Game changing air fryer risotto balls to try right now! We love our easy to make air fryer recipes! Use your leftover risotto to make these delicious arancini balls!
I am a huge risotto fan. I was intrigued by risotto after watching all the cooks on Hell’s Kitchen fail at the task of making it. If you have watched that show, you know exactly what I mean!
While many times it looked delicious, Gordon Ramsey was not happy with the quality and the consistency.
With that said, I decided that I needed to try it. Not that I was better than your average aspiring chef on Hell’s Kitchen. I just wanted to give it a try.
After so many batches of risotto, my kitchen was a bit over run! So I decided to make these Air Fryer Arancini Balls. Let's just say they are a HUGE hit with my family!
How to make Air Fryer Arancini Balls
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If using leftover risotto, skip to step 6.
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Add olive oil to a deep and large saucepan over medium heat. Heat the oil Add the onions and saute until soft.
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Add dry rice and saute for 1 minute.
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Next, add 2 cups of veggie broth. Let the broth cook down while you continually stir to avoid any burning. Once the liquid has been cooked down, add 2 more cups. Continue with this process until all your liquid is absorbed and your rice is soft. This process should take about 20 minutes. Stir in parmesan.
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Pour risotto into a casserole dish or sheet pan. Cool for 1-2 hours in the fridge. (This step is very important. The risotto HAS to be cold to be able to be rolled into balls).
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In a small bowl, place the bread crumbs. In another bowl, place the beaten eggs.
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Remove chilled risotto (rice mixture) from the fridge. Roll into 1 inch rice balls. Dip into eggs then into bread crumbs to coat the entire ball. Do this until you run out of ingredients.
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Place rolled and coated balls back into the fridge for 45 minutes.
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Remove from fridge and place into Air Fryer in small batches. Free at 400 degrees F for a cooking time of 10 minutes. Shake at minute 8. The balls are actually done around minute 6-7 but the browning doesn't happen until minute 8-10 🙂
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Serve with marinara sauce and ENJOY!
We’ve created some mouthwatering risotto recipes that are amazingly easy. You have probably seen our other risotto recipes. If not, be sure to check out Broccoli and Cheese Risotto, and Vegan Risotto with red peppers.
What about the rice?
I have found that the key to good risotto is great rice. In our risotto recipes, we generally use Lundberg White Arborio Rice. We like this rice because it is certified gluten-free.
Wondering what Arborio Rice is? It is actually a traditional rice used when cooking creamy Italian dishes! If you want a creamy texture with your rice, Arborio Rice is the rice to use!
Air Fryer Risotto Balls made from leftovers!
Since it uses your leftovers, it’s a huge bonus in the menu planning area! We love to eat and use leftovers!
I think it is safe to say that after you try this one time, you'll be making double batches of risotto from now on. One batch to eat, then one batch to throw into the fridge to make Air Fryer Arancini Balls later in the week!
So maybe you are reading this recipe but don't have an air fryer yet, that's okay! My family has tried several Cosori Air Fryers and the Power Fryer Xl (which is pictured for this recipe.
We truly like each of those brands. You can easily get them on amazon. Many have next-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime!
Breading for Risotto Balls
Back to these risotto balls. So we are using our left over risotto (or even making a new batch) and coating the risotto balls with breading.
In our case, we are gluten-free. So our breading will be gluten-free breading. If you don’t have any food restrictions, you can use your favorite bread crumbs.
In this particular recipe, we used Ian's Gluten Free Italian Bread Crumbs. These particular gluten-free bread crumbs are super allergen friendly. So if you need to avoid things like eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and wheat, you should check them out!
Vegetarian Air Fryer Resources – We have a vegetarian air fryer newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. We also have a specific vegetarian air fryer recipes group on facebook. You can find that Veg Air Fryer FB Group here.
If you are looking for vegetarian recipes beyond air fryer ones, we have a Vegetarian Newsletter as well as a Vegetarian Recipes facebook group. This newsletter and FB group offers up recipes that on the stove, in the oven, on the grill, in the instant pot and more!
Other Resources:
- Air Fryer Calculator (convert oven recipes to air fryer)
- Common Air Fryer Mistakes
- Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet
- Can You Put Foil in the Air Fryer
- How to Clean Your Air Fryer
- Tips for Your Air Fryer
- Cosori Air Fryer Reviews
More Air Fryer Goodies:
- Meat + Veg Newsletter
- Air Fryer Recipes – Facebook Group (large + fast paced – meat/veg)
- Air Fryer Recipes for Seniors – Facebook Group
- Gluten Free Air Fryer Recipes – Facebook Group
- Air Fryer Eats – Facebook Group (slower paced)
If you are new to air frying and you have some oven recipes that you would like to convert to air fryer recipes, we can help! Our sister site Air Fryer Eats, just launched an Air Fryer Calculator.
To use the air fryer convertor, simply enter your oven temp and time into the calculator and it will give you an estimated time and temp (in F or C) to start with when you use your air fryer!
Air Fryer Risotto Balls (Air Fryer Arancini Balls)
Equipment
Ingredients
Risotto
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup onions diced very small
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
Breading
- 1.5 cups Bread Crumbs I used Ian's GF Italian Panko
- 2 eggs beaten
Instructions
- If using leftover risotto, skip to step 6.
- Add olive oil to a deep and large saucepan over medium heat. Heat the oil, then add the onions and saute until soft.
- Add dry rice and saute for 1 minute.
