• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pinch Me Good

  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Quick and Easy Salads
    • Healthy Side Dishes
    • Healthy Snacks and Appetizers
    • Dressings And Sauces
    • Healthy Desserts
  • Meal Prep
  • How To’s
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Breakfast
  • Main Dishes
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Gluten-Free
  • Healthy Desserts
  • How To’s
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    • Jar of raspberry vinaigrette with a spoon lifting out of it.
      Best Easy Raspberry Vinaigrette Recipe
    • Hand lifting spoon out of jar of dijon dressing with a bowl of cut lemons, bowl of salt and pepper, and a kitchen towel around it.
      Easy 5 Minute Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
    • Plate of large pieces of cookie dough bark on a plate with more bark around it.
      Healthy Cookie Dough Bark – Gluten Free
    • Simple Avocado Cream Sauce – 5 Minutes
    • Cooked egg and bacon pizzas on a lined baking sheet.
      Healthy Breakfast Pizza – With 2 Ingredient Dough
    • Cooked meatloaf with salad on a with plate with a fork.
      Easy Healthy Ground Chicken Meatloaf
    • Bowl filled with cooked rice and unbranded air fryer chicken bites with parsley on them, with another bowl of it behind it.
      Easy Air Fryer Chicken Bites – 4 Ingredients
    • Slice of cottage cheese egg bake with veggies in it on a plate with a fork on the plate with it.
      Easy High-Protein Cottage Cheese Egg Bake
    • Layered bark bars with strawberries on a white plate with brown specks with more behind it.
      Viral Chocolate Strawberry Bark – 4 Ingredients
    • Plate filled with rice and green beans topped with air fryer salmon with more behind it.
      Easy Air Fryer Bang Bang Salmon – 6 Ingredients
    • Mixed chicken salad in a white bowl with wooden serving spoons in the bowl.
      15-Minute Rotisserie Chicken Salad – Easy Recipe
    • Cut scores bars on top of parchment paper with a knife in front of them.
      Easy Frozen Protein S’mores Bars – 5 Ingredients
    Pinch Me Good! » Air Fryer Recipes » Best Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

    Best Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

    March 9, 2021 by Amy Estes 19 Comments

    19658 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Please note that some of the links are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs are healthy and easy to make in just 15 minutes in the air fryer. These gluten-free meatballs are perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner everyone will love!

    Bow of rice topped with air fryer turkey meatballs covered in a red sauce with green onions sprinkled on top.

    I love turkey meatballs and these air fryer turkey meatballs have become my family’s favorite recipe.

    We’ve made other similar meatball recipes like these air fryer chicken meatballs, and turkey zucchini meatballs that you may also want to try.

    If you are short on time you can always cook up some frozen meatballs in the air fryer. Which I do make, on occasion.

    Why you’ll love this recipe

    • Nutritious and flavorful
    • It only takes 15 minutes!
    • Simple ingredients
    • Great for meal prep!
    • The best gluten-free meatballs
    • Easy air fryer recipe

    Recommended tools

    • Mixing bowls
    • Measuring cups
    • Measuring spoons
    • Rubber spatula
    • Olive oil spray
    • Air fryer
    Ingredients for turkey meatballs in bowls with labels over each ingredient.

    Ingredients you will need

    *You can find a complete list of recipe ingredients with measurements and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    • Ground turkey – I used 93/7 organic ground turkey but any ground turkey will work in this recipe. If you are using a leaner ground turkey then you may need to add a bit of oil (about 1 teaspoon) to the meatball mixture if it looks dry. You can also add some chicken stock or turkey stock.
    • Breadcrumbs – any breadcrumbs will work in this recipe. I used gluten-free breadcrumbs. You could also use cooked, cooled quinoa or brown rice.
    • Grated parmesan cheese – this gives the meatballs a slightly salty, cheesy flavor with a nice golden outer layer.
    • Egg – one large egg to help hold the meatball mixture together.
    • Olive oil – to help them get nice and golden when they cook.
    • Worcestershire sauce – to give the meatballs a nice umami flavor that is so good!
    • Dijon mustard – for a little zippy taste to the meatballs.
    • Seasoning – garlic powder, chili powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper.
    • For the sweet and spicy sauce – chili sauce + apricot preserves.

    How to make turkey meatballs in the air fryer

    This is a quick and easy 10-minute ground turkey meatballs recipe your whole family will love!

    1. Make the meatball mixture: Combine all of the meatball ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl and mix well to combine.
    2. Form the meatballs. Use a small ice cream scoop or a rounded tablespoon to equally measure the meatballs into 1.5-inch balls. This recipe will make 15-17 homemade meatballs.
    3. Cook. Working in batches, add the meatballs in a single layer to a preheated air fryer and cook them for about 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees F. Per the recipe card below.
    4. Mix up the sauce. Add the chili sauce and apricot preserves to a small mixing bowl and stir well to combine into a crazy good sweet and spicy sauce.
    5. Serve. When the meatballs are done cooking, transfer them to a large mixing bowl, pour the sauce over them, and toss them in the sauce. Serve warm cooked rice and veggies.

    These air fryer meatballs cook so well and brown up nicely in minutes. They taste just as good as beef meatballs but are much healthier.

    Tips for making the best air fryer turkey meatballs

    • Use good quality ground turkey meat. I used organic 93/7 lean ground turkey for this recipe, which was perfect.
    • Roll the meatballs a little smaller than usual. Rolling these meatballs into 1.5-inch balls or smaller will allow them to cook faster and not dry out. Using a small ice cream scoop or rounded tablespoon to portion the mixture will really help create even size meatballs that will all cook at the same time.
    • Use a little bit of olive oil in this recipe. There is a little bit of olive oil in this recipe which allows the meatballs to get nice and crispy when cooked in the air fryer. It still ends up being much less oil than what is used to make traditional meatballs.
    • Make sure to spray the air fryer basket with non-aerosol olive oil cooking spray before you add the meatballs so that they don’t stick to the basket. You could also use a parchment paper liner, which also makes clean-up a breeze.
    • Flip the meatballs in the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time to get them nice and gold on all sides.
    • Toss the meatballs in the sauce right after they are done cooking, while they are still hot so the sauce sticks to them better. You can also serve them with your favorite tomato sauce.
    A bowl of rice and cooked ground turkey meatballs covered in chili sauce with a fork cutting into one of the meatballs and another bowl of it behind it.

    Can I use a different type of ground meat to make these meatballs?

    Yes, you can use a different type of meat to make these turkey meatballs. Ground beef, ground chicken, or even ground pork would all work great in this recipe. You may need to adjust the cooking time based on the type of meat you use, so watch them closely.

    How can you tell when turkey meatballs are done?

    Cooked turkey meatballs will be golden brown and firm on the outside and nice and juicy with no visible pink in the center. To ensure the meatballs are fully cooked, you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meatballs. Once it reaches 165 degrees F, it is done.

    Ways to serve turkey meatballs

    These meatballs work great as an appetizer or complete meal paired with some other easy healthy side dishes. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve these turkey meatballs.

    • Layered on top of this Simple Sautéed Spinach With Garlic.
    • Pile them onto some cooked brown rice topped with herbs and chopped green onions as I did.
    • Enjoy them with some healthy easy Roasted Broccoli.
    • Lay them on top of this insane Mashed Butternut Squash.
    • Pair them with these Butternut Squash Noodles for a lower-carb spin on spaghetti and meatballs.
    • Serve them with a hearty, healthy salad like this Easy Kale Salad, this Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad, or this Roasted Beet and Butternut Squash Salad.
    two grey round bowls filled with rice and meatballs covered in sauce with herbs on top of them and a fork sitting in one of the bowl.

    Storing and reheating tips

    • Storing: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I recommend storing the meatballs cooked, but not rolled in the sauce.
    • Reheating: you can reheat these meatballs right in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes, then roll them in the sauce. Reheat them in the microwave until warmed through if they have been covered in the sauce.

    How do I freeze turkey meatballs?

    After you have cooked the meatballs, before you toss them in the sauce, let them cool then place them onto a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for at least 1 hour. Then transfer them to a freezer-friendly container and keep them in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    To reheat from frozen, place them right into the air fryer straight from the freezer and cook them at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Then toss them in the sauce or your favorite tomato sauce.

    healthy turkey meatballs rolled in chili sauce in a bowl on top of brown rice with chopped scallions on top of it.

    Other healthy meatball recipes

    • Baked Eggplant Meatballs
    • Greek Chicken Meatballs
    • Crockpot BBQ Meatballs

    More easy air fryer recipes

    • Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
    • Easy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf
    • Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
    • Easy Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

    Questions? Leave a comment below!

    Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

    Made this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!

