Description
Delicious and juicy cheese stuffed meatballs made with lean ground beef and creamy brie cheese, seasoned with a flavorful blend of herbs and spices, then air fried to perfection for a crispy exterior and melty cheesy center. Perfect as an appetizer or main dish served with tangy cranberry sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 ounces brie (cut into 16 pieces)
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Avocado oil cooking spray
Serving
- Cranberry sauce (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF to ensure it’s hot and ready for cooking the meatballs evenly with a nice crispy coating.
- Prepare Meatballs: Flatten the ground beef and divide it into 16 equal portions. Place one piece of brie cheese in the center of each portion.
- Form and Seal: Rub avocado oil on your palms to prevent sticking, then carefully roll each portion into a tight ball with cheese sealed inside. Make sure there are no gaps so the cheese doesn’t leak during cooking.
- Coat with Seasoned Breadcrumbs: In a shallow bowl, combine breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and dried thyme. Roll each meatball in this mixture and set aside.
- Arrange and Cook: Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Spray them lightly with avocado oil cooking spray. Air fry for 5-7 minutes until browned and the internal temperature of the beef reaches 160ºF.
- Serve: Transfer the cooked meatballs to a serving dish and serve hot with cranberry sauce for dipping, offering a sweet and tangy contrast to the savory meatballs.
Notes
- Ensure the cheese pieces are fully enclosed to prevent leaking during cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary for even cooking and browning.
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee the meatballs reach a safe internal temperature.
- Substitute brie with other soft cheeses like mozzarella or camembert if preferred.
- Cranberry sauce adds a wonderful tart contrast, but other dipping sauces like marinara or mustard work well too.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cheese stuffed meatballs, air fryer meatballs, ground beef recipe, brie cheese meatballs, appetizer recipes, easy air fryer recipes
