20 Easy Air Fryer Ground Beef Recipes

Ground beef is insanely versatile, and it’s great for everything from juicy burgers to meatloaf and nachos. 

That’s why I want to share these 20 air fryer ground beef recipes with you. 

You might not think about putting ground beef in this countertop convection oven.

But it’s actually a genius way to cook meatballs, empanadas, and even kebabs.

Of course, certain dishes won’t work in the Air Fryer. Sorry, there’s no beefy mac and cheese here!

But it’s okay! These Air Fryer ground beef recipes without pasta are so varied, you can have a different meal every night of the week!

1. Air Fryer Meatloaf

With its mixture of ground beef and seasonings, plus that fantastic tangy sauce on the top, meatloaf is a wonderfully nostalgic meal. 

After around 10 minutes of prep, this baby needs just half an hour in the air fryer. 

So, not only does it cook fast, but it also develops a lovely crust on the top, which is my favorite part!

2. Air Fryer Meatball Sub Skewers

Meatball subs are the ultimate indulgence. They’re juicy, rich, and bursting with incredible flavor. 

They’re also a little bit messy to eat, so not ideal for kids and parties. 

But with these meatball sub skewers, you can enjoy tender meatballs stuffed with mozzarella cheese, all wrapped up in a buttery croissant casing. 

Serve with a big bowl of warm marinara sauce.

3. Air Fryer Cheeseburger Pockets

As much as I love burgers and meatballs, I don’t always have the time to portion the meat to form patties. 

With these cheeseburger pockets, all you’ll need to do is spoon the loose filling into canned biscuits.

First, make sure they’re sealed with egg wash, then bake until golden and fluffy.

To give these a boost of flavor, try adding chopped bacon or diced pickles to the mix, and serve with this copycat Big Mac sauce.

4. Air Fryer Hamburgers

Burgers make a terrific and filling dinner any night of the week. 

But when it’s cold outside, you won’t want to turn the grill on, and maybe heating the stove is a little bit extreme for a couple of patties. 

You could fry them on the stove-top, but that often makes a mess. So, the best option is to use the air fryer. 

They will be ready in a matter of minutes, and you’ll love the crust that forms on the outside. 

5. Crispy Air Fryer Empanadas Recipe

These empanadas are similar to the cheeseburger pockets above; only the pastry is typically much thinner. 

For this ground beef recipe, you’ll use taco seasoning and bell peppers to make a beef taco pocket.

Serve with salsa and plenty of guacamole.

6. Air Fryer Chili Nachos

Nachos are probably my favorite thing to make in the air fryer.

The basket makes the perfect portion, and you won’t have to worry so much about the chips burning under the broiler. 

Not only that, but you can make a big batch at once without working in layers.

So, instead of cooking one layer of chips and topping, then adding another, you can do it all at once.

7. Air Fryer Taco Pie

This unique taco pie combines spiced ground beef and corn with Bisquick mix. Once baked, it’s tender and firm enough to slice. 

It’s almost like a thick taco pancake.

If you want added flavor and texture, try using cornbread instead of Bisquick.

8. Air Fryer Nachos

Have you ever had a craving for nachos only to find you’re out of tortilla chips? It’s the worst, right?

But did you know you can make your own using flour or corn tortillas?

Just cut them into wedges, spray with cooking oil, and bake for a few minutes in an air fryer until crisp. 

Dust them with Tajin for maximum flavor.

9. Air Fryer Beef and Bean Taquitos

Taquitos are like mini-tacos, rolled up tight and deep-fried until crispy. 

Unlike tacos, which you usually serve with guacamole and some kind of crunchy element like slaw, taquitos usually only have a couple of ingredients in the filling. 

In this case, it’s ground beef, beans, and cheese. Wrap the tortillas, spray with cooking spray, and bake until golden brown. 

10. Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are bright, tasty, and full of nutrients. There’s a built-in portion of veggies for everyone, and they’re super easy to make, too.

You can serve these as a meal on their own or pair them with a side salad or roasted potatoes. 

Once stuffed, add extra cheese to the top and nestle them in the basket. 

11. Air Fryer Meatballs

Meatballs can be tricky to cook. 

Due to their size and shape, you’ll often find that the outside starts to burn or turn dry before the middle is cooked. 

But in the air fryer, these cook evenly, keeping the middle juicy and allowing the edges to crisp up just the right amount. 

12. Crunchwrap Supreme In The Air Fryer

Say what you want about Taco Bell, but they do come up with some fantastic meals. Dorito-flavored taco shells, anyone?

The Crunchwrap Supreme is one of those meals, full of ground beef, cheese, and plenty of cool sour cream. 

It’s a little tricky to wrap the large tortilla around the filling and mini-tostada, but once you get the hang of it, I think you’ll make this regularly.

13. Air Fryer Kofta Kebabs

This Middle Eastern dish is typically cooked over an open flame, giving it a lovely char and smokey taste. 

Since the air fryer uses convection heat, it’s a terrific second choice when you can’t use your grill. The meat will cook perfectly in just 12 minutes. 

Try adding a dash of liquid smoke to make this more authentic.

14. Air Fryer Beef & Bean Chimichangas

Chimichangas take everything you love about burritos and add a new level of crunch that’s downright addictive.

You could use any burrito filling you like, but this ground beef and bean version is too good not to try. 

Just remember to place them seam side down and add a touch of cooking spray to help the edges turn golden. 

15. Air Fryer Zucchini Stuffed With Hamburger

Looking for something delicious, low-carb, and wickedly easy to make? This zucchini dish has you covered. 

The bright green vegetable adds both color and flavor to this dish, along with a beautiful natural crunch. 

Top it off with ground beef and plenty of cheese.

16. Air Fryer Kofta Wraps {aka Kofte}

Kofta is a traditional Greek dish typically made using a blend of ground beef and lamb.

When blended with herbs and spice, they make a rich and decadent meat filling. 

Serve them in a warm pita with plenty of tangy yogurt dressing, crunchy red onions, and juicy tomatoes. 

17. Air Fryer Manwich Sloppy Joe Bombs

Full disclosure, these sloppy manwiches are not pretty. But they sure are tasty!

Since the filling of seasoned ground beef and cheese is so soft, you might struggle to wrap these buns properly. But I promise it’s worth it in the end.

18. Air Fryer Cheeseburger Dumplings or Potstickers

These might look like Asian-inspired potstickers, but they’re actually filled with yummy cheeseburger flavors.

Dumpling wrappers are pretty thin, but that just means they’ll be wonderfully crispy after ten minutes in the air fryer.

19. Air-Fried Pizza Burgers

Cooking burgers on the stove works well enough, but they’re left frying in grease, meaning they’re not too healthy. 

In the air fryer, on the other hand, the burgers will cook until tender, and the excess grease drips away through the bottom of the basket. 

So, since these are a little bit lighter, that means you can add extra cheese to the top!

20. Air Fryer Taco Pizza

I’m a sucker for pizza and tacos alike, so when the two come together, you know I’m excited!

For this air fryer taco pizza recipe, you can use store-bought pizza dough or even ready-made naan bread. 

Top it with taco seasoned ground beef, cheese, and plenty of chopped tomatoes.