    You can also share and tag me @pinchmegoodfood on Instagram.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs – Gluten Free


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Amy Estes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 15–17 meatballs 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Air fryer turkey meatballs are healthy and easy to make in just 15 minutes in the air fryer. These gluten-free meatballs are perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner everyone will love!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the Meatballs

    • 1 pound (16 oz) ground turkey – I used 93/7
    • 1 large egg
    • ¼–⅓ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • Salt and pepper

    For the sauce

    • ½ cup chili sauce
    • ¼ cup apricot preserves

    Instructions

    Make the meatballs

    1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. 
    2. While the air fryer is preheating you can mix up and form the meatballs.  Add all meatball ingredients to a medium size mixing bowl and mix well with a rubber spatula or use your hands. Use a small ice cream scoop or rounded tablespoon to form and roll the meatballs into about 1.5-inch balls and place them onto a clean plate. 
    3. Spray the air fryer basket with non-aerosol olive oil spray.  Working in batches, place the meatballs in a single layer in the basket about 1 inch apart. Lightly spray them with olive oil spray then close the basket and cook for 7-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time. This took about 8 minutes in my air fryer. 

    Mix up the sauce

    1. While the meatballs are cooking, mix up the sauce. In a small mixing bowl combine the chili sauce and the apricot preserves.  Mix well to form the most delicious meatball sauce. 
    2. Once all of the meatballs are done cooking, transfer them to a large mixing bowl, immediately pour on the sauce, and toss the meatballs to coat all of them in the crazy good sweet, and spicy sauce. 

    Serve

    1. Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh parsley over cooked rice. 

    Equipment

    Image of mixing bowls

    mixing bowls

    Buy Now →

    Air Fryer

    Buy Now →

    olive oil spray

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    • Use good quality ground turkey meat. I used organic 93/7 lean ground turkey for this recipe, which is perfect.
    • Roll the meatballs a little smaller than usual. Rolling these meatballs into 1.5 inch balls or smaller will allow them to cook faster and not dry out. Also using a small ice cream scoop or rounded tablespoon to portion the mixture will really help create even size meatballs that will all cook at the same time.
    • Use a little bit of olive oil in this recipe. There is a little bit of olive oil in this recipe which allows the meatballs to get nice and crispy when cooked in the air fryer. It still ends up being much less oil than what is used to make traditional meatballs like this, making this a healthier meatball recipe.
    • Make sure to spray the air fryer basket with non-aerosol olive oil cooking spray before you add the meatballs so that they don’t stick to the basket.
    • Toss the meatballs in the sauce right after they are done cooking so the sauce sticks to them
    • To store these meatballs: let them cool completely but do not roll them in the sauce. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • To reheat these meatballs: Reheat them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350 degrees F. Then mix up the sauce and coat the meatballs.
      • Prep Time: 5 minutes
      • Cook Time: 10 minutes
      • Category: Main dishes
      • Method: Air Fryer
      • Cuisine: American

      Did you make this recipe?

      Tag @pinchmegoodfood on Instagram and hashtag it #pinchmegoodfood

      « 5 Minute Creamy Green Goddess Dressing Recipe
      Easy Beet and Goat Cheese Salad »

      Filed Under: Air Fryer Recipes, Favorite Winter Recipes, Gluten-Free, Healthy Fall Favorites, Kid-Friendly, Main Dishes, Meal Prep, Most Popular

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Lou

        March 13, 2021 at 6:45 pm

        Just made these ! They are soooo good. Hubby ate half before I could take a picture. Sauce is great with these. I only had sugar free apricot jam and I loved it with the chili sauce. Thanks for a great recipe, Amy. Served it with stuffed mushrooms and cooked broccoli!

        Reply
      2. Sarah

        July 7, 2021 at 4:47 pm

        I accidentally broke my air fryer last week, can I make these in the oven? What would be the best settings for that?

        Reply
        • Amy

          July 8, 2021 at 7:41 am

          Hi Sarah, Yes you can cook these at 400 degrees for about 15-17 minutes on a baking sheet in the oven, then just toss them in the sauce when they are done cooking. Thank you for asking. I will add this to the recipe card.

          Reply
      3. Vfreems

        July 20, 2021 at 5:20 pm

        These are delicious! My kids just love them. Great recipe, thanks so much!

        Reply
      4. Marie

        September 5, 2021 at 8:29 pm

        If I don’t have apricot jam could I use grape jelly or another jam with the chili sauce to coat the meatballs?

        Reply
        • Amy

          September 7, 2021 at 8:25 am

          Hi Marie, yes you can use grape jelly or another jam. I have tried it with apricot jam as well as fig preserves and both were great!

