Juicy and flavourful burgers made in the air fryer! This easy recipe for air fryer burgers is perfect for busy weeknights and requires minimal effort. Get ready to sink your teeth into the most delicious burger you’ve ever tasted. Try it now!
*This post may contain affiliate links to products I find useful when making this recipe. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.*
Can You Air Fry Burgers?
Yes, you can air-fry beef burgers.
You can air fry frozen burgers and ready-made burgers, but I really recommend these super simple three-ingredient beef burgers that are absolutely perfectly cooked in the air fryer.
You can also air fry Panko chicken burgers.
Why I Love Easy Homemade Air Fryer Burgers
I adore these easy air-fried burgers because:
- You only need three ingredients for the burger patties.
- They can be ready in less than 30 minutes.
- Air fryer burgers are juicy, tender, and absolutely delicious.
- You don’t need to add any oil to air fry burgers, making them a healthier option.
- Burgers are a fantastic midweek family dinner.
- You can add all of your favourite toppings and sauces.
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Ingredients For Air Fryer Burgers
My favourite thing about these air fryer burgers is that you only need three ingredients for the burgers themselves.
Mince Beef – I use 5% fat, lean ground beef for a healthier burger.
Red Onion
Horseradish
You can add some salt and freshly ground black pepper, too, if you want to, and you’ll need burger buns and any sauces and salad you’d like to add. I also add some mature cheddar cheese to mine, but the kids don’t like air fryer cheeseburgers.
You’ll Also Need
As well as an air fryer and crisper tray, you’ll need a mixing bowl, a sharp knife and a chopping to prepare your ingredients.
A burger press is fantastic, but I use an old lid and some clingfilm, which works well. You can also just shape your burger patties with your hands.
If you have them, silicon tongs are useful to flip your burgers. But you can also use a silicon spatula. Plastic and wood are fine, too, but don’t use metal implements in your air fryer basket.
How to Make Burgers in an Air Fryer – Step-by-Step Instructions
Full, easy-to-follow instructions and quantities are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step One
Place the mince, onions and Horseradish in a large mixing bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper if desired.
Step Two
Use your hands to knead the ingredients together, making sure the onion is evenly spread through the meat. The Horseradish will bind the meat together without an egg or other ingredients.
Step Three
Shape the mixture into four even patties, compressing as much as you can.
You can use a burger press for this, but you can also use something burger-shaped (I use an old lid lined with cling film) or do it freehand.
Step Four
If you don’t need them straight away, wrap the patties tightly and place them in the fridge for later.
Step Five
Preheat your air fryer to 180 degrees C and set it for 14 minutes.
Step Six
Once preheated, place the burgers on the crisper tray, leaving a bit of space between them.
Step Seven
Close the drawer and air fry for 7 minutes.
Step Eight
Open and flip over carefully. Return to the air fryer for 6 minutes before adding the cheese (if using) for the last minute.
Step Nine
After 14 minutes, I recommend cutting a burger in half to make sure the centre is cooked and piping hot. You can also use a meat thermometer (affiliate link). I recommend this guide for safe cooking temperatures.
If not, return to the fryer for 2-3 minutes longer before checking again.
Step Ten
Serve on bread buns with your sauces and toppings of choice. I serve on tiger burger buns with ketchup.
Top Tips
These burgers are so simple that it’s hard to have many tips!
- Use your air fryer’s crisper tray. This helps the air get underneath and allows it to circulate.
- Burgers can be a bit messy, so don’t try to cook them on a shelf over anything else.
- If possible, wipe your air fryer drawer while it’s still warm or put it to soak while you eat your burgers.
- If you’d rather avoid mess, you can cook your burgers on a tray. But I recommend something thin and metallic, like foil, which conducts heat and won’t block air too much.
Serving Suggestions
I serve my air-fried burgers on tiger rolls with ketchup and a side of homemade air fryer wedges and corn on the cob.
You can serve with all of your usual burger sides, though. Things like salad, chips, air fryer French fries, air fryer sweet potato wedges, and coleslaw are fantastic.
Variations
There are a few variations and things to consider.
How to Cook Burgers in the Air Fryer without Making a Mess
As I said above, burgers can be messy. They leak a bit of juice.
To avoid mess, I recommend lower-fat beef, which leaks less. You can also add a layer of foil under your burgers or the crisper tray to catch the grease.
Can You Air Fryer Hamburgers Burgers and Fries Together?
If you have a double-drawer air fryer, you can cook burgers and fries or wedges at the same time.
You could also add some to your tray if you are only making one burger and have plenty of space.
For some things, I add a tall wire rack to my air fryer to create a shelf to cook other things on. If you do this, I recommend placing your wedges on the top and your burgers on the bottom so they can’t drip grease on your potatoes.
Air Fry Burger Buns
If you have a shelf or a second drawer, add your burger buns for the last minute of cooking time to warm up. This is also when I add cheese.
Leftovers
You can reheat leftover air fryer burgers using the reheat setting of your air fryer for 10 minutes or a few minutes in the microwave. Make sure they are piping hot before serving.
Storage
Let leftover burgers cool before wrapping or placing them in a sealed tub and putting them in the fridge for a day or two.
FAQ
Yes, air frying is a great way to cook burgers.
Air fryer burgers are juicy and full of flavour. It’s my favourite way to cook burgers.
You don’t need to add oil to air fry burgers, making them healthier than frying in a pan.
I use the air fry setting and set the temperature to 180 degrees C.
These burgers take around 14 minutes, and they are fully cooked through. Well-done burgers will take a little longer, and rare burgers will take a few minutes less.
Yes, you should turn your burgers around halfway through the cooking time.
If your air fryer is smoky, it’s usually because of grease on the cooking element or too much grease in the machine. Give your burgers plenty of space, make sure they are away from the element, and clean your machine thoroughly between uses to minimise this.
Other Recipes
Other air fryer recipes you might enjoy include:
- Perfect baked potatoes
- Crispy halloumi cheese
- Air fryer chilli
- Air fryer chicken pasta bake
- Easy fish finger sandwiches
- Air Fryer Cottage Pie
- Air Fryer Victoria Sponge
- Roast Parsnips
- Katsu Burgers
Recipe Card
Air Fryer Burgers
Ingredients
- 500 g Minced beef
- 1 Red Onion (Finely Diced)
- 1 Tablespoon Horseradish
- 4 Burger Rolls
- Sauces and Toppings of choice.
Instructions
- Place the mince, onions and Horseradish in a large mixing bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper if desired.
- Use your hands to knead the ingredients together, making sure the onion is evenly spread through the meat.
- Shape the mixture into four even patties, compressing as much as you can. Use a burger press if you have one.
- Preheat your air fryer to 180 degrees C and set it for 14 minutes.
- Once preheated, place the burgers on the crisper tray, leaving a little space between them.
- Close the drawer and air fry for 7 minutes.
- Open and flip over carefully. Return to the air fryer for the last 7 minutes.
- Serve on bread buns with your sauces and toppings of choice.
Notes
- If you don’t need them straight away, wrap the patties tightly and place them in the fridge for later.
- If adding cheese, do so with one minute left.
- After 14 minutes, I recommend cutting a burger in half to make sure the centre is cooked and piping hot. If not, return to the fryer for 2-3 minutes longer before checking again.
- Nutritional information is only for burger patties. Add extra for bread and toppings.
- Read the post above for more tips and advice.
Any nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate. The information is provided using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please make your own calculations if you want precise information.
