Air Fryer Arancini – Easy Italian Mozzarella Rice Balls

These air fryer arancini are so easy to make, and require way less oil than deep frying. They’re able to be prepared ahead of time and cooked when you’re ready for them in under 15 minutes. I love to keep some on hand for an easy appetizer or snack when company comes over.

Why You Need This Recipe

You’ll love this simple version of arancini, which requires no deep frying. That means less oil and cleanup involved, which is always a win. 

This recipe is also a great way to use up leftover risotto. If you’ve got some on hand from a holiday meal or after date night, why not repurpose it and put it to good use?

While arancini is a classic New Year’s dish around here, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it at other times, too. Just cook up some rice anytime you have a craving for these crispy, cheesy rice balls!

What Goes Into It

• 2 cups cold cooked rice or leftover risotto
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 3 large eggs
• 2 Tbsp butter or margarine
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (or more to taste)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 mozzarella cheese sticks, cut into ½” pieces (approximately 8 per stick)
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• ½ cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• Nonstick spray
• Marinara sauce for dipping

Recipe Ingredient Tips and Substitutions

• Rice. If you’re cooking fresh, I recommend Arborio. I typically cook it in chicken stock and white wine for flavor (but you can use veggie stock to keep it vegetarian friendly). If you’re using leftover risotto, you will likely want to  adjust other seasonings accordingly
• Seasonings. All of the seasonings here are adjustable based on preference. This is a good starting point, though
• Mozzarella. You may also cube a block of regular or fresh mozzarella if preferred
• Meat. For a meat arancini variation, add 1 tsp cooked ground beef or italian sausage to the ball along with the cheese
• Flour. You can swap in another type of flour or cornstarch if needed
• Breadcrumbs. Substitute seasoned panko instead of regular bread crumbs if desired

How to Make Arancini in the Air Fryer

1. Melt butter in a pan on the stove over medium heat
2. Add the diced shallot and garlic and cook until soft and slightly browned
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool
4. In a mixing bowl, add cooked rice, 2 eggs, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and the cooled shallot and garlic mixture

5. Stir to combine well

6. Spoon approximately 2 Tbsp of the mixture into your hand

7. Insert a mozzarella cube into the center of the rice pile

8. Squeeze together and then roll into a ball using your hands (similar to rolling a meatball) making sure to completely enclose the cheese

9. Repeat until all of the arancini have been formed
10. Chill the rice balls in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes so they cool and set (feel free to leave them for longer if you’re preparing in advance)

11. Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (or 375°F depending on your air fryer’s settings)
12. Set up a dredging station with all purpose flour, the remaining egg (beaten), and the seasoned breadcrumbs. Season each with some salt and pepper
13. Roll the chilled arancini in the flour, then the egg, and finally the breadcrumbs, making sure to coat thoroughly

14. Place the breaded balls in the preheated air fryer basket. Spray with a mist of oil or nonstick spray

15. Cook on the air fryer setting for 10-15 minutes at 370°F, pausing to flip and reapply oil halfway through
16. Arancini are done when they are golden brown and crisp on the outside and the cheese is melted in the center (around 130°F for mozzarella)
17. Serve with marinara for dipping

What to Serve With Arancini

• Parmesan Polenta Cakes
• Spinach Balls
• Vegetable Soup
• Chicken or eggplant parmesan
• Bolognese or other meat sauce
• Cold cheese and prosciutto platter
• Green salad
• Hummus
• Caprese salad
• Panzanella
• Bruschetta

Recipe FAQs

Expert Recipe Tips

• You can skip browning the shallot and garlic if you don’t want to use the stove (but it adds more depth of flavor that way), or you can combine it with cooking your rice if you’re not using leftovers
• Beat your eggs before adding to the rice mixture to ensure they’re more evenly distributed
• This recipe makes about 12 arancini balls based on the quantity of ingredients listed. However, it’s easily doubled for a crowd
• I cooked mine for 12 minutes in a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer and that was the perfect mix of exterior browning and melted cheese. However, other air fryers may differ slightly in terms of cooking time

Other Air Fryer Italian Inspired Recipes to Try

• Orange and Almond Biscotti
• Herb & Garlic Croutons
• Air Fryer Bagel Bites
• Stuffed Tomatoes
• Frozen Toasted Ravioli
• Stuffed Banana Peppers
• Air Fryer Lasagna

Final Thoughts

These air fryer arancini are an elegant yet simple appetizer that are sure to be a crowd pleaser for your next party. Whether it’s New Years or another get together, they make a perfect addition to your spread.

They’re vegetarian friendly as long as you cook your rice in vegetable stock, and who doesn’t love finding melty, cheesy goodness in the middle? Despite the fancy name, these Italian rice balls are loved by kids and adults alike.

