Quick Juicy Air Fryer Burgers (Fresh or Frozen)

It's true: You can make the most mouthwatering, delicious burgers in the air fryer in only 20 minutes. Easily prepare juicy Air Fryer Burgers from frozen patties. Or you can make them fresh with our foolproof burger recipe.

Season them with what you like. These juicy hamburgers are sure to be your family's new favorite. Serve them up with your favorite French Fries or sweet potato fries and you have a great way to enjoy an easy meal.

Why We Love This Recipe

Make a great meal in less time. This easy air fryer burger recipe takes less than 20 minutes, including prep time. Your air fryer is useful for so much more than frying. You can use it to make anything in it. These air fryer Italian sausages, air fryer bone-in pork chops, and air fryer ribs are just a few examples or air fryer recipes.

Easy meal for one or two. Place your patties into the basket and you'll be enjoying a tasty burger before you know it. You can even toast your buns in the air fryer, if you prefer.

Simple, fresh, and flavorful ingredients. You don't need eggs, breadcrumbs, or added fillers. Our hamburger patty recipe only includes 5 ingredients. You can customize those ingredients to your tastes.

Make ahead option. You can even make your own patties in advance and prepare air fryer burgers from frozen. Frozen burgers in the air fryer take less than 30 minutes from start to finish. That timing includes the 10 minutes prep time. Then, freeze them until ready to air fry. Or, you can buy them frozen.

What You Will Need

• You can use any air fryer to make these delicious air fryer hamburgers. I have used Cosori, Instant Pot Vortex, and Chefman all with wonderful results. I would suggest looking at those brands and making your selection based on the features you like.
• Use a meat thermometer to check the burger's internal temperature. For a medium rare burger or a medium burger, you want to cook it to the exact temperature. You want a juicy burger that is safe to eat and cooked to your liking.

Ingredients

• Ground beef. I recommend 80/20 fresh ground beef for the best taste and texture. You can also use 85/15.
• Seasoning. Onion powder and garlic powder are the dynamic duo of burger seasoning. Salt and pepper are good choices too, but Worcestershire sauce adds salt, so limit the additional salt you add, if at all.
• Worcestershire sauce. This versatile condiment enhances the flavor of beef with its complex flavor. It adds savory, tangy, and salty flavors that enhance ground beef.
• Hamburger buns. Choose any type of bun you like. Buns can also be toasted or warmed in the air fryer before you air fry the burger patties.
• Favorite toppings. To make air fryer cheeseburgers you'll need cheese slices such as cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or provolone. We also love topping our homemade burgers with crispy bacon, iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato, red or white onion slices, and pickles,
• Condiments. Of course, this can be anything you like. Some great options are ketchup, mayo, mustard, steak sauce, or BBQ sauce.

Exact measurements of these ingredients are in the recipe card.

Variations

• Make Leaner Air Fryer Burgers. Use 85/15 or 90/10 ground beef for air fryer burgers with less fat. They won't be as juicy as burgers made with 80/10 ground beef. But, leaner air fryer hamburgers are still flavorful and delicious.
• Make turkey burgers instead of beef burgers.
• Seasoned Salt. Omit the Worcestershire sauce. Replace it with 2 teaspoons of your preferred seasoning salt in the blend. I love Lawry's Seasoned Salt as a great option.
• Use your favorite seasonings to make a great burger.
• Garlic Patties. Substitute the granulated dried onion with 2 teaspoons of granulated dried garlic. Or, do a 50/50 blend of each.
• Mushroom Powder. Add an extra punch of umami flavor by adding 2 teaspoons of ground mushroom powder.
• Smoky Patties. Make air fryer hamburgers that taste flame-grilled. Add 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke to the mixture.
• Cheesy Burgers. Need more cheesiness? Add ⅓ of a cup of shredded cheese, like cheddar, Monterey, pepper Jack, or provolone cheese. This works well even when making and planning to cook air fryer burgers from frozen.

How to Make The Best Burgers

1. In a medium bowl, add all the hamburger patty ingredients. Use your hands to combine the ingredients thoroughly, but do not overwork the mixture.
2. Divide the ground beef into four equal sections. Use your hands or a hamburger press to form the hamburger patties into one-inch thick patties.
   
   • Note: Then, use your thumb to make a slight indentation in the middle of the beef patties. This is the best way to ensure that the burgers don't bubble up in the middle as they cook.

3. Either cook right away, refrigerate, or freeze the patties. To keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, place in an airtight container or on a plate covered with plastic wrap. Freeze the burger patties by layering parchment paper between each patty. Stack them together, then place them in a sealed container and freeze them for up to 4 months.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Once preheated, you can toast the hamburger buns for a minute or so, if you prefer.
5. Arrange the burger patties in a single layer in the bottom of your air fryer basket so that they are not touching.
6. Cook for 5 minutes. Flip the air fryer burgers, and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes until you reach your desired level of doneness. If making cheeseburgers, apply a slice of cheese to the top of the burgers during the last minute of cooking.
7. Remove the burgers, place them on a platter, and allow them to rest for a few minutes. The internal temperature after resting should be at least 160 degrees for medium-well. A medium-done burger should be 140 degrees. A medium-rare burger should be 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. Serve the air fryer hamburgers warm with your preferred toppings and condiments.

Cook's Tips

• For best results always use an instant-read thermometer. This is to ensure you know the correct internal temperature for the ideal burger.
• Remove your burgers a few degrees below your chosen temperature. The internal temperature will continue to rise after cooking.
• Refrigerated or frozen burger patties may need an extra minute or so of cooking time. Check the meat thermometer often.

Cook Temps for Air Fryer Burgers

• Medium-rare burgers 135°F
• Medium burgers: 145°F
• Well-done burgers: 160°F

These are guidelines for cooking a great burger based on your personal preference. The cook time may vary depending on the internal temp of your air fryer and the thickness of the burger. Since it only takes a couple of minutes to change doneness levels, test your burgers early.

Note: The USDA recommends for food safety that any ground meat be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.

Serving Suggestions

• Festive Instant Pot Potato Salad
• Creamy Cheesy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Perfectly Crispy and Tender Roasted Baby Potatoes

📋 Recipe