Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs (Provencal Style)
October 30, 2023
40 minutes
easy
30 meatballs
It’s a lighter but super tasty meatball with chicken and Mediterranean aromatics. Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs are done quickly in an Air fryer and are easy to freeze and pop on a salad, wrap or lunch box.
Meatballs usually are made with pork or beef, but to keep it light, why not make them with chicken? It could also be turkey, rabbit, or any lean meat. This way, giving them a lovely Provencal twist is possible by adding dried tomatoes, capers or olives, parsley, thyme, olive oil, shallot and garlic. I love an umami touch, so I’ve added cashews and nutritional yeast to give the grilled bits around the meatball this perfect cheesy taste without the calories! You’ll see, these Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs are bursting with flavours and so addictive!
What is Provencal Style?
Provence is a region in the South of France; many great dishes originate there, like Ratatouille, Nicoise Salad, Rouille, Bouillabaise, etc. It’s a more arid and sunny place, so you’ll feel it too in the typical ingredients of Provencal style. Usually, olives would be part of the mix, which would work wonders in this recipe, too, but since we already had the capers, I chose one of the two to prevent over-salty meatballs. But if you dig more olives, switch the capers for olives.
Thyme, garlic, olive oil and flat-leaf parsley are in every dish, so this was a no-brainer. Also, I’ve used the oil directly from the dried tomatoes, which is super aromatized and saving to waste all that good stuff.
Last but not least, the dried tomatoes bring the hot sun to the meatballs. A lot of them to make sure we taste it! Careful, there is no turning back; you’ll never return to bland beef meatballs after this.
The Secret Touch
This trick is a way to replace parmesan; it makes the crunchy grilled bits coming off the meatballs this parmesan taste but without any cheese involved! It’s time to shop for those two ingredients you can incorporate everywhere you want a cheese touch without the calories. Nutritional yeast and cashews! The first one you can find in stores or online in flake or powder form, while cashews are everywhere. This combo will trick cheese lovers!
Versatile Meatball
These Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs a la Provencale are great everywhere! Plus, the kids love them, so if you add them to a simple mashed potato and broccoli dish for the kiddos, parents can elevate them to a lovely Green Goddess Salad for dinner (Check the recipe here)! These freeze perfectly; add them to an airtight plastic bag and pop some out for your lunch box for a quick sandwich or wrap, salad, pasta, etc. They are versatile; you can even pop one out to snack on!
Storage
As previously mentioned, the meatballs can be frozen by adding them to an airtight container or hermetic bag. They would last a few weeks in the freezer and two to three days in the fridge. To reheat them, use the air fryer or microwave to warm them up.
Other Yummy AF Bites
- Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Crispy Cauliflower Bites with Indian Spices (2 Ways)
- Accras de Morue (Cod Fritters) 2 Ways
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast
- 10 dried tomatoes in oil
- 1 French shallot optional
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp cashews optional
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional) could be replaced by parmesan.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp capers or olives
- chives about 20 stalks
- parsley a handful
- thyme two branches or equi. to a tablespoon of dry thyme.
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Cover the Air Fryer with spotted parchment paper or make your own with regular parchment and poke some holes to let the air pass.
- Add small balls of the chicken mixture with a spoon or scoop on the parchment.
- Cook at 180°C (350F°) for 9-10 minutes.
Video
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19 Comments
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Trista MetzThis is a great idea ! Thanks so much for sharing !
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nancy
Thanks for this easy and freezer friendly recipe! My kid loves these meatballs that I just throw in the air fryer and forget!-
Marie Breton
Easy to pop them on salads, pasta, rice, etc. Plus they bring in a bit of Mediterranean sun in every dish!
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JustineCelina
These looks so delicious! Pinning to make later — this will be one of my first air fryer recipes and I can’t wait! -
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Colleen
These chicken meatballs turn out so perfect in the air fryer. I love the addition of capers and sundried tomatoes. So flavorful! -
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Vanessa
Such a versatile recipe and I love that they can be made in the air fryer! -
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Asha
These chicken meatballs were quick and easy to make. They tasted great in a cream sauce with pasta. -
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Bernice
Why haven’t I thought about making meatballs in my air fryer before?! I believe they call this an ‘aha!’ moment. I love how anyone can use an air fryer to make almost any recipe…. and I much prefer using it over my oven when I can. The next batch of meatballs will be air fryer meatballs!-
Marie Breton
Time to experiment! meatballs made of chicken is not too smoky but when I do beef meatballs or pork I usually add bread at the bottom of the Air fryer to pick up the grease otherwise it’s a smoke show!
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Kristen
My kids absolutely LOVE these, and I love anything that makes meal times easier. Thanks for sharing . -
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Fouzia
They look delicious! I love your idea of adding sun dried tomatoes and capers to the chicken meat balls. It must be a different taste and flavour. Definitely going to try it. Thanks for sharing Marie. -
I never thought of making chicken meatballs, let alone airfrying them. But from the looks of your pictures and the ingredients, they look tender and flavorful. Thanks for sharing your recipe.