Air Fryer Meatball Pasta Bake
One-pot air fryer pasta bake combining penne, frozen meatballs, marinara, and pesto, finished with melted mozzarella and parmesan. Boil pasta conventionally, sear meatballs in the air fryer, combine with sauce, then bake until golden and tender.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Boil water in a pot and cook penne until done.
- 2
Place meatballs in air fryer basket and cook at 350 °F for 8 minutes.
- 3
Drain cooked penne.
- 4
Remove meatballs from basket and cut in half.
- 5
Combine meatballs, penne, marinara sauce, pesto, and half each of the mozzarella and parmesan cheese in the same pot or a separate bowl. Stir until combined.
- 6
Line air fryer basket with tinfoil, allowing it to extend up the sides.
- 7
Transfer pasta mixture to tinfoil and spread in a single layer.
- 8
Top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- 9
Air fry at 320 °F for 8 minutes or until baked to your liking.
- 10
Remove and serve.
Tips
Cut meatballs in half to help them cook through and distribute evenly in the pasta bake.
Divide cheese in half so some can be mixed in and some reserved for topping to ensure even melting.
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat in air fryer at 300 °F until warmed through.
Combine all ingredients in tinfoil-lined basket up to 4 hours ahead. Air fry when ready to serve.
Serve directly from air fryer or transfer to a platter. Pairs well with garlic bread or a simple green salad.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip cutting meatballs in half to avoid uneven cooking and dense pockets.
Do not overload the basket to avoid uneven heat circulation and soggy pasta.
Do not omit tinfoil to avoid sticking and difficult cleanup.