Easy Air Fryer Arancini
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Learn how to make Air Fryer Arancini with my super easy recipe! Cooked rice combined with 2 types of cheeses come together to form some seriously tasty balls that are air fried to golden brown perfection. No need to break out the deep fryer when you can get the same results (if not better!!) in your air fryer!
Air Fryer Arancini
I’ve always loved arancini! I’ve already shared my OG arancini recipe that I make at least once a month — a lot more often during the holiday season — and now I just had to share my air fryer arancini too!!
Arancini are basically cheesy rice balls that are breaded and then fried until they become crispy and golden brown.
Traditional recipes are deep fried… which I also love, but knew I wanted to create another option that didn’t involve a lot of oil. That’s where my trusty air fryer comes in!
Air fryer arancini balls still come out super crispy on the outside and perfectly gooey and cheesy on the inside.
Plus, they’re ready in just about 35 minutes in total, meaning you can even make arancini in air fryer on busy weeknights!
Once you try these you’re going to be totally hooked… in the best way ever!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Rice – Make sure the rice is cooked and cooled before you get started! I usually use some sort of long grain, easy cook rice.
Or, it’s a great way to use up leftover rice!
- Cheese – We’re using both grated Parmesan and mozzarella here! And to be totally honest, the cheese is half of what I love most about air fryer arancini.
If you need to, you can substitute the mozzarella with other melty cheeses like fontina or provolone.
- Breadcrumbs – The other half? That crispy, golden brown coating! I get that crunch by using golden breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs together.
- Eggs – Acts as a binder for the rice mixture. I also use it in my dredging stations to help the coating stick.
Eggs are really crucial for this recipe, and it can’t be made without them.
- Seasonings – A simple combination of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper is all you need to add extra flavor.
- Cooking Spray – So your air fryer arancini balls don’t stick to the basket.
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Arancini in Air Fryer
- Wet your hands for shaping.
The rice mixture can get super sticky when forming your arancini balls! To keep things from getting too messy, dip your hands in some cool water before shaping each round.
Handling the rice will be a lot easier, and you’ll end up with smoother, more evenly shaped balls — which will help them cook up evenly!
- Consider a quick chill.
After you’ve shaped and breaded the air fryer arancini, you may want to place them in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before air frying.
The extra chilling time will give the cheese a chance to firm up and the breading to set, giving you an extra crispy outside when cooked.
- Don’t skip the nonstick spray.
The best thing about making food in the air fryer is that you don’t need to use a ton of excess oil.
But, that doesn’t mean you don’t need any oil at all. I always add some olive oil cooking spray to the air fryer basket when making arancini in air fryer.
I’ll even spray a bit directly on the rounds themselves — it helps with sticking and will give you that extra crunchy exterior!
- Be patient!
You may be tempted to check in on your arancini as it cooks, but it’s important not to open your air fryer too frequently.
The cool air can interrupt the cooking process and keep the rice balls from crisping properly.
Don’t open the air fryer until the timer goes off. You’ll know they’re ready to pull out if they’re nice and golden brown!
Prep Ahead
- Cook the rice
- Set up the dredging stations
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
- Large Bowl – This one is my go-to!
- Shallow Bowls for dredging.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your air fryer arancini while it’s hot and fresh! I love it with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
They also pair well with a simple side salad or some antipasto. Or, why not try it with my Antipasto Pasta Salad?!
Roasted vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts, and pasta dishes like creamy pesto chicken pasta or Pacheri Pasta would round everything out to make it a meal!
Storing, Freezing, and Reheating
If you have any leftover air fryer arancini balls, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, pop them right back into the air fryer! 5-7 minutes at 350°F should do the trick.
These also freeze wonderfully — before you air fry them. After coating the rice balls in breadcrumbs, place on a baking sheet and flash-freeze until solid.
Transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 1 month.
You can air fry directly from frozen! Simply add a few extra minutes to the cooking time and you’ll end up with just as crispy results.
Air Fryer Arancini Balls FAQ
When traditionally fried, you absolutely must let the formed arancini chill in the fridge before frying! You’ll remember that I suggest doing so before air frying too, just in case.
As another note, your rice balls will fall apart if you don’t use enough eggs as a binder. Follow the instructions on the recipe card below and you should be fine!
Arancini typically takes about 15 minutes to cook in the air fryer. If you need to reheat in the air fryer, set the temperature to 350°F and heat the balls for about 5-7 minutes.
Nope — if you want to freeze your arancini to use later I recommend freezing them uncooked for the best texture. The crispy coating will become a little funky when frozen, thawed, and reheated.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Easy Air Fryer Arancini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rice, cooled (long grain/ easy cook rice)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 3 large eggs, divided (1 for mixture, 2 for coating)
- 1 cup golden breadcrumbs, divided (1 tablespoon for mixture, remaining for coating)
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon golden breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- In a shallow bowl, beat the remaining 2 eggs. In another shallow bowl, combine the remaining golden breadcrumbs and all of the panko breadcrumbs. Set aside.
- Using your hands, shape the rice mixture into golf ball-sized balls, making sure each ball is tightly packed.
- Dip each rice ball into the beaten eggs, allowing any excess to drip off, then roll it in the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring it is evenly coated. Repeat this process for all the rice balls.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F for about 3-5 minutes.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange the coated rice balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching each other. You can spray them with more cooking oil if you prefer but this is optional.
- Air fry the arancini in batches, if necessary, at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Carefully shake the basket or gently turn the arancini halfway through the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly.
- Once the arancini are cooked and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and place them on a serving plate.
- Serve the air fryer arancini hot with marinara sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published September 2024
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I rolled my Arancini in Grated Parmesan cheese and egg because I didn’t have bread crumbs…very yummy
Hi Sandra!
That sounds delicious. Glad to hear you enjoyed!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn