These air fryer turkey burgers are crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and packed full of flavour! Cooked to perfection in the air fryer, they can be customised with your favourite burger toppings and sides. And they are ready to eat in just 20 minutes!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- So quick and easy – it takes only 5 minutes to prep them and they are ready to eat in 20 minutes. Perfect for an easy and fuss-free weeknight meal.
- Minimal clean up – cooking burgers in the air fryer is so easy and fast, with minimal mess and minimal clean-up!
- Healthy – turkey is low in fat and high in protein. And cooking turkey burgers in an air fryer is a much healthier option than frying or grilling. The burger patties still have the taste and texture of a grilled burger, with just a fraction of the oils and fat.
- Can be made ahead – make the patties ahead of time and keep them in the freezer for a quick dinner on busy weeknights.
- Adaptable – use any of your favourite salads, burger toppings and sauces.
- Simple ingredients – you only need a handful of basic ingredients to make them.
Ingredients you will need
** This post contains tips and instructions to achieve the best possible results. The photo above is a great guide for when you are in the supermarket, but for full ingredient quantities and methods, please scroll down to the detailed recipe card below!
- Turkey mince/ground turkey – use regular turkey mince rather than lean turkey mince. Lean ground turkey contains less fat, but is also prone to drying out when cooking. For burgers, a higher fat content is best. *You can also use beef or chicken mince, if preferred. If using chicken mince, add a little olive oil to keep it juicy while it cooks. Alternatively, you can use store-bought turkey patties.
- Burger buns – for healthy turkey burgers, I recommend using multigrain or wholemeal/whole wheat buns. But you can also use white or brioche, if you prefer. Or wrap them in lettuce cups for a low-carb option!
- Breadcrumbs – bind the patties and help to keep them moist.
- Seasoning – a combination of salt and pepper, along with garlic powder, onion powder and paprika are used to season the patties. Sweet Hungarian paprika is best, but you can also use smoky paprika if you prefer. Tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce also add depth and flavour.
- Toppings – choose from the list below, or add your favourites.
Step by step guide
Air frying burgers allows the heat to circulate around the patties, giving them a nice crust on the outside while keeping them juicy on the inside. The result is similar to deep frying or grilling, but without the oil.
Pre-heat the air fryer while you prepare the turkey patties.
Step 1 – Make the turkey patties;
Using your hands or a large spoon, mix the ground turkey together with the breadcrumbs, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, herbs and spices.
Roll the patties into four balls of equal size. Flatten and shape the patties with your fingers. **Note, the patties will shrink slightly as they cook, so make them slightly larger than the buns you intend to serve them on.
Step 2 – Cook the patties;
Coat the air fryer basket with a light coating of oil spray and place the patties into the basket, making sure they aren’t touching or overlapping. Cook the patties for around 15 minutes, flipping halfway, or until they are cooked through.
Step 3 – Assemble the burgers;
Allow the cooked patties to rest on a plate. Add some cheese to melt over the patties as they rest. Place the burgers onto the sliced buns and top with your desired salads and condiments.
Air fryers can vary, depending on their make and size. The first time that you make them, check the patties a couple of minutes early to make sure they don’t overcook. They should be browned and crispy on the outside with no pink meat on the inside. The internal temperature of the patties should be 75°C/165 F.
Full ingredient list and instructions are found in the recipe card below.
Serving suggestions
The best thing about burgers is that you can add any of your favourite toppings! If everyone likes something different, put a board of toppings in the middle of the table and let everyone build their own. Here’s some delicious topping ideas;
- Cheese slices – burger cheese, cheddar, Monterey jack, Swiss or American cheese or smoked gouda.
- Shredded lettuce – cos, iceberg or even some spinach leaves.
- Tomato slices
- Red onion
- Pickles
- Grilled mushrooms
- Capsicum
- Coleslaw
- Mustard, tomato sauce/ketchup, smoky BBQ sauce or chilli mayo
- Grilled bacon
- Avocado
- Fried onion rings
- Fried egg
- Jalapenos
Serve the burgers with potato wedges, sweet potato fries or any of your favourite sides.
Tips for success
- Every air fryer is different. Cooking times may vary depending on the size and model of air fryer that you use, as well as the size and thickness of your burger patties. The internal temperature of the turkey patty should be 75°C/165 F when ready to eat.
- If you love meal prepping, the ground turkey mixture and salads can be prepared ahead and stored (covered) in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Flatten the burger patties to a slightly larger shape than you want them, as they will shrink slightly as they cook. To prevent this from happening too much, use your thumb to press a small divot in the centre of the patties.