          Reply
      5. Leslie Ballan

        October 8, 2021 at 8:01 pm

        Is it hot chili sauce or sweet chili sauce?

        Reply
        • Amy

          October 10, 2021 at 7:42 pm

          Hi Leslie, it is just plain chili sauce. I linked to the one I used. You can use sweet or hot if you prefer that.

          Reply
      6. Judy spence

        January 5, 2022 at 5:30 pm

        Does anyone know how many WE points?

        Reply
        • Amy

          January 7, 2022 at 12:00 pm

          Hi Judy, I do not do weight watchers but I would think there is some type of online calculator you can use to plug in the ingredients and determine how many point the recipe is.

          Reply
      7. Valerie

        February 2, 2022 at 6:25 pm

        These were amazing! I made this twice and both times it came out great. I served the meatballs with brown rice and a green veggie. The meatballs are tender and really tasty.

        Reply
        • Amy

          February 9, 2022 at 9:55 am

          Hi Valerie! I am so glad you enjoyed them.

          Reply
      8. Christina

        October 27, 2022 at 5:59 pm

        Oh.My.Word…these were so delicious!!!! Been trying to clean up my diet a bit. I wasn’t super excited about meatballs with no ground beef. However these were phenomenal!!! They were crispy, moist & so flavorful. Made exactly as written. Will be making these often.

        Reply
        • Amy Estes

          November 2, 2022 at 12:01 pm

          Thank you, Christina! I am so happy you liked them! They are one of my favorite recipes!

          Reply
      9. Meg

        January 12, 2023 at 6:13 pm

        Fantastic. We have learned to leave them in the air fryer until nice and crispy. Served with rice or alone — both are fantastic.

        Reply
        • Amy Estes

          January 19, 2023 at 9:05 am

          Hi, Meg! I am so happy you liked them!

          Reply
      10. Sherra Wagner

        February 19, 2023 at 7:59 pm

        I made these tonight and the only difference is that I used a 20oz package of ground turkey instead of a 16oz and I didn’t make the sauce – used them with marinara sauce and pasta. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly. My husband and son both loved them. They were so easy to make and I will definitely make them again.

        Reply
        • Amy Estes

          February 20, 2023 at 3:12 pm

          Hi Sherra, I am so glad you liked them.

          Reply

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

      Primary Sidebar

      Hi there,
      I'm Amy and I'm so excited to share my best healthy recipes and tips with you. I hope I can inspire you to eat better, feel better, and get back in the kitchen. Read More…

      Amy Estes: View My Blog Posts

      Search recipes:

      Most Popular

      Eggplant Meatballs with mushrooms and garlic

      Mixe kale salad in a white salad bowl with wooden serving spoons in the bowl.

      Easy Kale Salad With Lemon Dressing

      Best Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl – with black beans

      The Best Healthy Turkey Meatloaf – Gluten Free

      Best Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins – Healthy

      two grey plates filled with arugula salad topped with crispy breaded chicken breast

      Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Breast – 15 Minutes

      Round, white salad bowl filled with roasted butternut squash salad with beets, nuts and cheese with wood salad serving spoons in the bowl and a green linen in front of it.

      BEST Butternut Squash Salad – With Roasted Beets

      Best Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

      Healthy Fall Favorites

      Easy Crockpot BBQ Meatballs – Gluten Free

      Healthy Baked Beet Chips – Vegan/Gluten Free

      Round specked plate with a half of squash with butter on it with another plate of squash and small yellow bowl of salt behind it.

      How To Roast Acorn Squash – Simple and Easy

      Plate of a bunch of pumpkin donut holes covered in cinnamon sugar with a bowl of cinnamon sugar and mug of coffee behind it.

      Healthy Baked Pumpkin Donut Holes – Gluten Free

      Bowl filed with pumpkin pancake toped with chocolate chips with a fork in the bowl and another pancake bowl and syrup in a pitcher behind it.

      Pumpkin Protein Pancake Bowl – 3 Ingredients

      Best Hummus Recipe – Ready in 5 minutes

      Bowl of chopped kale with quinoa, chickpeas and chopped veggies on it with dressing pour over it with wooden serving spoons in it.

      Easy Kale Quinoa Salad With Lemon Dressing

      Healthy Dairy Free Tomato Soup – Simple and Easy

      Search more Recipes

      Search more recipes!

      Footer

      As Seen On

      As Seen On

      CONTACT | PRIVACY POLICY