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Home » Recipes » Main Dish Recipes

Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs (Gluten-Free)

Published: Aug 13, 2021 · Modified: Mar 7, 2022 by Colleen 41 Comments

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Air Fried Turkey Meatballs on a white plate.
Air Fried Turkey Meatballs on a white plate.

Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs are super easy to make and they turn out beautifully browned, tender and juicy. They are delicious as part of a meal, as an appetizer, or even in a sandwich or a pita, like with these yummy Greek Meatballs.

Air fried turkey meatballs on a white plate.

The air fryer just keeps impressing us! We recently used it to make Air Fryer Flank Steak, Air Fryer Meatloaf Air Fryer Carrots, Air Fryer Orange Chicken and even Air Fryer Whole Chicken, among others. Now we know that meatballs in the air fryer are amazing!

Jump to:
  • Why Turkey Meatballs in the Air Fryer?
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How to Make This Healthy Meatball Recipe
  • Recipe Tips
  • Turkey Meatball FAQ's
  • Freezing Instructions For Air Fried Meatballs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Recipe
  • Comments
Turkey Meatballs on a white plate.

Why Turkey Meatballs in the Air Fryer?

  • Turkey is a lean protein, and when it's cooked in the air fryer, very little oil is needed, making these a healthier meatball.
  • They only take 10 minutes to make!
  • These turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs are gluten-free.
  • Cooking turkey meatballs in the air fryer gives them a beautiful browned crust, but keeps them juicy and tender on the inside.
  • Air fried turkey meatballs are super easy to make, and delicious.
  • These healthy turkey meatballs are perfect for meal prep and they freeze well, too.

Ingredient Notes

You don't need a lot of ingredients to make these delicious gluten-free turkey meatballs.

The ingredients to make the recipe assembled on a wooden board.
  • Ground Turkey Packages that are simply labeled "ground turkey" are usually a mix of turkey thighs and breast. If the package says "ground turkey breast" it will be too lean for juicy meatballs and they will be dry. Choose the "ground turkey" option which will contain a little more fat for perfect juicy meatballs.
  • Onion a small onion diced is around a half cup. You can use white, yellow or red onion. For meatballs, the onion should be finely diced.
  • Parmesan Cheese not only does freshly grated Parmesan add delicious flavour, but it also acts as a binder keeping the meatballs from falling apart. And as a bonus, any cheese on the outside of the meatballs gets nicely crisp.
  • Mayonnaise My favourite secret ingredient for turkey meatballs. The egg in the mayonnaise acts as a binder and the oil helps the meatballs stay moist. Mayo also adds a bit of tang.
  • Seasonings You always need garlic, and a splash of hot sauce is optional. I use Franks, but any hot sauce will do. I also use parsley, thyme, rosemary and sage. But you can use a poultry or Italian seasoning blend, or any seasonings.

How to Make This Healthy Meatball Recipe

These gluten free turkey meatballs are so easy to make!

The steps to make this recipe.
Making gluten-free turkey meatballs, step by step.
  1. Put all ingredients in a bowl
  2. Combine with a fork or your hands, without over mixing.
  3. Roll into 1 ¼ inch balls
  4. Place in a single layer in air fryer basket
An air fryer basket with cooked turkey meatballs.
Cooked meatballs in the air fryer basket.

Cook 10 minutes!

Recipe Tips

  • Because there are no breadcrumbs, the mixture may be wet. To make it easier to roll into balls, put the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes before rolling and cooking.
  • Mix until just combined. Over mixing can result in less than tender meatballs.
  • Try to get the meatballs the same size for even cooking. A melon baller, or cookie scoop works great for this.
  • This recipe makes 18 1 ¼" meatballs. You can make them larger or smaller, but will need to increase or decrease the cooking time accordingly. Find out how many meatballs you'll get with this fun Meatball Calculator.
  • Spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray. Avocado oil works great.
  • Don't crowd the air fryer basket. Cook the meatballs in a single layer and leave space between them. You will probably need to cook in batches.
  • Flip the meatballs halfway through cooking to brown all sides.

Turkey Meatball FAQ's

Why are my turkey meatballs rubbery?

If the ground turkey is overworked, it can become rubbery. To avoid this, try mixing all the other ingredients first, then adding the ground turkey and gently incorporating it with your hands. Stop as soon as everything is combined.

