1-Gathering and Mixing Ingredients
First, mix 1 pound lean ground beef with 1 large egg, 1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in a large bowl. This step ensures the flavors blend well without overworking the meat, keeping your meatballs tender. Cut 3 mozzarella cheese sticks or 3 ounces of mozzarella into 18 small cubes to hide inside each meatball for a cheesy surprise.

2-Shaping and Assembling
Next, form 18 meatballs by shaping about 1.5 tablespoons of the beef mixture around each cheese cube. Unroll 1 tube of crescent roll dough, pinch the seams together, and cut it into 6 strips about 1.25 inches wide. Thread each skewer with dough and meatballs alternately, wrapping the dough in an S-like pattern around the three meatballs for that sub-like twist.

3-Cooking in the Air Fryer
Expose about 1 inch of the skewer at the top to avoid burning and leave space for the dough to expand. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and cook 3 skewers at a time for 8-10 minutes until the meatballs are browned and the dough turns golden. While they cook, melt 1/4 cup salted butter and stir in 1 teaspoon parsley flakes and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder to make a simple garlic herb butter.

Once done, brush the skewers with the garlic herb butter, sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese if desired, and serve with 1/2 cup pizza sauce. This method takes just 10 minutes to cook and 30 minutes to prep, totaling 40 minutes. For more ideas on quick meals, check out the chicken stir-fry recipe for similar easy techniques.