Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs with Cottage Cheese

These juicy air fryer turkey meatballs blend lean ground turkey with cottage cheese, Parmesan, garlic, and Italian herbs. They cook quickly, hold well for meal prep, and pair easily with marinara, pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables.

Prep: 15 min · Cook: 12 min · Yield: 4 · Method: Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground turkey
• 0.5 cup cottage cheese
• 0.333 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 0.5 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 0.75 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 spray olive oil spray

Cooking instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. Lightly coat the basket with olive oil spray. (about 3 min) — 400°F
2. In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir until evenly mixed. (about 2 min)
3. Add the ground turkey and gently mix with your hands or a fork just until combined; do not overmix. (about 2 min)
4. Shape the mixture into 16 meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches each. Arrange them in the air fryer basket in a single layer with space between them; cook in batches if needed. (about 5 min)
5. Air-fry for 10 to 12 minutes, turning the meatballs halfway through, until browned and the centers reach 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. (about 12 min) — 400°F
6. Rest the meatballs for 3 minutes before serving. Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. (about 3 min)