Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with fresh herbs. After making this recipe dozens of times, I discovered the trick to preventing soggy meatballs. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Cozy Georgia Peach Cobbler Recipe with Easy Buttermilk Biscuit Topping and Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers.
Why This Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside
- Packed with fresh herbs and zucchini
- Healthier than traditional meatballs
- Ready in just 20 minutes
What You'll Need for Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Ground turkey
- Zucchini
- Breadcrumbs
- Egg
- Fresh parsley
- Fresh basil
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Optional: Marinara sauce
- Optional: Grated Parmesan
- Optional: Fresh basil
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Ground turkey: Lean ground turkey works best for this recipe.
- Zucchini: Grate the zucchini and squeeze out excess moisture to prevent soggy meatballs.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Air fryer — Ensures even cooking and crispy texture → See on Amazon
- Food processor — Makes quick work of grating zucchini and chopping herbs → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
- Prepare zucchini: Grate zucchini and squeeze out excess moisture.
- Mix ingredients: Combine ground turkey, grated zucchini, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Form meatballs: Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Air fry: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place meatballs in air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy and cooked through.
- Serve: Serve meatballs with marinara sauce, grated Parmesan, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
- Common mistake and fix: Adding too much zucchini can make meatballs soggy. Grating and squeezing out excess moisture prevents this.
- Pro tip: Use lean ground turkey for the best texture.
- Pro tip: Preheating the air fryer ensures even cooking.
- Pro tip: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket for best results.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Meatballs can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 1 day before cooking.
Freezing Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
Freeze uncooked meatballs for up to 2 months. Cook from frozen, adding a few minutes to cooking time.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat meatballs in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat meatballs in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb option, substitute almond flour for breadcrumbs.
- Best substitution: Ground chicken or turkey can be substituted for ground turkey.
- Make-ahead: Meatballs can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
- Troubleshooting: If meatballs are sticking to the air fryer basket, lightly grease the basket before cooking.
Want to level up this recipe?
Meat thermometer — Ensures meatballs are cooked to a safe internal temperature → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Ground turkey
- Zucchini
- Breadcrumbs
- Egg
- Fresh parsley
- Fresh basil
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
Optional Toppings
- Marinara sauce
- Grated Parmesan
- Fresh basil
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare zucchini: Grate zucchini and squeeze out excess moisture.
- Mix ingredients: Combine ground turkey, grated zucchini, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Form meatballs: Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Air fry: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place meatballs in air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy and cooked through.
- Serve: Serve meatballs with marinara sauce, grated Parmesan, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb option, substitute almond flour for breadcrumbs.
- Best substitution: Ground chicken or turkey can be substituted for ground turkey.
- Make-ahead: Meatballs can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
- Troubleshooting: If meatballs are sticking to the air fryer basket, lightly grease the basket before cooking.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze uncooked meatballs for up to 2 months. Cook from frozen, adding a few minutes to cooking time.
- Oven reheat: Reheat meatballs in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat meatballs in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
- Make ahead: Meatballs can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 1 day before cooking.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 24g
- Fat: 11g
- Carbs: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Cholesterol: 100mg
- Sat. Fat: 3.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs FAQs
Yes, meatballs can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen. Cook from frozen, adding a few minutes to cooking time.
This could be due to adding too much zucchini or not letting the mixture rest before forming meatballs. Try reducing the amount of zucchini and letting the mixture rest for 10-15 minutes before forming meatballs.
Yes, bake meatballs at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy and cooked through.
Serve meatballs with marinara sauce, grated Parmesan, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes if desired. They also pair well with pasta, rice, or a side salad.
Adding too much zucchini or not squeezing out excess moisture can make meatballs soggy. Grating and squeezing out excess moisture prevents this.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
