Air fryer turkey meatballs are juicy, saucy and so flavorful. Prepared in 20 minutes, these floor turkey meatballs are cooked within the air fryer are wholesome and made with out breadcrumbs and no eggs. These chipotle turkey meatballs are rapidly going to turn out to be one among your go-to weeknight recipes.
For those who love making meals within the air fryer, it is best to attempt these Air Fryer Chicken Burgers or Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Why you’ll love making spiced turkey meatballs
- Full of taste – the honey chipotle sauce that’s used within the meatballs and on prime as a sauce is smoky, candy, and slightly spicy. It creates essentially the most flavorful meatballs. Belief me, these aren’t boring or bland!
- Easy substances – these gluten free turkey meatballs are made with none breadcrumbs or eggs and are made with largely pantry substances (minus the bottom turkey).
- Versatile – wish to change up the flavors? Use a unique sauce and you’ve got a complete new taste turkey meatballs to prepare dinner within the air fryer! The strategy stays the identical, try some solutions beneath.
Elements
Chipotle honey sauce substances
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – these little peppers add spice and a smokiness to the sauce. You solely want 2-3 of those peppers from the jar. For those who don’t love spicy meals, solely use 2.
- Honey – honey helps to mellow out the warmth from the peppers and in addition helps to steadiness out the sauce. For those who don’t have honey, you may use maple syrup.
- Olive oil – olive oil helps to create a thick and creamy sauce and in addition helps to mellow out the spice from the peppers.
- Apple cider vinegar – apple cider vinegar cuts by the sweetness of the honey and the spiciness from the peppers. You could possibly additionally use lime juice.
- Spices: Salt, garlic powder, floor cumin – these spices assist to raise the flavors, the garlic powder offers umami and a delicate garlic taste with out overpowering the opposite substances. The cumin offers slightly extra smokiness to the sauce.
Spiced Turkey Meatball substances
- Floor turkey – to assist the turkey meatballs keep moist, I exploit 85% floor turkey (which has 15% fats). Nevertheless, in case you are attempting to loosen up the recipe, you may use a 93% mix and it could nonetheless work out properly. Simply remember to control these and take them out as quickly as they attain 165F or they are going to dry out rapidly.
- Almond flour – almond flour is used to bind the meatballs as an alternative of breadcrumbs. For those who don’t have almond flour or need to be nut free, you need to use your favourite gluten free breadcrumb (not panko although).
- Chipotle honey sauce – this sauce offers the meatballs a lot taste. Nevertheless if you wish to change the flavour of the meatballs, simply use a unique sauce right here.
- Spices: Salt, garlic powder, dried chives, cumin – these spices assist to make sure that each chew is filled with taste. For those who don’t have dried chives, you possibly can omit that from the recipe.
The right way to make air fryer turkey meatballs
Make the honey chipotle sauce within the blender.
In a bowl mix the almond flour, just a few tablespoons of honey chipotle sauce (depart the remainder for topping the meatballs with) and the spices. Stir properly to mix.
Mix the bottom turkey with the sauce combination (don’t overwork). Kind into meatballs (I like to recommend utilizing a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop).
Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or avocado oil spray (ensure there aren’t every other substances, as they will degrade the coating in your basket). Place meatballs straight within the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook dinner at 375F for 14 minutes. After 8 minutes, pause the air fryer and thoroughly flip the meatballs utilizing silicone tipped tongs. Be mild with the meatballs, they are going to be very tender and delicate right now. End cooking for the remaining 6 minutes. Let cool 2-3 minutes earlier than eradicating from the basket.
When you’re able to serve, spoon extra honey chipotle sauce over the meatballs or use it as a dip for the meatballs.
Prime suggestions
- For essentially the most tender meatballs, don’t overwork the meat. That’s the reason I like to recommend you mix the sauce, spices and almond flour collectively earlier than including the bottom turkey, that manner you simply need to work the already blended substances in with the bottom turkey
- When forming the meatballs, don’t pack them too tight or they received’t prepare dinner evenly.
- Don’t stack the meatballs, ensure they’re in a single layer within the air fryer. For those who run out of room, you will want to prepare dinner them in separate batches. Stacking will create undercooked meat.
- If you wish to double the recipe, prepare dinner the meatballs in 2 batches within the air fryer or bake within the oven as an alternative.
- For even simpler clear up – line the air fryer with parchment paper liner made for air fryers (it’ll have holes reduce in it to assist the air flow into by the air fryer).
- Due to the honey within the sauce, these turkey meatballs are inclined to brown up in a short time when cooking within the air fryer. I don’t suggest cooking them at a better warmth to prepare dinner faster, they are going to burn.
- Be aware: All air fryers prepare dinner slightly in another way, so it’s possible you’ll want so as to add or subtract a minute or two from the cooking time.
Different flavors you may attempt
If you wish to change the flavour of this air fryer turkey meatballs recipe you possibly can change the honey chipotle sauce with:
- Pesto – change the honey chipotle sauce with pesto and as an alternative of cumin, use italian seasoning
- Chimichurri – change the chipotle sauce with chimichurri sauce
- Buffalo sauce – change the chipotle sauce with buffalo sauce (sizzling sauce + olive oil) and omit the cumin and add 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- Teriyaki sauce– change the honey chipotle sauce with teriyaki sauce and omit the cumin.
- Italian – omit honey chipotle sauce. Add 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1/2 tablespoon italian seasoning (omit cumin). Dip in marinara sauce.
Finest option to serve spicy turkey meatballs
Widespread questions
Are you able to prepare dinner chipotle turkey meatballs within the oven
Sure. Observe the instructions as written on the way to make the meatballs. As a substitute of placing them within the air fryer, put them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Bake in a preheated 400F oven for quarter-hour.