- Next, add 2 cups of veggie broth. Let the broth cook down while you continually stir to avoid any burning. Once the liquid has been cooked down, add 2 more cups. Continue with this process until all your liquid is absorbed and your rice is soft. This process should take about 20 minutes. Stir in parmesan.
- Pour risotto into a casserole dish or sheet pan. Cool for 1-2 hours in the fridge. (This step is very important. The risotto HAS to be cold to be able to be rolled into balls).
- In a small bowl, place the bread crumbs. In another bowl, place the beaten eggs.
- Remove chilled risotto (rice mixture) from the fridge. Roll into 1 inch rice balls. Dip into eggs then into bread crumbs to coat the entire ball. Do this until you run out of ingredients.
- Place rolled and coated balls back into the fridge for 45 minutes.
- Remove from fridge and place into Air Fryer in small batches. Free at 400 degrees F for a cooking time of 10 minutes. Shake at minute 8. The balls are actually done around minute 6-7 but the browning doesn't happen until minute 8-10 🙂
- Serve with marinara sauce and ENJOY!
Nutrition
Thanks for stopping by to check out this air fryer recipe! While you are here, we’d love for you to check out some of our favorite non-air fryer recipes! We have some delicious sauces that you can dip your favorite foods into as well as sweet treats and drinks!
Be sure to check out these recipes! Dirty Chai, Avocado dressing, Mediterranean Sauce, Vegetarian Charcuterie, BBQ Ranch, Vegan Rice Krispie Treats, Vegan Honey Mustard, Vegan Croutons
Leave me a comment below telling me if you have an air fryer. What recipes have you tried in your air fryer? I'd love to know!
Those risotto balls sound amazing! I've never had anything like that, but they look ssoooooo good. Yummo!
Oh I LOVE risotto balls!! I always order them if they are on the menu, they are one of my favourites! I;d love to try and make our own.
Gosh the more I see them the more I realize we need an air fryer. These sound delicious and look just as good as they sound. I have never thought about using risotto to make something like this. I used to watch Hell's Kitchen too and they were always ruining the risotto lol.
Those look fabulous but I don't think I could cook them. I'm not one to pay attention in the kitchen. Normally I have little helpers and little ones running under my feet. Maybe one day I'll graduate to this level as not to upset Ramsey
RISOTTO BALLS??!??!?!?! Honestly, THE AIR FRYER IN GENERAL is a friggin' GAME CHANGER!!! I AM OBSESSED - I want to get rid of ALL OF MY APPLIANCES and JUST KEEP the Air Fryer!!!
Sounds awesome! I've never tried making risotto like this before. And I'm not sure if I've perfected the usual recipe that's being shared. I wouldn't mind trying this one though.
These look so amazing. I've never had these before either. We do have an air fryer as well and we love using it. I can't wait to try this recipe out.
You're right that the trick to good risotto is good rice! I'll have to try the rice you linked to. I love risotto anything so I must try these soon!
I have been wanting to get an Air Fryer. This risotto balls recipe looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to save this recipe.
Welp, I have been on the fence about getting an air fryer but now I have to go get one. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, you need one. They are so much fun! They make cooking fun and give you delicious food! ha!
Those look amazing. I have never had a risotto ball but now I really really want to!
We have them only a few times a year but love them!
I have always wanted to buy an air fryer but I wasn't sure it would be as effective as regular frying. Your recipes look so delicious. I am tempted to buy one for my kitchen, too
We are glad we made the purchase!
I love risotto! This looks like a delicious recipe; I’ve never made risotto balls in an air fryer before!
They are so crisp and yummy!
Everything looks just delicious especially the risotto balls. My family would love these as we have only tried a few things in our air fryer. A few ladies I get together with always bring gluten free snacks and now I will be able to also.
Fantastic! I hope that those you bring it for enjoy it as much as we do!
I hadn't ever heard of Arborio rice. I will have to try it while making these yummy treats!
Yep, just a fancy name for "risotto" style rice 🙂
These look delicious! And easy to make. This reminds me, I really need to get an Air frier.
For sure!
These air fryer risotto balls look and sound wonderful. I know that if I made these for the holidays they would get eaten first.
Thank you!
Another airfryer recipe!! YAY!! We just got one a few months ago and we use it all the time! Its amazing once you learn all the tips and tricks!
We love our air fryer too!
Risotto balls are my mom's favorite! I wonder if they have this air fryer at a local super market. I need to get my hands on one.
I've seen this model at Khols and Amazon 🙂
I really wish I had an air fryer so I could try all these delicious recipes out. These risotto balls would be perfect for upcoming holiday parties.
We love our air fryer!
When do u add the parmesan cheese?
I adjust the recipe directions to make that clear! Thanks for letting me know. You add it in Step 4. So once all that liquid is mostly absorbed add in the cheese. Stir to mix and then move onto step 5 to cool the risotto down 🙂
This is a creative way to use leftovers and these look so delicious! The air fryer is a good alternative to frying and it looks like you still get a lot of flavor.
Yes, we love our air fryer too!
These look so delicious! I've never tried risotto before but Gordon Ramsey is always cooking it on his show. The recipe looks easy enough and I look forward to trying it.
He seemed to make it famous! 🙂
This recipe looks really tasty, and one I'd like to try. Pin it for later. Thank you.
Thanks for pinning!
We got an air fryer for the holidays and I'm struggling to find recipes that don't leave the food super dry. I look forward to trying this one.
Enjoy! Yes, if you cook it took long or at too high of a heat it can dry things out! So frustrating!