These quick and easy Air Fryer Hamburgers are so incredibly delicious and juicy. The air fryer is by far my favorite way to cook burgers. With just a few pantry spices and about 10 minutes’ time you too, can have these tasty burgers on your table tonight. So much easier than firing up the grill, especially during inclement weather.
My family just loves to hear that these are on the dinner menu. I love to serve these with Garlic Parmesan French Fries, Best Baked Beans, or Dill Pickle Potato Salad.
How to Air Fry Hamburgers
Start by preheating the air fryer for 3-5 minutes. Then mix together the ground beef, minced garlic, onion powder, Worcestershire Sauce, and fresh ground black pepper in a medium bowl. Next, gently shape the ground beef into about 1/2-inch thick burger patties with a small thumb indentation in the middle. Add the patties to the air fryer basket in a single layer and sprinkle with just a little bit of salt. Air-fry for about 5 minutes.
Then flip and sprinkle with just a little more salt and air-fry for about 3 minutes or until the hamburgers reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees. If cheeseburgers are desired, add a slice of cheese to the top of each burger and close the door to the air fryer. The residual heat will melt the cheese.
Recipes notes and helpful tips
- For the best flavor, use ground beef with some fat in it. I use the 80/20 mixture, which is 80% percent lean and 20% fat. Fat is what keeps your beef juicy and flavorful.
- This recipe also works well with ground turkey, ground pork, and ground chicken.
- Go easy on the salt. Salt lightly after placing them in the air fryer and once again when you flip them.
- For an over-the-top juicy burger, mince onions and add to the burger mix. My husband loves them this way.
- Gently pat out the ground beef into 1/2-inch thick patties with a thumbprint indentation in the middle so they don’t blow up like balloons.
- Use an instant-read meat thermometer to keep from overcooking the burgers and drying them out. The USDA recommends cooking hamburgers to 160 to 165 degrees. I remove mine at 160 degrees because the residual heat will continue to cook them.
- For a low-carb meal, use a lettuce wrap instead of a bun.
- The residual heat is enough to melt the cheese without melting it off the burger.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Can you cook frozen burger patties in an air fryer?
Sometimes life is just busy, and you forget to thaw those hamburger patties out. No problem at all. Simply lower the temperature by 20 degrees (down to 350) and cook a few minutes longer. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to make sure they reach the safest cooking temperature of 160-165 degrees. If desired, top with cheese and close the turned-off air fryer. The residual heat will melt the cheese perfectly in about 1-2 minutes.
The best hamburger toppings!
- Lettuce – I personally like leaf lettuce but iceberg, Bibb, and Boston are all good choices. You can serve it whole leaf or shredded.
- Tomatoes – in the summer, big Beefsteak homegrown tomatoes are the best. But in the winter months, I simply pick the best-looking and smelling tomatoes at the market.
- Pickles – anything goes from sweet and spicy to hamburger dill chips.
- Onions – thin slices of red onion or sweet Vidalia onion are always a great choice for onion lovers. Another great choice is slow-cooked caramelized onions.
- Condiments – ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, and Burger Sauce are all great choices. My husband and I really love a sweet dill mustard or a spicy brown mustard.
- Bacon – Crispy cooked smoked bacon is the best.
More air fryer recipes you will love!
Air Fryer Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 slices American or cheddar cheese
- 4 hamburger buns
- desired toppings
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
- Mix together the ground beef, minced garlic, onion powder, Worcestershire Sauce, and black pepper. Gently shape the ground beef into about 1/2 inch thick patties with a small thumb indentation in the middle.
- Add the patties to the air fryer and sprinkle with just a little bit of salt. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Flip and sprinkle with just a little more salt and cook for about 3-5 minutes or until the hamburgers reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees. If desired add cheese slices and close the door to the air fryer. The residual heat will melt the cheese.
- Add the hot burgers to the buns and serve with your choice of toppings.
Notes
- Use ground beef with some fat in it. I use the 80/20 mixture which is 80% percent lean and 20% fat. Fat is what keeps your beef juicy and flavorful.
- Go easy on the salt. Salt lightly after placing in the air fryer and then once again when you flip them.
- For an over the top juicy burger mince onions and add to the burger mix. My husband loves them this way.
- Gently pat out the ground beef into 1/2 inch thick patties with a thumb print indentation in the middle so they don't blow up like balloons.
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to keep from overcooking the burgers and drying them out. The USDA recommends cooking hamburgers to 160 to 165 degrees. I remove mine at 160 degrees because the residual heat will continue to cook them.
- The residual heat is enough to melt the cheese without melting it off the burger.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
On the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Vickie
I’m going to try these in convection oven as it’s essentially the same and more room! Thanks for the recipe!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure! Enjoy!
Everything Enchanting
Hamburgers in an air fryer, wow! We are planning to buy an air fryer soon, will surely try this delicious recipe 😍
Rosey
You can really just make anything in an air fryer, can’t you? Such an awesome little machine.
Brianna
Oh yum! I’ve been looking for a new air fryer recipe. I’ll give this a try. Thanks
Elizabeth Neas
I have never thought of doing hamburgers in the air fryer, let alone frozen. Your cheeseburgers look absolutely delicious, like we have when we go out to dinner! I can’t wait to try them this way.