How do I keep turkey meatballs from being dry?

Your meatballs will be dry if you overwork them, as mentioned above, but also if you use ground turkey breast instead of ground turkey. Turkey breast is very lean, and it's best used in other recipes.

Why do my turkey meatballs fall apart?

Turkey needs a binder to keep the meatballs together. Many recipes use breadcrumbs and/or eggs for this. This recipe, however, is gluten free, and the binder is mayonnaise rather than egg, because mayonnaise contains egg, but also it contains oil, adding even more moisture. Parmesan cheese is also a good binder as it melts. This ground turkey recipe will not fall apart.

I don't have an air fryer. Can I bake these turkey meatballs?

If you haven't yet jumped on the air fryer bandwagon, (when you do, I recommend this one) you can make oven baked turkey meatballs. Just preheat your oven to 400°, place the meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake 15-20 minutes, turning halfway through.

How do I know when turkey meatballs are done?

Ground turkey needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°. The only safe way to tell this is to use a meat thermometer. It's an inexpensive tool that ensures food safety as well as perfectly cooked meat. Every kitchen should have one.

Freezing Instructions For Air Fried Meatballs

Allow the turkey meatballs to cool completely before putting them on a parchment lined baking tray in a single layer. Put the tray in the freezer for about an hour to flash freeze. Pack them in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat from frozen, put the frozen meatballs in the air fryer at 350° for 5-6 minutes.

Close up of cooked meatballs.

Serving Suggestions

The glorious thing about these healthy meatballs is their versatility. Check out these delicious ways to enjoy them.

Turkey Meatball Main Dishes

  • Have these healthy turkey meatballs with pasta and sauce, of course, or:
  • Toss them with Honey Teriyaki Sauce, or make Hoisin Meatballs and serve over rice, Cauliflower Fried Rice, or Cabbage Stir-Fry.
  • Put them in a submarine roll spread with warm marinara sauce and top with mozzarella before toasting under the broiler (or in the air fryer). So good.
  • Try this simple Baked Sweet & Sour Meatballs (Turkey Meatballs)

Meatball Appetizers

  • Try these Cajun Turkey Meatballs. Just put out some toothpicks and dipping sauces and watch them disappear. We love these for game days.
  • Merlot Meatball Appetizers are amazing and perfect for holiday gatherings.

Recipe

Air Fryer Meatballs on a white plate.

Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs (Gluten Free)

These delicious Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs are gluten-free and turn out beautifully browned, tender and juicy in just 10 minutes.
5 from 31 votes
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 213kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 small onion diced finely
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage or 1 teaspoon fresh, chopped
  • ½ tsp dried rosemary or 1 teaspoon fresh, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon parsley chopped

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, gently combine all ingredients
  • If the mixture is quite wet, refrigerate it for 30 minutes
  • Roll the turkey mixture into balls about 1 ¼ inches
  • Lightly spray the surface of the air fryer basket with oil and preheat it to 400°
  • Place meatballs in a single layer in air fryer basket, leaving space between them
  • Air fry 10 minutes, turning halfway through
  • Garnish with parsley before serving

Notes

Because there are no breadcrumbs, the mixture may be wet. To make it easier to roll into balls, put the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes before rolling and cooking.
Mix until just combined. Over mixing can result in less than tender meatballs.
Try to get the meatballs the same size for even cooking. A melon baller, or cookie scoop works great for this.
This recipe makes 18 1 ¼" meatballs. You can make them larger or smaller, but will need to increase or decrease the cooking time accordingly. 
Spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray. Avocado oil works great.
Don't crowd the air fryer basket. Cook the meatballs in a single layer and leave space between them. You will probably need to cook in batches.
Flip the meatballs halfway through cooking to brown all sides.
Ground turkey needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°. The only safe way to tell this is to use a meat thermometer. It's an inexpensive tool that ensures food safety as well as perfectly cooked meat. Every kitchen should have one.
If you want to bake these in the oven, preheat your oven to 400°, place the meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake 15-20 minutes, turning halfway through.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 599mg | Potassium: 396mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 163mg | Iron: 1mg
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More Main Dish Recipes

  • Air Fryer Flank Steak
  • Air Fryer Whole Chicken
  • Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breasts
  • Air Fryer Salmon

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz

    August 19, 2021 at 4:25 am

    Love that this meatball recipe is more universal - can make, freeze, and use in just about any meatball recipe!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 25, 2021 at 9:35 am

      Hi Liz, yes, that's the great thing about this recipe. So many ways to use it.

