Air Fryer Hamburgers

Air fryer hamburgers are the quickest, juiciest way to enjoy homemade burgers. With just ground beef, simple seasonings, and 10 minutes in your air fryer, you’ll have perfectly cooked burgers with a beautifully browned exterior and tender, juicy center.

Love More Recipes? Try My Ground Turkey Burgers or this Black Bean Burgers next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked with minimal effort. They come together quickly, making them a great option for busy weeknights when you’re craving a classic burger. Simple, reliable, and delicious, these burgers deliver all the comfort of a grill without the fuss.

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Ingredient List

For the Burger Patties:

• 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend preferred)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
• ½ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
• Cooking spray or oil for the basket

Optional Add-ins:

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons finely diced onion
• Your favorite seasoning blend

For Serving:

• 4 hamburger buns
• 4 slices cheese (cheddar, American, Swiss, or your favorite)
• Lettuce leaves
• Tomato slices
• Pickle slices
• Sliced onion (raw or grilled)
• Ketchup, mustard, mayo, or your favorite burger sauce

Why These Ingredients Work

80/20 Ground Beef: This is the magic ratio! The 80% lean meat to 20% fat creates burgers that are juicy and flavorful without being greasy.

Leaner beef can result in dry burgers, while fattier blends might be too greasy.

Simple Seasonings: Salt and pepper are truly all you need for a great burger.

The garlic and onion powder add extra depth, but they’re optional. The beauty of a good burger is letting the beef shine!

Center Indentation: This isn’t an ingredient, but it’s crucial!

That little thumb press in the middle prevents your burgers from puffing up into meatballs. The indent helps them stay flat and cook evenly.

Cooking Spray: Just a light mist prevents sticking and helps achieve that gorgeous browned crust.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• Air fryer (any size will work — just cook in batches if needed)
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring spoons
• Cooking spray or pastry brush (for oiling the basket)
• Meat thermometer (optional but recommended for perfect doneness)
• Spatula or tongs (for flipping)

How To Make Air Fryer Hamburgers

Step 1: Prepare the Meat Mixture

Place your ground beef in a mixing bowl and sprinkle the salt, black pepper, and optional garlic and onion powder over the top.

Here’s where you need to be gentle, friends — use your hands or a spatula to mix the seasonings JUST until combined. Don’t knead it like bread dough! Overworking the meat makes tough, dense burgers, and we want tender, juicy ones.

Step 2: Form the Patties

Divide your seasoned beef into 4 equal portions (about 4 ounces each). Gently shape each portion into a patty about ¾-inch thick.

Now here’s my secret: use your thumb to press a shallow indentation right in the center of each patty. This little dimple is your insurance policy against those dome-shaped burgers that won’t sit flat on your bun!

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Set your air fryer to 375°F and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes. I know it’s tempting to skip this step, but preheating ensures even cooking and that beautiful crust we’re after.

Step 4: Prepare the Basket

Lightly spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush it with a thin layer of oil. This prevents sticking and helps with cleanup later. Trust me on this one!

Step 5: Air Fry the Burgers

Place your patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket — don’t let them touch or overlap. Air fry for 8-10 minutes total, flipping them halfway through (around the 4-5 minute mark).

For medium burgers, aim for 8 minutes. For medium-well to well-done, go closer to 10-12 minutes. Every air fryer is a little different, so keep an eye on them the first time!

Step 6: Add Cheese (Optional)

If you’re making cheeseburgers (and honestly, why wouldn’t you?), lay a slice of cheese on each patty during the last minute of cooking. Close the air fryer and let that cheese get all melty and gorgeous.

Step 7: Rest and Serve

Remove the patties from the air fryer and let them rest for 1-2 minutes.

I know you’re hungry, but this brief rest lets the juices redistribute throughout the burger instead of running all over your plate. Place each patty on a bun, pile on your favorite toppings, and dig in!

You Must Know

Don’t Press Down on the Burgers: I see people do this all the time, and it breaks my heart!

Pressing down on your burgers squeezes out all those delicious juices. Just let them cook undisturbed (except for that one flip).

Use a Meat Thermometer: For perfect doneness every time, check the internal temperature.

The USDA recommends 160°F for ground beef, which gives you a medium to medium-well burger. If you prefer medium-rare (around 135-140°F), know that you’re taking a small food safety risk with ground meat.

Personal Secret: I brush my burger buns with a tiny bit of melted butter and toast them cut-side down in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 350°F while the burgers rest.

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

Batch Cooking: Most air fryers fit 2-4 patties at once. If you’re feeding more people, keep the first batch warm in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest.

Frozen Burgers: You can cook frozen patties too! Just add 3-5 minutes to the cooking time and skip the flip until they’ve thawed enough to release from the basket.