Are you able to double the recipe for meal prep?
Sure! You’ll be able to simply double the recipe to make a big batch to get pleasure from all week or to freeze the second batch.
Nevertheless, I might suggest that you simply prepare dinner the double batch within the oven or in two separate batches within the air fryer. I lean towards recommending the oven although as a result of it will likely be faster to make use of the oven.
Are you able to freeze cooked turkey meatballs
Sure, these air fryer turkey meatballs freeze properly. Listed here are the steps:
- First permit the meatballs to chill fully within the fridge. As soon as cooled, switch to a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper and put within the freezer to freeze stable (this helps forestall them from sticking collectively).
- As soon as frozen, switch the meatballs to a freezer protected bag or container for as much as 3 months.
- Defrost in a single day within the fridge or fast defrost within the microwave (prepare dinner at 50% for 30 second increments for 1-2 minutes) then prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes in air fryer at 375F or reheat within the microwave on excessive for 1:30-2 minutes.
- If reheating from frozen prepare dinner in air fryer at 350F for 6-9 minutes.
Are you able to freeze raw turkey meatballs
Sure, if you wish to freeze these to prepare dinner later, observe the directions as written to make the meatballs.
- Place parchment paper or wax paper on a baking sheet or plate, then portion out the meatballs (I like to make use of a cookie scoop).
- Place the uncooked meatballs within the freezer and freeze till stable. As soon as stable, switch to a freezer protected bag or container for as much as 3 months. Freeze the remaining chipotle honey sauce in a separate container.
- When you’re able to prepare dinner the meatballs, place them in an air fryer basket that has been coated with olive oil or avocado oil. Cook dinner at 375F for 16-18 minutes from frozen.
The right way to make turkey meatballs extra flavorful
This recipe is filled with taste due to the chipotle honey sauce. The important thing to creating one thing so bland like turkey flavorful is sauces and spices. For those who don’t need the chipotle honey taste, attempt pesto, chimichurri, buffalo, teriyaki or italian (see my solutions above).
Are you able to make the air fryer meatballs with something apart from turkey
For those who don’t have floor turkey, I might suggest floor rooster. Lean floor beef may additionally work, however I feel the bottom rooster would provide the closest taste.
Storing leftovers
Fridge: Retailer leftover chipotle turkey meatballs in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. If you can be reheating within the air fryer, wait so as to add the additional honey chipotle sauce (if doable) till proper earlier than having fun with.
Reheating directions
- Within the air fryer at 375F for 3-5 minutes till warmed by.
- Within the microwave on excessive for 1:30-2 minutes.
- Within the oven at 350F for 10 minutes.
Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs in a single layer then switch to freezer protected container (see suggestions above). Freeze for as much as 3 months. Defrost and observe reheating directions above or prepare dinner from frozen in air fryer at 350F for 6-9 minutes.
For those who love meatballs, it is best to attempt
Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs
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Begin by making the sauce, mix all of the substances within the blender and mix on excessive till easy about 1 minute.
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In a big bowl, mix the almond flour, 3 tablespoons of the sauce, chives, salt and garlic powder. Stir properly.
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Add the bottom turkey to the bowl and stir till properly mixed (attempt to not overmix although).
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Use a tablespoon scoop or a spoon to portion out the meatballs. You need to get 14-15 meatballs.
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Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or avocado oil. Add the turkey meatballs to the basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Flip air fryer on 375F for 14 minutes. After 8 minutes, pause the air fryer and thoroughly flip the meatballs with silicone lined tongs. Proceed to prepare dinner the remaining 6 minutes.
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As soon as meatballs are finished cooking, allow them to cool 3-5 minutes earlier than having fun with.
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Prime with the additional honey chipotle sauce (to your liking).
- Strive to not overwork the meat or the meatballs can be powerful.
- When forming the meatballs, don’t pack them too tight or they received’t prepare dinner evenly.
- Don’t stack the meatballs, ensure they’re in a single layer within the air fryer. For those who run out of room, you will want to prepare dinner them in separate batches.
- To double the recipe, prepare dinner the meatballs in 2 batches within the air fryer or bake within the oven as an alternative.
- For even simpler clear up – line the air fryer with parchment paper liner made for air fryers (it’ll have holes reduce in it to assist the air flow into by the air fryer).
- Due to the honey within the sauce, these turkey meatballs are inclined to brown up in a short time when cooking within the air fryer. I don’t suggest cooking them at a better warmth to prepare dinner faster, they are going to burn.
- Be aware: All air fryers prepare dinner slightly in another way, so it’s possible you’ll want so as to add or subtract a minute or two from the cooking time.
Different flavors you may attempt
- Pesto – change the honey chipotle sauce with pesto and as an alternative of cumin, use italian seasoning
- Chimichurri – change the chipotle sauce with chimichurri sauce
- Buffalo sauce – change the chipotle sauce with buffalo sauce (sizzling sauce + olive oil) and omit the cumin and add 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- Teriyaki sauce- change the honey chipotle sauce with teriyaki sauce and omit the cumin.
- Italian – omit honey chipotle sauce. Add 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1/2 tablespoon italian seasoning (omit cumin). Dip in marinara sauce.
The right way to bake chipotle turkey meatballs in oven
Observe the instructions as written on the way to make the meatballs. As a substitute of placing them within the air fryer, put them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Bake in a preheated 400F oven for quarter-hour.
Vitamin Data
Vitamin Info
Quantity per Serving
The place does vitamin data come from? Vitamin info are supplied as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Meals Database.
