Air Fryer Arancini (Risotto Balls)
Air Fryer Arancini is a simple and delicious way to enjoy crispy risotto balls filled with gooey mozzarella—without the need for deep frying. These Italian-inspired bites have a crunchy exterior, a creamy, cheesy center, and are full of flavor. They’re budget-friendly, easy to prepare, and an excellent way to repurpose leftover risotto.
You can serve these Italian arancini balls as an appetizer or as finger food at your next dinner party to impress your guests!
Please continue scrolling down to find the recipe card below, which contains the complete list of ingredients with measurements, detailed recipe instructions, additional notes, and nutritional information.
What Are Arancini?
Arancini are Italian rice balls, traditionally made with leftover risotto, stuffed with cheese or meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried until crisp. The name “arancini” comes from their resemblance to small oranges (arancia in Italian). While deep frying is the classic method, air frying delivers the same crispy texture with much less oil.
Why Make Arancini in an Air Fryer?
Using an air fryer has several benefits:
- Less Oil, Same Crunch – You get a crispy coating without the excess grease.
- Faster Cooking Time – No need to heat large amounts of oil or wait for deep frying.
- Less Mess – Say goodbye to oil splatters and cleanup hassles.
- Healthier Alternative – Cutting down on oil makes these a lighter option.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Leftover risotto – You can use any leftover risotto you have in hand for this recipe or you can make a fresh batch and let it cool down.
- Cheese – Feel free to use any melty cheese you like, such as Kasar, Cheddar, Gruyère, Fontina, Provolone, Taleggio, or Raclette.
- Eggs – They help the breadcrumbs stick to the arancini. Two medium-sized free-range eggs are all you need.
- Breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs are a great choice because they’re made from crustless white bread, giving them a light, airy texture and a crisp, golden finish. Their larger grain size adds extra crunch, but regular breadcrumbs work just as well if that’s what you have on hand.
How to Make Air Fryer Arancini (Risotto Balls)
Important Note
Before you start cooking, note that times may differ among air fryers. I develop my recipes using a Cosori 6.8 air fryer. If you’re using a different air fryer, view my recipes as a general guide and tweak the cooking time—add a bit more or cook slightly less as needed.
Making Air Fryer Arancini (Risotto Balls) is extremely easy and to achieve the best results, you need to follow these simple steps:
Scoop the cold risotto into 14-16 equal pieces, slightly larger than a walnut. You can make smaller or larger balls, depending on your preferences.
Quick Tip!
Use slightly wet hands to roll the risotto into balls.
Flatten a risotto ball in your hand and put a piece of mozzarella cube in the center. Avoid making it too thin or the mozzarella will oose out! Close the rice around the mozzarella and roll it into a tight ball.
Set the risotto ball aside on a plate and repeat until all the risotto is used.
Set up three bowls: one with flour mixed with half of the seasoning, another with beaten eggs and the remaining seasoning, and a third with breadcrumbs.
Roll each ball in flour, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat with breadcrumbs. Transfer them to a tray and set them aside.
Set the air fryer to 356°F (180°C). Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper. Lightly brush the tops with oil for extra crispiness and place them in your air fryer basket. Do it in 2-3 batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Cook for 8 minutes, set the temperature to 375°F (190°C), and cook for another 7-8 minutes, until golden brown.
Arancini pairs well with marinara sauce, pesto, or garlic aioli. Serve them warm for the best experience.
Expert Tips From the Chef
- Use Cooled Risotto – Warm risotto is too soft and won’t hold its shape. Refrigerate it for at least an hour, preferably overnight before shaping the balls.
- Organize your workspace before making the rice balls. Keep a small bowl of water nearby to wet your hands. Place the seasoned flour on a plate, whisk the eggs in a bowl, and spread the breadcrumbs on another plate for easy coating.
- Ensure the mozzarella is fully enclosed in the rice when shaping the balls to prevent it from leaking while cooking.
- You might need to cook your rice balls in 2-3 batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
- Lightly brush the risotto balls with oil for crispiness to achieve a golden-brown crust.
How to Store and Reheat
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Arrange on a tray, freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. They last up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes or until heated through.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Arancini (Risotto Balls)
Air fryer arancini can be served in a variety of ways, making them perfect for appetizers, snacks, or even a light meal. Here are some delicious ideas:
- With Dipping Sauces – Pair them with marinara, garlic aioli, pesto, or spicy sriracha mayo for extra flavor.
- On a Cheese Board – Serve alongside Air Fryer Mini Sausage Rolls, cured meats, olives, and fresh fruit for a Mediterranean-style platter.
- As a Side Dish – Complement soups or salads with a few crispy risotto balls.
- With a Light Salad – Balance the richness with a bowl of fresh Coban Salatasi (Turkish Shepherd’s Salad) or mixed greens salad dressed with lemon and olive oil.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can assemble and coat the risotto balls in advance, then store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before air frying.
Arborio rice is the best choice because of its high starch content, which helps create a creamy texture and holds the balls together.
If they’re not holding their shape, the risotto might be too warm or too dry. Chilling it before forming the balls helps them stay firm. Also, pressing the rice tightly around the cheese prevents gaps.
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Please give us a five-star rating and leave a comment below.
I hope you enjoy the process of preparing these cheesy Air Fryer Arancini (Risotto Balls) just as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂
Bon appétit!
Air Fryer Arancini (Risotto Balls)
Ingredients
- 700 g leftover risotto
- 75 g mozzarella (cut into small cubes)
- 2 medium eggs
- 75 g plain white flour / all-purpose flour
- 50 g panko breadcrumbs
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or sunflower oil
Instructions
- Scoop the cold risotto into 14-16 equal pieces, slightly larger than a walnut. You can make smaller or larger balls, depending on your preferences.
- Use slightly wet hands to roll the risotto into balls. Flatten a risotto ball in your hand and put a piece of mozzarella cube in the center. Avoid making it too thin or the mozzarella will oose out!
- Close the rice around the mozzarella and roll it into a tight ball. Set the risotto ball aside on a plate and repeat until all the risotto is used.
- Set up three bowls: one with flour mixed with half of the seasoning, another with beaten eggs and the remaining seasoning, and a third with breadcrumbs.
- Roll each ball in flour, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat with breadcrumbs. Transfer them to a tray and set them aside.
- Set the air fryer to 356°F (180°C). Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper.
- Lightly brush the tops with oil for extra crispiness and place them in your air fryer basket.
- Cook for 8 minutes, set the temperature to 375°F (190°C), and cook for another 7-8 minutes, until golden brown.
Notes
- Use cooled risotto – warm risotto is too soft and won’t hold its shape. Refrigerate it for at least an hour, preferably overnight before shaping the balls.
- Organize your workspace before making the rice balls. Keep a small bowl of water nearby to wet your hands. Place the seasoned flour on a plate, whisk the eggs in a bowl, and spread the breadcrumbs on another plate for easy coating.
- Ensure the mozzarella is fully enclosed in the rice when shaping the balls to prevent it from leaking while cooking.
- You might need to cook your rice balls in 2-3 batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
- Lightly brush the risotto balls with oil for crispiness to achieve a golden-brown crust.
