These Greek-style, air fryer chicken meatballs are tender and flavorful and served with a fresh and creamy tzatziki sauce! Homemade meatballs in the air fryer are quick and easy to prepare and can transform bland ground chicken into a flavor-packed, easy weeknight meal.
Simple ingredients come together in this recipe to make easy ground chicken meatballs in the air fryer that are low-carb, gluten-free and keto friendly.
Greek-inspired herbs and aromatics like oregano, parsley and garlic transform plain ground chicken into a tasty meat mixture that cooks up perfectly in the air fryer.
These Mediterranean-inspired ground chicken meatballs are super tasty, healthy and an ideal recipe that's the perfect main course for busy days, meal prep and even special occasions.
about the recipe
These were inspired by my teriyaki chicken meatballs and my Mediterranean ground beef kabobs.
They fall somewhere in the middle - tender, juicy meatballs with big flavors and fresh ingredients.
And instead of traditional Italian seasoning and Panko breadcrumbs, these delicious meatballs feature bold, Greek herbs and keto-friendly ingredients.
The best way to enjoy them? With a homemade, creamy tzatziki sauce!
It adds a touch of freshness and creaminess and brings out the delicious herbs and great flavors in the ground chicken. It's completely optional, but it's key to creating the most flavorful meal.
why you'll love air fryer chicken meatballs
Greek-style chicken meatballs in the air fryer make the most of simple ingredients in a minimal amount of time! This air fryer chicken meatballs recipe is:
- simple with the best results
- easy Mediterranean chicken meatballs with a healthy spin
- perfect for all eaters (they're low-carb, gluten-free and keto chicken meatballs)
Dish up a serving of zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice topped with fresh veggies, Greek chicken meatballs and a generous amount of tzatziki on top and you have a main meal that could potentially become one of your favorite recipes.
The fact that it all cooks up in the air fryer is another win! Similar to air fryer rotisserie chicken, air fryer halibut and air fryer turkey tenderloin, this recipe proves it's easy to cook an impressive dinner with the air fryer alone!
air fryer meatball ingredients
The great thing about this easy recipe is that delicious meatballs don't require a whole lot.
Here's the full list of ingredients:
- ground chicken
- egg
- almond flour
- ground flax seed meal
- fresh parsley, chopped
- minced garlic
- dried oregano
- onion powder
- smoked paprika
- salt and pepper
- fresh lemon juice
And for the optional tzatziki, you will need:
- plain Greek yogurt, unsweetened
- lemon juice
- salt
- dried dill
- garlic powder
- grated cucumber
how to make air fryer chicken meatballs
This Greek chicken meatballs recipe comes together quickly and makes dinner prep a breeze.
While it's an air fryer chicken meatballs recipe, I'm also including instructions in the recipe notes for baking the meatballs in the oven.
Here's a quick look at the process but check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page to view the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts.
Add all of the ingredients for the meatballs into a large bowl. Mix well to combine.
Using a large cookie scoop, scoop out portions of the meat mixture and roll them. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket - I cook these in two batches of six meatballs since they're large.
Air fry meatballs until done and slightly browned around the edges. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the air fryer meatballs.
Since these are chicken meatballs, they should register 160-165°F. Keep in mind that they'll continue to cook from residual heat even after they're removed from the air fryer, so an internal temp of 160°F is okay.
While the meatballs are air frying, prepare the tzatziki sauce. Combine the ingredients in a small mixing bowl, then chill in the fridge until time to serve.
recipe tips
- Almond flour- not almond meal- is recommended for the best air fryer chicken meatballs without breadcrumbs.
- Another good substitute for the bread crumbs traditionally used in meatballs is crushed pork rinds. I've tried this Greek chicken meatball recipe with pork rinds (similar to my keto meatloaf) but I found that I like the combination of almond flour and ground flax seed meal more. Since chicken is a leaner meat than beef, the flax seed really helps to lock in moisture in the meatball mixture.
- Use a large ice cream scoop (or cookie dough scoop). I use a three-tablespoon scoop which is the perfect size for air fryer meatballs. They will cook down slightly. If you use a smaller scoop, make sure to go with a shorter cooking time.
- Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Store any leftover tzatziki sauce in a jar or airtight container for 3-5 days or until it loses its freshness (the fresh cucumber will eventually make the tzatziki watery).
variations for air fryer chicken meatballs
- Ground turkey should work well as a substitute for ground chicken.
- For a richer flavor, add in ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese or small crumbled feta cheese.
- For a bit of heat, mix in ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
- To prepare these Greek chicken meatballs in the oven instead of the air fryer, place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake at 450°F for 15 minutes. Brush the tops of each of the meatballs with a little bit of olive oil, then return to the oven. Increase the temperature to 500°F and bake for 5 more minutes or until browned.
- You can follow the air fryer cooking instructions for virtually any kind of meatball, even these keto Italian meatballs, which are perfect with your favorite marinara sauce.
The air fryer makes keto Greek chicken meatballs the easiest to prep any night of the week!
This flavor-packed chicken mixture cooks perfectly tender in the air fryer and results in fun finger food, a tasty starter or a low-carb power bowl with all the fixings.
I like to serve these Greek chicken meatballs on top of cauliflower rice with fresh vegetables like cucumber and tomatoes, pepperoncinis, kalamata olives and tzatziki, but the great thing about this easy recipe is that it's incredibly versatile!
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- Taco Stuffed Peppers are delicious and simple, and the perfect low-carb version of a family favorite! Seasoned ground beef is stuffed into bell peppers, then loaded with your favorite taco toppings.
- These easy Air Fryer Chicken Bites (with no breading!) are healthy and flavorful. They're perfect for meal prep, on top of a salad, or as fun finger food.
Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs (Greek Style with Tzatziki)
Greek-style air fryer chicken meatballs are tender and juicy and packed with herbs and seasonings. Enjoy them with a fresh and creamy tzatziki sauce for a flavorful meal that's ready in 30 minutes! Keto, low-carb and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 1-¼ pounds ground chicken
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed meal
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1-½ teaspoons minced garlic
- 1-½ teaspoons dried oregano (or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (about ½ a lemon, squeezed)
tzatziki sauce
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (unsweetened)
- juice of half a lemon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1 tablespoon if using fresh dill)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic granules
- ½ cup grated cucumber
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients together. Mix well with a spoon (or use your hands) until everything is well combined.
- Use a large ice cream scoop (a 3-tablespoon scoop) to scoop out portions of the meatball mixture. Roll slightly in the palms of your hands, then place them directly into the air fryer basket. I air fry six meatballs at a time and cook these in two batches, but the amount will vary based on the size of your air fryer.
- Place the basket into the air fryer and cook at 375°F for 12-14 minutes.
- While the chicken meatballs cook, prepare the tzatziki sauce. In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients except for the grated cucumber. Whisk until smooth, then gently stir in the cucumber shreds. Chill the sauce in the refrigerator.
- When the chicken meatballs are done, cook the second batch (if needed) and keep the first batch warm on a plate tented with foil.
- Serve the Greek chicken meatballs on their own with the tzatziki sauce for dipping or in a bowl with fresh, low-carb veggies of choice (I like it with cauliflower rice, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, pepperoncinis and kalamata olives).
Notes
- The combination of almond flour and ground flax seed meal serves as a breadcrumb replacement. You can swap in crushed pork rinds, but since chicken is a leaner meat than beef, the flax seed combo locks in moisture in the meat better than pork rinds.
- The chicken meatballs are done when the internal temperature reaches 160-165°F, measured with a meat thermometer. I aim for 160°F since residual heat will continue to cook them as they rest.
- If you choose to make the meatballs smaller, the cook time will be shorter, around 8-12 minutes, depending on the size of the meatballs.
- Store leftover Greek chicken meatballs and leftover tzatziki in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- To prepare these Greek chicken meatballs in the oven instead of the air fryer, place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake at 450°F for 15 minutes. Brush the tops of each of the meatballs with a little bit of olive oil, then return to the oven. Increase the temperature to 500°F and bake for 5 more minutes or until browned.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!