked.
Serve the tomato coated meatballs over a bed of warm pasta. Then top with the remaining grated Parmesan cheese and a few fresh basil leaves. A hearty, flavourful meal ready in no time!
Tips for Air Fryer Meatballs
1. Don’t overmix the meat
Only mix your ground pork, herbs, breadcrumbs, and seasonings until just combined. Overmixing can make the meatballs dense instead of tender.
2. Add moisture
Pork is much leaner than beef, so a splash of milk, a bit of grated onion, or an egg will help to keep the meatballs juicy and soft.
3. Use breadcrumbs or panko
These give the meatballs structure and a light texture. Soak them in milk first for extra tenderness.
4. Season well
Pork has a mild flavour so don’t be shy with garlic, onion, herbs, fennel seeds, or a dash of mustard for depth.
5. Roll evenly
Keep the meatballs around 1 to1.5 inches in diameter for even cooking. A cookie scoop helps make uniform portions.
6. Lightly oil or spray
A light spray of oil will help them crisp and brown without sticking to the air fryer basket.
7. Preheat your air fryer
As always it helps to pre heat your air fryer to 200°C (390°F) for 2 to 3 minutes for that golden, caramelised crust.
8. Space them out
Arrange meatballs in a single layer with a little space between them. Cook in batches if needed.
9. Cook time
Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through (internal temp should hit 74°C or 165°F.
10. Sauce or serve
Toss in marinara sauce, serve over pasta, pop in a sub roll, or glaze with teriyaki or sweet chilli sauce – there are so many serving options!
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With air fryer recipes like these, your air fryer makes mealtimes quicker, easier, and tastier than ever. Give one of these dishes a try next!
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