      Reply
  2. Marta

    August 18, 2021 at 7:37 pm

    I was telling my husband just last night that we needed to use the air fryer more often. And here is this gem. We'll be putting the air fryer to work this weekend for sure.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 25, 2021 at 9:35 am

      Hi Marta! I hope they turn out great for you. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Veronika Sykorova

    August 18, 2021 at 6:19 pm

    Our whole family loved these! An air-frier has really become our favorite appliance haha! You can really make anything and everything in it.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 25, 2021 at 9:34 am

      Veronika, I'm so thrilled to hear that your family loved them! I don't know what I ever did without the air fryer, lol.

      Reply
  4. Shelby

    August 18, 2021 at 4:07 am

    Meatballs are one of my favorite snacks! I honestly just keep them on hand in the fridge because they taste delicious added to ANYTHING lol these are perfect!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 25, 2021 at 9:33 am

      I'm with you Shelby! Meatballs are so versatile. So glad you liked these ones!

      Reply
  5. Nart at Cooking with Nart

    August 17, 2021 at 9:05 pm

    I love how delicious and lean these air fryer turkey meatballs are. Also, thanks for the tip about putting the mixture in the fridge before rolling and cooking - helps a lot!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 25, 2021 at 9:32 am

      So glad you love them, Nart! And happy that you found the tip helpful.

      Reply
  6. Joss

    August 17, 2021 at 7:53 pm

    I just love these meatballs. I keep going back to this recipe because it is tasty and GF. Breadcrumbs are unnecessary and who doesn't love what an air fryer can do?!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 25, 2021 at 9:31 am

      Hey Joss, I'm so happy that you love these meatballs! Thanks for coming back to let me know. 😊

      Reply
  7. Vanessa

    August 17, 2021 at 7:22 pm

    My whole family loves meatballs! What a great option using turkey and so flavourful too!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 25, 2021 at 9:30 am

      Meatballs are popular at my house too, Vanessa! Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Jacqueline Debono

    August 17, 2021 at 12:22 am

    My hubby just bought me my long awaited air fryer! It's still in the box but am definitely going to try out these turkey meatballs once I start using it. They look really good!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 17, 2021 at 8:21 am

      Hi Jaqueline, Congrats on your new air fryer! I know you'll love it for so many recipes, and these meatballs are a great one to start with. Enjoy!

      Reply
  9. Lucy

    August 16, 2021 at 11:59 am

    I didn't realise just how much quicker an air fryer makes cooking meatballs! I love the addition of hot sauce for some spice. These are delicious, thank you.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 16, 2021 at 12:48 pm

      You're very welcome, Lucy! So happy that you liked these meatballs. Your comment is appreciated!

      Reply
  10. Michele

    August 16, 2021 at 11:50 am

    Thank you for this recipe. I was looking for a good gluten-free air-fryer recipe and these Turkey Meatballs tasted fabulous!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 16, 2021 at 12:47 pm

      Hi Michele, I'm so happy that you loved these meatballs. Thanks for your comment! 😊

      Reply
  11. Jenn

    August 16, 2021 at 11:40 am

    These are the tastiest meatballs I've made in my air fryer in a while! I love all the spices in them and they were so moist and tender!

    Reply
  12. Jessica Formicola

    August 16, 2021 at 11:37 am

    I'm always looking for new recipes to use in my air fryer. These meatballs are next on my list!

    Reply
  13. Vicky

    August 16, 2021 at 11:16 am

    We have gluten free family members and I am glad to see I can still serve them meatballs. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 16, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      Hi Vicky, even gluten eaters love these meatballs. Enjoy!

      Reply
  14. Kayla DiMaggio

    August 16, 2021 at 5:15 am

    Yum! These air fryer turkey meatballs were just amazing!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 16, 2021 at 11:37 am

      So happy that you loved these meatballs Kayla! Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  15. Jean

    August 15, 2021 at 7:57 pm

    that's a nice alternative using mayo! I will try that too.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      August 15, 2021 at 9:03 pm

      Hi Jean! I know you'll love the mayo addition. Enjoy!

      Reply
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