You can find this easy recipe for air fryer chilli con carne meatballs on page 79 of my fourth book, The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook: 15 Minute Feasts. This book is all about simple and delicious air fryer meals that are ready in a flash.
So this fiery twist on the comfort food classic is such a gorgeous dish! These scrummy air fryer chilli con carne meatballs combine the rich, smoky flavours of traditional chilli con carne with the satisfying bite of tender, juicy meatballs. The result is a meal that’s so hearty, comforting, and full of bold, warming flavours that everyone will love.
What makes this recipe extra special is the air fryer. It takes all the fuss out of cooking, giving you perfectly cooked meatballs with a lightly crisp exterior and a succulent interior in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven or on the hob. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight dinner or batch-cooking for the week ahead, this recipe is quick, reliable, and totally delicious.
The chilli sauce is packed with aromatic spices, a touch of sweetness, and just the right amount of heat, making it a perfect partner for the meatballs. They’re also wonderfully versatile – serve them over rice, tuck them into a wrap, spoon them onto a jacket potato, or even enjoy them as a hearty snack. Once you try them, these addictive meatballs will so quickly become a go-to in your recipe repertoire, and you’ll find yourself making them again and again!
PREP 10 minutes
COOK 15 minutes
SERVES 2 people
KIT you will need an air fryer, a large mixing bowl, a blender, a microwave oven for cooking the rice and a heat proof dish that fits in your air fryer basket (optional)
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chilli Con Carne Meatballs
400g of beef mince
2 tsp of ground cumin
1 tsp each of onion powder, garam masala, chilli powder and dried chilli flakes
sea salt and ground black pepper
For the sauce:
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes, plus ¼ of a tin of water
2 jarred roasted red peppers
1 tsp of paprika
1 tsp of sugar
A tsp of ground coriander
2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
1 x 400g tin of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
sea salt and ground black pepper
To serve:
250g packet of microwavable rice
2 tbsp of soured cream
a handful of fresh coriander
a handful of grated Cheddar cheese
1 tbsp of jalapeños
avocado slices (optional)
Method
So start by pre-heating your air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes and remove the crisper plate from the air fryer basket first.
Then in a large bowl, mix the beef mince together with all the spices and seasonings until fully combined, then form into bite-sized meatballs. So you should be able to make about 12 meatballs in total. Lightly spray them with oil and arrange the meatballs in the air fryer basket or your ovenproof dish. Arrange them in a single layer with a little space between each. Cook for around 3 to 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Or turning them if using a dish, and cook until the balls are starting to turn golden.
Meanwhile, make your sauce by blitzing all the ingredients except the beans in a blender until smooth. Pour the sauce over your meatballs and stir. Add the kidney beans and stir again. Cook for a further 8 to 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through, and the sauce is thick.
Cook the microwave rice according to the packet instructions. Serve the meatballs with the rice, soured cream, fresh coriander, grated Cheddar, jalapeños and avocado (if using).
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Chilli Con Carne Meatballs
These air fryer chilli con carne meatballs are a fun twist on a classic comfort dish, bringing together all those bold, smoky flavours in a quicker, lighter way. But to get the very best results every time, here are a few handy tips.
This is a great meal to prep the night before. Make your meatballs and your sauce in advance, so it’s all ready to go. If you are using a dual air fryer, you can separate the recipe equally between the two drawers.
Mix gently but thoroughly. When combining your mince with spices, herbs and binder, don’t overwork the mixture – it can make the meatballs dense. A gentle mix with clean hands helps keep them light and juicy.
Size matters. Try to keep your meatballs evenly sized so they cook at the same rate. I usually aim for about a golf-ball size – roughly 30g each. If they’re larger, you may need to add a minute or two to the cooking time.
Don’t skip preheating. Preheating your air fryer helps give the meatballs a lovely sear on the outside while keeping the inside moist. Just three minutes at your cooking temperature is enough.
Turn halfway through. Flipping or shaking the basket halfway ensures even colouring and crispness on all sides. If your air fryer has a dual-layer rack, this is a great recipe to use it.
Make it saucy. Once your meatballs are cooked, toss them straight into your warm chilli sauce and let them simmer together for five minutes. This helps the flavours meld and gives that rich, comforting finish.
Serve your way. These meatballs are great over rice, tucked in a wrap, or even spooned onto a jacket potato for an easy weeknight dinner. Leftovers reheat beautifully in the air fryer or microwave for a speedy lunch.
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