Meatballs are delicious in every way, even more so if they are crispy on the outside and soft and cheesy on the inside. The recipe for these cheesy meatballs is really simple; you only need a few simple ingredients to make them unique and special. We will cook them in an air fryer, but you could also use an oven or fry them in hot oil. Cooking in an air fryer is faster and healthier, and in this case, there’s no need to add even a drop of oil. In fact, thanks to the hot air, the meatballs will cook with the fat already present in the meat, so there’s no need to add more. The fat will also drip down through the basket’s holes, resulting in even lighter and healthier meatballs.
As you will see, the recipe for these cheesy meatballs is very simple. To make them even more scrumptious, we’ll add a cube of provolone, making them cheesy and even more delicious. Everyone will love them. Plus, there’s no need to add garlic!
Also check out these AIR FRYER MEATBALL recipes:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 2 people
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 14 oz ground beef and pork mix
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsps grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 slices bread softened with water
- 1 bunch parsley
- 3.5 oz provolone cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- to taste breadcrumbs (for breading)
Tools
- Air Fryer
Steps
In a bowl, add the mixed ground meat (beef and pork), an egg, finely chopped parsley, grated Parmesan, bread softened with water, and salt. Mix well with your hands until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. Meanwhile, cut the provolone into small cubes.
Take a tablespoon of the mixture, lightly press it in the center with your finger, and insert a cube of provolone. Cover with another tablespoon of the mixture and form a meatball by rolling it between your hands. Continue this way to form all the meatballs.
In a plate, pour some breadcrumbs; if you like, you can add a pinch of salt and a sprinkle of pepper. Coat the meatballs well, ensuring the breadcrumbs stick.
Transfer the meatballs to the basket of the air fryer and, without adding even a spray of oil, cook them at 375 F for about 17 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Check the meatballs: they may cook in 15 minutes, depending on the size.
ALTERNATIVE COOKING METHODS
– Oven: add a drizzle of oil and cook them at 400 F for about 30 minutes.
– Frying: cook the meatballs in a pan with plenty of seed oil until golden.Serve and enjoy as is or with your favorite sauce. Enjoy your meal!
Tips for You
✔ For this recipe, it is necessary to cook the meatballs directly in the basket of the air fryer without trays or parchment paper: this way they will cook thanks to the air that circulates 360 degrees from bottom to top, allowing for ideal air frying. Trays or parchment paper would hinder this as they would block the air circulation inside the air fryer.
➔ In this way, the fat will drip down through the basket’s holes, making the meatballs even lighter.
✔ The oil sprayer I used is available in supermarkets. I recommend one of these because their spray is really nebulizing and controlled, and they’re truly excellent. You can find some by clicking here. Alternatively, you can buy a spray bottle you can fill yourself with your preferred oil. I leave you the link to a great sprayer here.
✔ I recommend using a BBQ mesh directly in the non-stick basket of your air fryer: the mesh protects the non-stick surface of the basket (which will remain like new) and allows food to cook evenly, letting air pass 360 degrees. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here.
✔ Alternatively, you can use perforated parchment paper, which allows air to pass from bottom to top. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here: link.
✔ For this recipe, I used the Severin 5-liter air fryer. You can see it here: link.
Do not miss the latest recipe of the 👉 perfect fried mozzarella balls in the air fryer: discover all the tricks to keep them from opening during cooking!
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