Even Sizing: Use a kitchen scale to divide your meat into equal portions. This ensures all your burgers finish cooking at the same time.

Season Generously: Don’t be shy with the salt! Ground beef needs proper seasoning to taste its best.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Making patties too thick. Anything over 1 inch won’t cook evenly in the air fryer. Stick to ¾-inch thick for best results.

Flavor Variations / Suggestions

BBQ Bacon Burgers: Mix 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce into the meat, top with crispy bacon and cheddar cheese.

Mushroom Swiss: Sauté mushrooms and onions, top your burger with Swiss cheese and the mushroom mixture.

Jalapeño Cheddar: Mix diced jalapeños into the meat and top with pepper jack cheese.

Greek Style: Add dried oregano to the meat, skip the cheese, and top with feta, tzatziki, tomato, and cucumber.

Breakfast Burgers: Top with a fried egg, bacon, and American cheese for the ultimate breakfast burger!

Spicy Southwest: Mix in taco seasoning, top with pepper jack, avocado, and chipotle mayo.

Make-Ahead Options

Prep the Patties: You can form your burger patties up to 24 hours ahead.

Place them on a plate or tray, separated by parchment paper, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before air frying.

Freeze for Later: These freeze beautifully!

Form the patties, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until solid (about 2 hours). Then stack them with parchment paper between each patty, place in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Cook from frozen, adding 3-5 extra minutes to the cooking time.

Seasoning Ahead: Mix your seasonings together in a small container and store in your spice cabinet. When you’re ready to make burgers, you’ve got your blend ready to go!

Recipe Notes & Baker’s Tips

Air Fryer Variations: All air fryers cook slightly differently. Start checking your burgers at the 8-minute mark and adjust from there based on your machine and desired doneness.

Don’t Crowd the Basket: Air needs to circulate around the patties for even cooking. If they’re touching, they’ll steam instead of getting that nice crust.

The Juice Trick: Some of the fat will render out during cooking and collect in the bottom of the air fryer. This is totally normal! Just drain it after cooking (once it’s cooled a bit).

Patty Thickness Matters: Too thin and they’ll overcook and dry out. Too thick and the outside will overcook before the inside is done. That ¾-inch sweet spot is perfect!

Serving Suggestions

These burgers are incredibly versatile!

I love serving them with classic crispy French fries or sweet potato fries (which you can make in the air fryer while the burgers rest!). A simple side salad with a tangy vinaigrette cuts through the richness perfectly.

For toppings, go wild! I’m a traditionalist most days — lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mustard — but sometimes I’ll do a special sauce situation with mayo, ketchup, relish, and a splash of hot sauce mixed together.

Don’t forget the sides: coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, or corn on the cob all pair beautifully with these burgers.

And if you’re really feeling fancy, make some air fryer onion rings to go alongside!

How to Store Your Air Fryer Hamburgers

Refrigerator: Let cooked burgers cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Freezer: Wrap each cooked patty individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating: For best results, reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes (5-7 minutes if frozen).

You can also microwave for 30-60 seconds, but the air fryer keeps them juicier and crisps up the exterior again. Skip reheating on the stovetop — it tends to dry them out.

Allergy Information

Contains: None of the basic ingredients contain common allergens, but check your specific seasoning blends.

Gluten: The patties themselves are gluten-free. Use gluten-free buns if needed.

Dairy: Cheese can be omitted or replaced with dairy-free alternatives.

Always check: Labels on condiments, buns, and cheese for allergen information specific to your brands.

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef?

Absolutely! Just know that leaner meats can dry out more easily.

I’d go for ground turkey or chicken that’s at least 85/15 (15% fat) and reduce the cooking time by 1-2 minutes.

Turkey and chicken MUST reach 165°F internal temperature for food safety.

My burgers are coming out dry. What am I doing wrong?

This usually means one of three things: your beef is too lean (go for 80/20), you’re overcooking them, or you’re pressing down on them while they cook.

Also make sure you’re not overmixing the meat when you season it — that makes them dense and dry.

Do I really need to make an indentation in the center?

Yes! I’ve tested this both ways, and the burgers without the indent puff up into little meatballs.

That dimple compensates for the natural shrinking and swelling that happens during cooking, keeping your patties flat and perfect.

Can I make sliders or smaller burgers with this method?

You bet! For sliders, divide the meat into 8 portions instead of 4 and reduce the cooking time to 6-8 minutes total, flipping halfway through.

They’re perfect for parties!

What if I don’t have an air fryer with a basket? Will this work in an oven-style air fryer?

Yes! If you have an oven-style air fryer (the kind with racks), place the patties directly on the rack with a tray underneath to catch drippings. The cooking time and temperature remain the same.

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to hear how your air fryer burgers turned out.