• Air Fryer Mozzarella Arancini web story

Air Fryer Arancini (Easy Italian Rice Balls)

This air fryer arancini recipe is an easy way to prepare the classic Italian rice balls. Brown, crisp outside encloses melted mozzarella cheese within, for a perfectly dippable appetizer.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Cooling Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 6

Calories 409 kcal

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Spoon or spatula (for mixing)
• 3 Containers for dredging station

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 Cups cold cooked rice or leftover risotto
• ½ Cup grated parmesan cheese
• 3 Large eggs (divided)
• 2 Tbsp butter or margarine
• 1 Shallot (minced)
• 2 Cloves garlic, minced (or more to taste)
• 1 Tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 Tsp salt
• ½ Tsp black pepper
• ¼ Tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 Mozzarella cheese sticks, cut into ½" pieces (approximately 8 per stick)
• ¼ Cup all purpose flour
• ½ Cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• Nonstick spray
• Marinara sauce for dipping

Instructions

 

• Melt butter in a pan on the stove over medium heat
  2 Tbsp butter or margarine
• Add the diced shallot and garlic and cook until soft and slightly browned
  1 Shallot, 2 Cloves garlic, minced
• Remove from heat and allow to cool
• In a mixing bowl, add cooked rice, 2 eggs, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and the cooled shallot and garlic mixture
  2 Cups cold cooked rice or leftover risotto, ½ Cup grated parmesan cheese, 3 Large eggs, 1 Tsp Italian seasoning, 1 Tsp salt, ½ Tsp black pepper, ¼ Tsp red pepper flakes
• Stir to combine well
• Spoon approximately 2 Tbsp of the mixture into your hand
• Insert a mozzarella cube into the center of the rice pile
  2 Mozzarella cheese sticks, cut into ½" pieces
• Squeeze together and then roll into a ball using your hands (similar to rolling a meatball) making sure to completely enclose the cheese
• Repeat until all of the arancini have been formed
• Chill the rice balls in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes so they cool and set (feel free to leave them for longer if you’re preparing in advance)
• Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (or 375°F depending on your air fryer’s settings)
• Set up a dredging station with all purpose flour, the remaining egg (beaten), and the seasoned breadcrumbs. Season each with some salt and pepper
  ¼ Cup all purpose flour, ½ Cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• Roll the chilled arancini in the flour, then the egg, and finally the breadcrumbs, making sure to coat thoroughly
• Place the breaded balls in the preheated air fryer basket. Spray with a mist of oil or nonstick spray
  Nonstick spray
• Cook on the air fryer setting for 10-15 minutes at 370°F, pausing to flip and reapply oil halfway through
• Arancini are done when they are golden brown and crisp on the outside and the cheese is melted in the center (around 130°F for mozzarella)
• Serve with marinara for dipping
  Marinara sauce for dipping

Notes

• If you’re cooking fresh rice, I still recommend Arborio (though it works with other varieties if need be). I cook mine with chicken stock and white wine for flavor (but you can use veggie stock to keep it vegetarian friendly). If you’re using leftover risotto, you will likely want to adjust other seasonings accordingly
• All of the seasonings listed here are adjustable based on preference or depending what flavor leftover risotto you have. This is a good starting point, though
• You may cube a block of regular or fresh mozzarella if preferred in place of the sticks
• For a meat arancini variation, add 1 tsp cooked ground beef or italian sausage to the ball along with the cheese
• You can swap in another type of flour or cornstarch if needed
• Substitute seasoned panko instead of regular bread crumbs if desired
• You can skip browning the shallot and garlic if you don’t want to use the stove (but the flavor is much better cooked), or you can combine it with cooking your rice if you’re not using leftovers
• Beat your eggs before adding to the rice mixture to ensure they’re more evenly distributed
• This recipe makes about 12 arancini balls based on the quantity of ingredients listed. However, it’s easily doubled for a crowd
• I cooked mine for 12 minutes in a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer and that was the perfect mix of exterior browning and melted cheese. However, other air fryers may differ slightly in terms of cooking time
• Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only

Nutrition

Serving: 141gCalories: 409kcalCarbohydrates: 45.8gProtein: 21.7gFat: 16.1gSaturated Fat: 8.6gCholesterol: 151mgSodium: 1120mgPotassium: 108mgFiber: 1.7gSugar: 1.9gCalcium: 369mgIron: 2mg

Keyword air fryer arancini, air fryer arancini balls, air fryer arancini leftover risotto, air fryer arancini recipe, air fryer rice balls, arancini, arancini air fryer, arancini rice balls, easy air fryer arancini, mozzarella arancini

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• Author
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Katie Vine

Hi, my name is Katie Vine, and I love food!

I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!

My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.

I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!

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