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Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken Meatballs Recipe

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★★★★

4 from 21 reviews

These Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are a spicy, flavorful appetizer cooked quickly in the air fryer, coated in a sticky firecracker sauce that balances heat and sweetness perfectly.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives (finely minced (optional but recommended for flavor))
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (regular paprika may be substituted)
  • 2 pounds ground chicken* (See Notes for substitutions)
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
  • Fresh parsley (optional for garnishing)

Firecracker Sauce

  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/2 cup hot sauce (sriracha or another hot sauce may be substituted)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (I use lite or reduced sodium)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or as desired)

Instructions

  1. Meatballs – To a large bowl, add the eggs, olive oil, garlic, optional chives, onion powder, salt, pepper, and stir to combine.
  2. Meatballs – Add the ground chicken, panko bread crumbs, Parmesan, and stir to combine. Tips – Do not overmix or your meatballs will be tougher and drier. A light mixing with clean hands or a wooden spoon is all you need.
  3. Meatballs – I recommend using a large cookie scoop and making 3-tablespoon sized meatballs, rolling them lightly in your palms to smooth them. Tip – Don’t overly compact or squish them.
  4. Air fryer prep – Preheat an XL air fryer or similar to 400F, spray the basket with olive oil cooking spray or another favorite cooking oil, add the meatballs to the basket, and lightly spray them with oil as well. Tips – They need some oil in order to actually “fry”. When adding them to the air fryer, they can be close and touching but don’t pack or cram them in. They will reduce in size as they cook.
  5. Cook first side – Air fry the meatballs for 10 minutes. Tip – Make the firecracker sauce while you’re waiting.** (See Notes for oven baking instructions)
  6. Flip and continue cooking – Turn the meatballs over, spray them again lightly with cooking spray, and fry for an additional 5 to 7 minutes.
  7. Firecracker Sauce – To a small saucepan, add the brown sugar, hot sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
  8. Firecracker Sauce thickening – Cook until the sauce thickens and gets sticky, less than 5 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cools so don’t over thicken it.
  9. Finish sauce – After the sauce has cooled, stir in the red pepper flakes. Use less or more than I call for, depending on how spicy you want your sauce.
  10. Coat meatballs – After the second round in the air fryer for 5 to 7 minutes, remove the meatballs one-by-one and dip them in the firecracker sauce making sure they are well coated. Place them back in the air fryer after dipping.
  11. Final fry – Fry the sauced up meatballs for 2 minutes.
  12. Serve – Remove the meatballs, optionally garnish them with fresh parsley, and serve with any remaining firecracker sauce if desired. Extra meatballs with keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Extra sauce will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Store the meatballs and sauce separately.

Notes

  • Do not overmix or your meatballs will be tougher and drier.
  • Don’t overly compact or squish the meatballs when shaping.
  • Make the firecracker sauce while the meatballs cook the first 10 minutes.
  • They need some oil in the air fryer basket and on the meatballs to actually “fry”.
  • You can oven bake the meatballs if you don’t have an air fryer.
  • Extra meatballs keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
  • Extra sauce will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  • Store meatballs and sauce separately.

Keywords: air fryer chicken meatballs, firecracker sauce recipe, spicy chicken meatballs, easy appetizer recipes, game day snacks

Find it online: https://foodarohub.com/air-fryer-firecracker-chicken-meatballs-recipe/