Air Fryer Meatball & Mozzarella Orzo Bake

4 standard portions

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Ingredients

• 400g (10 1/2 oz) lean beef mince
• 2 tbsp panko breadcrumbs
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 egg
• 2 x tins of chopped tomatoes or 700g passata (1 lb 9 oz)
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• handful of fresh basil leaves, plus extra to garnish
• 350ml (1 1/2cup) hot chicken stock
• 175g (6 oz) orzo
• 60g (1/2 cup) mozzarella, torn
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

1. Combine the mince, breadcrumbs, onion, chopped basil and egg together in a large bowl, then mould into meatballs.
2. Air-fry the meatballs for 7 minutes at 200°C (390°F) then add in the tomatoes/ passata, tomato purée, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, basil, salt and pepper, and cook for a further 3 minutes. If you have a large air fryer , you can do this in an ovenproof dish; if not, use the air fryer basket without the tray in place.
3. Pour in the hot chicken stock, then move the meatballs to one side, add in the orzo and readjust so the meatballs are evenly spread. Air-fry for a further 10 minutes (or until the orzo is cooked).
4. Top with mozzarella, allowing the residual heat to melt it slightly. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with a side salad. For more quick and easy air fryer recipes like this, you can pick up a copy of my airfryer cookbooks Air Fryer 30 Minute Meals and The Healthy Air Fryer Book on Amazon today.