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    Home Recipes Appetizer Recipes

    Savory and Tender Ground Chicken Meatballs: Made in the Air Fryer or Oven

    Published: Feb 16, 2023 by Sandi Gaertner · 8 Comments · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    chicken meatballs pinterest collage

    These air fryer chicken meatballs are a simple dish packed with delicious flavors. Each juicy ground chicken meatball leaves you yearning for the next. If you are looking for that perfect gluten free chicken meatballs recipe, give this one a try!

    A serving dish full of chicken meatballs.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Is Great:
    • Ingredient Notes:
    • Tips For Success:
    • How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs :
    • Oven Baked Directions:
    • Dipping Sauce Ideas:
    • Recipe FAQ:
    • Storage:
    • More Gluten Free Meatball Recipes:
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Fearless Dining
    • 💬 Comments

    These air fryer chicken meatballs are always a big hit when we have friends over because they taste so delicious. These low-fat ground chicken meatballs are plump and have just the right sweetness. Nobody will know these gluten free chicken meatballs are gluten free!!

    I include directions to cook these gluten free ground chicken meatballs in an Air Fryer or the oven!

    If you love using an air fryer, check out my easy gluten free air fryer recipes!

    Why This Recipe Is Great:

    1. These little meatballs are ready in under 20 minutes with an Air Fryer!!
    2. If you are having a party to watch the game with friends and family, these gluten free ground chicken meatballs are an excellent idea!
    3. Use any type of bread crumbs you like! Even fun things like crushed gluten free pretzels.
    4. You can make these chicken meatballs in the air fryer or bake them in the oven.
    5. round chicken is low-cost and makes a healthy option for budget entertaining. I have quite a few easy gluten free budget recipes if you want more ideas.

    If you can't get enough meatball recipes, I have the ultimate list of tasty gluten free meatball recipes. Each one has something different to offer, so I am certain you will have several new favorites!

    A bowl full of air fried chicken meatballs.

    Ingredient Notes:

    • Ground Chicken - I love using ground chicken in this recipe because it is low-fat and easy to use. You can use any ground meat you like.
    • Gluten Free Panko or Bread Crumbs - You can buy these or make them with my easy Gluten Free Bread Crumbs Recipe.
    • Dried herbs - Dried herbs bring flavor to the meatballs. Dried thyme and chives are delicious, but you can substitute other herbs like oregano and basil.
    • Egg - Use size large.
    • See below for several fun dipping sauce ideas!

    You can also try this easy ground turkey meatball recipe in the air fryer!

    Tips For Success:

    • Make sure there is room for the hot air to circulate each meatball.
    • Use absorbent crumbs to prevent these gluten free chicken meatballs from drying out. Crushed potato chips taste good, but they don't hold moisture, so they won't work well in this recipe.
    • For best results, preheat the air fryer before adding the meatballs.

    If you want to know what the best air fryers are for gluten free, I wrote up a great pros and cons list to help you decide!

    Top Pick
    COSORI Pro II Air Fryer Oven Combo, 5.8QT Max Xl Large Cooker
    COSORI Pro II Air Fryer Oven Combo, 5.8QT Max Xl Large Cooker

    I had a smaller 3.4-quart Corsori Air Fryer, but they no longer make the one I own. I am recommending the larger version of the air fryer I have. It frequently goes on sale so keep an eye out for sales!

    Pros:
    • 1. The size is great for a family of 4.
    • 2. Clean-up is really easy.
    • 3. It cooks food really well.
    Cons:
    • 1. The baskets are dishwasher safe, but tough to fit in our specific dishwasher model.
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    How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs :

    Raw ground chicken and ingredients in a bowl.

    Step 1: Add your raw ground chicken and the other ingredients to a bowl. Mix it well.

    Mixed ground chicken and seasonings in a bowl.

    Step 2: Next, form the ground chicken into meatballs.

    Raw ground chicken meatballs in an air fryer basket.

    Step 3: Add the ground chicken meatballs into an air fryer. Note the space around each meatball.

    Cooked ground chicken meatballs in an air fryer basket.

    Step 4: Cook these ground chicken meatballs in your air fryer for 12 minutes. Serve hot with a sauce to dip them in and enjoy!

    Oven Baked Directions:

    You can make these in an oven instead of an air fryer. Bake at 350º F for 25 minutes. Make sure they have a cooked internal temperature of 165º F.

    Dipping Sauce Ideas:

    • Use the Asian sauce in my lettuce wrap recipe.
    • Ketchup - Is my kid's favorite.
    • Salsa - Use mild or spicy salsa.
    • Marinara Sauce - This is my favorite, and you can also try this low-sodium marinara if you are on a low-salt diet.
    • Melted Cheese Dip - Because melty cheese makes everything great.
    • Gluten Free Peanut Sauce- Mr. Fearless Dining loves this peanut sauce with everything.

    Recipe FAQ:

    How do you know when the meatballs are cooked?

    Your chicken meatballs are cooked when they have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F inside. Check with a digital thermometer by inserting it into the middle of a few of the meatballs.

