These air fryer ricotta balls are an easy vegetarian alternative to traditional Italian meatballs. Made with ricotta cheese, breadcrumbs, basil and seasoning, they are air-fried to golden perfection until crispy.
Serve these crispy air-fried ricotta balls with homemade tomato sauce as appetisers or with pasta for a delicious meal.
About my easy Ricotta Meatless Meatballs recipe
Whether you're looking for a meatless option or want to switch up your usual meatballs recipe, these air fryer ricotta balls are a must-try. They're easy to make, packed with delicious flavours, and can be customised to suit your taste preferences. Plus, with minimal ingredients and just a few minutes in the air fryer, they're perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
How to make air fried ricotta balls? Step by Step
- Mix ricotta cheese, flour, egg yolk, basil leaves, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Shape into 12 balls and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Set up a dredging station with egg white in one bowl and a mixture of breadcrumbs, olive oil, salt, and Italian seasoning in another.
- Dip each ricotta ball in egg white, then coat with breadcrumb mixture.
- Air fry at 180°C (350°F) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy. Serve hot and enjoy.
Baked ricotta cheese balls
Place the prepared soft ricotta balls on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 22-25 minutes or until crispy.
Serving Suggestions
Pair these popular vegetarian meatballs with a rich tomato sauce or marinara sauce. Enjoy fried ricotta cheese balls as appetizers or alongside pasta for a satisfying meal.
For a complete dish, serve with roasted broccoli, asparagus, or air-fried mushrooms.
Storing leftovers
- In the fridge: Place the cooled ricotta balls in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- In the freezer: If you want to freeze them, arrange the cooled ricotta balls in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and store for up to 2-3 months. Reheating:
- To reheat, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the frozen or refrigerated ricotta balls on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until heated through and crispy. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through. Enjoy!
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Easy Air fryer ricotta balls recipe below
Ingredients
- 250 g Ricotta Cheese
- 3 tablespoon Plain Flour
- ¼ Cup Basil Leaves
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 1 Egg separated
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add ricotta cheese, flour, egg yolk, basil leaves, salt & pepper. Stir to combine the mixture.
- With wet hands, divide the ricotta mixture into 12 portions and shape into balls. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix the bread crumbs, olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and Italian seasoning.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white and set it aside.
- Pick one ricotta ball at a time and coat it with egg white, followed by breadcrumbs mixture. Repeat this process for the remaining balls.
- Arrange the ricotta balls in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 180°C for 12 minutes, flipping the balls at halftime. Air fry the ricotta balls until light golden and crispy.
- Serve ricotta balls with marinara sauce or serve on top of spaghetti with tomato & basil sauce
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