While you're gathering ingredients, fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a boil—this head start means your pasta water will be ready exactly when you need it. Finely mince the red onion and chop the fresh parsley, then measure out all your dry seasonings (garlic salt, oregano, onion powder, and black pepper) into a small bowl. Lightly beat the eggs in a separate small bowl. Having everything prepped and ready means you can focus on making perfect meatballs without interruption.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, minced red onion, and chopped parsley. Add the beaten eggs and the dry seasoning mixture from Step 1, then gently fold everything together with your hands until just combined—don't overmix or the meatballs will be tough. Roll the mixture into 1 to 1.5-inch balls (you should get about 12-16 meatballs). I find it helpful to wet my hands slightly before rolling so the mixture doesn't stick to my fingers as much.

Line your air fryer basket with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. Arrange the rolled meatballs from Step 2 in a single layer, making sure they don't touch each other (work in batches if needed). Air fry at 380°F for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even browning. The meatballs should be cooked through and lightly browned on the outside when done.

Once the meatballs are cooking, add the pasta to your boiling salted water from Step 1 and cook according to package directions until al dente. While the pasta cooks, pour the spaghetti sauce into a large saucepan over medium heat and warm it through gently—this typically takes about 5-7 minutes. I like to stir the sauce occasionally so it heats evenly and the flavors meld.

Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the warm sauce from Step 4, tossing gently to coat. Remove the meatballs from the air fryer and add them to the sauced pasta, folding gently to combine. Divide onto serving plates and top with fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese, and additional sauce if desired. The warm pasta and meatballs combined with the fresh basil create the perfect balance of flavors.