    What can I do with these meatballs?

    These meatballs can be eaten plain, dipped in sauce, put into pasta sauce, and served in a meatball sub. You can also make them into very cool appetizers. Here are 4 fun appetizer recipes to make with meatballs.

    Why are my meatballs tough?

    Tough meatballs can be frustrating because they don't taste as good as moist, delicious meatballs. You might be scratching your head and wondering why this happened. The odds are there simply wasn't enough moisture in the meatballs as they cooked.

    Why did my meatballs fall apart?

    Chicken meatballs falling apart is the opposite issue as them being too dry. If you use too much binder in the meatballs, then they won't correctly hold together as they cook. I use a combination of gluten free panko, egg, garlic, and thyme. Ensure you use the amounts I recommend so you don't have this issue. 

    Can you use any ground meat?

    You can use any ground meat to make this meatball recipe. Note that ground beef has a higher fat content, and you may need to slightly increase the amount of gluten free bread crumbs to keep it from getting tough from cooking.

    Can you freeze these meatballs?

    Place the raw meatballs on a cookie sheet and make sure they do not touch each other. Then, place the pan in the freezer for around 2 hours.

    When you feel a meatball, it should be pretty hard and frozen.

    Storage:

    Store the leftover meatballs in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Freeze them in a zipper-style freezer bag for up to 4 months.

    The top view looking down on a platter of chicken meatballs.

    More Gluten Free Meatball Recipes:

    • If you need meatballs fast, this Instant Pot Gluten Free Barbecue Turkey Meatballs recipe is ready in no time!
    • Nobody will know there is a veggie hidden inside these Gluten Free Bok Choy Meatballs!
    • Grandma's cabbage rolls are made in an easier version...everyone loves this Instant Pot Deconstructed Stuffed Cabbage Meatballs recipe.
    • These Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Meatballs make a great appetizer!

    📖 Recipe

    A serving dish full of chicken meatballs.

    Air Fryer Gluten Free Ground Chicken Meatballs

    Sandi Gaertner
    Delicious gluten free ground chicken meatballs made in your air fryer in under 20 minutes from start to finish.
    5 from 3 votes
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    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Gluten Free Appetizer Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20 meatballs
    Calories 47 kcal

    *As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

    Equipment

    • Air fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound ground chicken * see note
    • ⅓ cup gluten free panko * see note
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 teaspoons chives fresh or dried
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 large egg

    Instructions
     

    • In a bowl, add all of the ingredients and mix well. Preheat the air fryer to 350º F.
    • Use a spoon to take some of the raw chicken mixture and roll it into a meatball.
    • Place the meatballs into the air fryer basket and repeat until you fill the air fryer basket.
    • Make sure none of the meatballs are touching. You want the hot air to be able to circulate around each meatball.
    • Cook for 15 minutes on 350º F.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    1. You can use ground beef, pork, or turkey for this recipe if you don't have ground chicken.
    2. You can buy or make homemade gluten free bread crumbs.
    3. Check the internal temperature to ensure your meatballs are 165º F to ensure they are done cooking.
    4. You can cook these in the oven if you don't have an air fryer. Bake at 350º F for 20-25 minutes. (Note the actual baking time will depend on the size of your meatballs.)
    5. These meatballs will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

    SPECIAL NOTE

    Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 47kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 144mgPotassium: 121mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 21IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!
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    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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    This post was updated from an older August 2019 post with more detail.

    More Gluten Free Appetizer Recipes

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Becky

      March 08, 2023 at 2:05 pm

      Can you use almond flour in place of panko crumbs? I'd love to try the ground chicken, sweet and sour meatballs

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        March 08, 2023 at 2:30 pm

        Hi Becky, I have never tried subbing almond flour for panko in my recipes. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out.

        Reply
    2. Kelsey Breda

      January 09, 2020 at 11:40 am

      These were so easy to throw together! I didnt have enough room in my AF for all of them so i made the remaining mixture into a chix burger. YUM! Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        January 09, 2020 at 4:20 pm

        I am so glad you liked them Kelsey. They are also freezable if you make a lot.

        Reply
    3. Jenni

      September 03, 2019 at 4:29 pm

      What an easy and delicious appetizer! I want to dunk them in all the Red Duck!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        September 04, 2019 at 6:52 pm

        Oooh, I like how you think!!

        Reply
    4. Beth

      September 01, 2019 at 7:31 am

      wow - thanks for the explanation on why meatballs can get tough. Also the options for cooking without an air fryer and other ideas for how to use them. Great post!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        September 01, 2019 at 5:46 pm

        I am so glad to help Beth!!

        Reply

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    Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. If you have Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, or a wheat allergy, you've come to the right place for delicious recipes. I have years of extensive experience in gluten free recipe development, and I am excited to help you. I am a seasoned gluten free recipe developer and I test recipes multiple times with multiple gluten free flour blends so you know what works. I specialize in creating easy, family-friendly recipes that rival their gluten-filled counterparts.

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