Air Fryer Arancini Rice Balls Recipe
Crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, these Air Fryer Arancini Rice Balls are a delicious Italian appetizer made with creamy arborio rice, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Coated in Italian breadcrumbs and air fried to golden perfection, they’re perfect served with marinara sauce for dipping.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 16-20 arancini rice balls 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Rice Mixture
- 2 cups cooked arborio rice (warm, but not hot)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup diced mozzarella cheese (small cubes)
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Breading Station
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
- 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
Additional
- Olive oil (for spritzing)
- Marinara sauce (for serving)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mix the cooked arborio rice, grated Parmesan cheese, diced mozzarella, minced fresh parsley, and dried basil. Season with salt and pepper liberally, ensuring flavors are balanced.
- Shape Arancini Balls: Using your hands or a medium cookie scoop, scoop about 2 tablespoons of the rice mixture and form into compact balls. Repeat until you have 16-20 balls.
- Prepare Breading Station: Arrange three shallow bowls; one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with Italian bread crumbs for coating the rice balls.
- Bread the Arancini: Roll each ball first in flour, shake off excess, then dip into beaten eggs allowing the excess to drip off, and finally coat evenly with Italian bread crumbs. Place them on a plate ready for air frying.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 370°F (190°C) and let it preheat to ensure an even cooking temperature.
- Air Fry the Arancini: Place arancini balls in a single layer inside the air fryer basket without touching. Lightly spritz them with olive oil to help crisping. Air fry at 370°F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Cool and Serve: Carefully remove the arancini from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes. Serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping and enjoy this crunchy, cheesy Italian delight.
Notes
- Using warm but not hot rice helps the balls hold their shape without becoming mushy.
- Ensure the arancini are spaced apart in the air fryer basket to allow even air circulation and crispiness.
- Spritzing olive oil before air frying gives them a crisp golden crust similar to deep frying but with less oil.
- Leftover arancini can be stored in the fridge and reheated in the air fryer for best crispiness.
- For extra flavor, include a small piece of mozzarella in the center of each ball for a gooey core.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, these can be deep-fried or baked but the texture and cooking time will vary.
Keywords: arancini, rice balls, air fryer recipe, Italian appetizer, crispy arancini, mozzarella, parmesan, easy snack
