Air Fryer Hamburgers

We all love a perfectly grilled burger on a big bun with all the fixings, right? The problem is that it isn’t always grilling season. Here in Michigan, grilling is pretty much out of the question for at least five months of the year unless you’re a hearty soul who doesn’t mind standing in the snow while you grill.

We don’t really care for pan-fried burgers. They just aren’t the same. Once again, our friend the air fryer comes to the rescue! Turns out you can make an incredible hamburger right in your air fryer. They are juicy on the inside with just the right “crust” on the outside.

I don’t know why I would be surprised. We use our air fryer for so much of our cooking now, from homemade French fries to salmon to zucchini chips to baked potatoes. Why not hamburgers? It’s quick and easy. Clean-up is a snap.

Juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers

Easy. You’ll be amazed by how simple it is to make burgers in your air fryer. I’d even go so far as to say it requires less effort than making them on the grill!

Perfectly cooked. These hamburgers have a crust on the outside yet are tender and juicy on the inside. Biting into one of these burgers with all the fixings and a fluffy bun is pure heaven.

Flavorful. These burgers are seasoned before they are cooked. The seasonings are mixed right into the meat so the flavor isn’t only on the outside of the burger. That’s one of the reasons they’re so tasty.

Ingredient Notes

• Lean Ground Beef: We tested this recipe with lean ground beef (85/15) and extra lean ground beef (92/8). There was no discernible difference in taste between the two, so choose what you like best.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Mixing this sauce into the ground beef adds lots of flavor. It’s made from vinegar, molasses, anchovies, garlic, tamarind extract, chili pepper extract, sugar, salt and additional undisclosed items. Some brands are gluten-free but always read the label if that’s a concern.
• Garlic Powder: Be sure to use garlic powder and not garlic salt. If you only have garlic salt, don’t add any extra salt. If you prefer, add a clove of minced or pressed garlic instead.
• Onion Powder: Same here, don’t confuse onion powder and onion salt.
• Salt and Pepper: Add salt and pepper to taste!

How to make Burgers in An Air Fryer

Are you ready to make the best hamburgers with your air fryer? It’s pretty easy. Here’s how to do it:

Place ingredients in a bowl. Add the ground beef to a large bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

Mix everything together. Try not to go crazy here. Just lightly blend the mixture together. Your fingers are the best tool for this.

Form the burgers. Okay, now that you have hamburger all over your hands, divide the meat into four even portions and make the patties. They should be about a half inch thick.

Make a small indentation in the centers with your thumb or a spoon. That helps the burgers get done more evenly.

Place the burgers on the grate in your air fryer. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water. Do I sound like your mother? Sorry.

Cook the burgers. Set your air fryer to “Air Fry” or 380ºF. After 7 minutes, open the air fryer and flip the burgers. Continue cooking for three to five minutes. Check the burgers for doneness.

Add cheese, if desired. If you like cheeseburgers, immediately add a thin slice of cheese to each burger. Put them back into the air fryer for a minute or less. The residual heat will melt the cheese quickly.

At What Temperature is a Burger Done?

For a well-done hamburger, the internal temperature should be 160ºF according to the USDA. There won’t be any pink in the center. The burger will continue to cook a bit after you take it out so if the internal temperature is 150ºF or above, it should be okay.

Serving Suggestions

Be creative with toppings. Serve the burgers on warm toasted buns with the toppings you like. Remember, ketchup, mustard, and pickles aren’t the only toppings in town. Add homemade guacamole, Thousand Island dressing, or fry sauce (it’s like the secret sauce on a Big Mac). Dress up your burgers with caramelized onions, bacon jam, or blue cheese. Make it a bacon and cheddar burger with BBQ sauce.

Wondering what to serve with your burgers? They go great with creamy potato salad, coleslaw, or mandarin orange salad. We really like broccoli salad or baked beans, too. On cold days, warm up with a bowl of creamy tomato soup to go along with your burger.

Are burgers healthier in an air fryer?

Air fryer burgers are healthier than fried burgers because the excess grease drips through the grates and is discarded.

Air fryer burgers may be healthier than grilled burgers, too. Grilled burgers can have carcinogens caused by the interaction between the fat and the high temperatures. Some types of charcoals may contain harmful substances as well. For more information, check out what Healthline has to say.

Recipe Variations

• Try different seasonings. As I mentioned above, seasoning the hamburger is a great way to personalize your burgers. Add chili powder, Italian seasoning, ketchup, or whatever you like. Stir in dry onion soup mix. Increase the garlic or omit it. If you’re more of a purist, stick to salt and pepper. Be sure to take a look at the seasonings in my taco turkey burgers or pizza burgers for more ideas.
• Add cheese! Most any type of cheese goes well on a burger. Simply add a slice to the cooked burger and put it back into the air fryer to melt it.
• Have fun with toppings. California burgers are really popular, with avocado, tomato, lettuce, and a “secret” sauce. Another good flavor combo is sautéed onions, Swiss cheese, and a dollop of bacon jam. Sautéed mushrooms are amazing on burgers.
• Be choosy about buns. A good quality bun can make all the difference. Butter the bun and toast it briefly for a really great burger. You can toast them in the air fryer if you like.
• Not a fan of hamburger? Your air fryer does an amazing job with hot dogs and sausages, too. Try air fryer hot dogs, air fryer Italian sausage, or air fryer brats! They turn out really well.

Make Ahead Ideas

Refrigerate raw burger patties: Make the burger patties ahead of time and refrigerate them up to a day in advance. Put the pre-made hamburger patties on a plate and wrap them with plastic wrap. You’ll be able to have dinner on the table in no time.

Freeze raw burger patties: Raw hamburger patties can be frozen for up 3 months. Store them in a freezer-safe container or bag with waxed paper in between layers. Frozen patties can go right from the freezer to the air fryer but they will take a bit longer to cook.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Refrigerate/Freeze: Leftover cooked hamburger patties will keep in the refrigerator for three to four days or in the freezer for up to four months as long as they are wrapped securely. For best results, frozen cooked patties should be thawed in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Reheat: Put the patties to be reheated into the air fryer for a few minutes until heated through. They can be warmed up in a skillet or in the microwave, too. Don’t overheat them because they may get too dry.

Leftover Love

If you happen to have a few leftover cooked burgers that you don’t know what to do with, crumble or chop them up and add them to chili, spaghetti sauce, or sloppy Joe mix. You can also break them up and turn them into tacos or burritos.