- I have added my favourite burger toppings in the recipe below, but you can mix and match to suit your taste! Additionally, try adding some sliced jalapenos, a fried egg, Swiss cheese, BBQ sauce, coleslaw or avocado slices.
- This recipe makes 4 burgers, but can be easily multiplied to make more serves. If making larger quantities, you may have to cook the patties in batches. If cooking in batches, cover the cooked patties on a plate covered with foil to keep them warm.
- Storage tips: store leftover burger patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cooked patties can be re-heated in the air fryer at 180°C/356F for 3-5 minutes. Pre-made, raw patties can also be kept in the freezer in a good quality, airtight container for 2 months.
FAQs
Uncooked turkey patties can be made ahead and frozen for later use. To freeze, place the flattened patties into an airtight container with a piece of parchment/baking paper between each layer and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw them in the fridge the night before you want to cook them, or add 3-5 minutes to the cooking time and cook them direct from frozen.
Yes! The burgers can be cooked on a grill or in a frying pan on the stovetop. Heat some oil (about 2 tablespoons of canola or vegetable oil) over medium-high heat. Cook for about 5-7 minutes per side, until browned on the outside and completely cooked through.
You can cook frozen turkey burgers in an air fryer. There is no need to thaw them first; simply add an additional 3-5 minutes to the specified cooking time. Pre-heat the air fryer to 180°C/356 F and coat the basket in a little oil spray. For these burgers, place the patties into the air fryer basket in a single layer (not overlapping). Cook for around 18-20 minutes and check the finished burgers for an internal temperature of 75°C/165F.
Yes, of course! Ground beef or chicken can be used in place of turkey. If using chicken, add a little olive oil to the mixture to help keep it moist while cooking.
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Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
For the turkey patties
- 500 grams turkey mince regular
- 3 tbsp dried breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt or use less, if preferred
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground paprika sweet Hungarian
- 1 heaped tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp chives finely chopped
- olive oil spray
For the burgers (or choose your preferred salads)
- 4 multigrain rolls or use white, brioche or wholemeal/whole wheat
- mixed lettuce leaves
- 2 tomatoes sliced
- 1 red onion sliced into rings
- 4 slices burger cheese
- mustard and tomato sauce
- sliced dill pickles
Instructions
- Pre-heat your air fryer to 180°C/356F.
- Add all of the burger patty ingredients into a large bowl and mix together until completely combined. Using your hands is easiest for this step, but you can also use a wooden spoon if preferred.
- Divide the turkey mixture into 4 even portions and roll each into a ball.
- Using your fingers, shape and flatten the patties. Make them slightly larger than you require them, as they will shrink slightly while cooking.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray and spread the patties over the bottom of the basket, making sure they are not touching or overlapping.
- Cook the patties, turning halfway, for 15 minutes or until completely cooked through.
- Place the cooked patties onto a plate and add a slice of cheese to each. Let the patties rest for 1-2 minutes while the cheese melts.
- Assemble the burgers with the salads and sauces and serve with your favourite sides. Enjoy!
Notes
- Every air fryer is different. Cooking times may vary depending on the size and model of air fryer that you use, as well as the size and thickness of your burger patties. The internal temperature of the turkey patty should be 75°C/165 F when ready to eat.
- If you love meal prepping, the ground turkey mixture and salads can be prepared ahead and stored (covered) in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Flatten the burger patties to a slightly larger shape than you want them, as they will shrink slightly as they cook. To prevent this from happening too much, use your thumb to press a small divot in the centre of the patties.
- I have added my favourite burger toppings in the recipe below, but you can mix and match to suit your taste! Additionally, try adding some sliced jalapenos, a fried egg, Swiss cheese, BBQ sauce, coleslaw or avocado slices.
- This recipe makes 4 burgers, but can be easily multiplied to make more serves. If making larger quantities, you may have to cook the patties in batches. If cooking in batches, cover the cooked patties on a plate covered with foil to keep them warm.
- Storage tips: store leftover burger patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cooked patties can be re-heated in the air fryer at 180°C/356F for 3-5 minutes. Pre-made, raw patties can also be kept in the freezer in a good quality, airtight container for 2 months.
- Cooking from frozen; You can cook frozen turkey patties or burger patties in an air fryer. There is no need to thaw them first; simply add an additional 3-5 minutes to the specified cooking time. Pre-heat the air fryer to 180°C/356 F and coat the basket in a little oil spray. Place the patties into the air fryer basket in a single layer (not overlapping). Cook for around 18-20 minutes and check the finished burgers for an internal temperature of 75°C/165F.
- Ground beef or chicken mince can be used in place of turkey. If using chicken, add a little olive oil to the mixture to help keep it moist while cooking.
Nutrition
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Update Notes: This recipe was originally published in July 2021, but was re-published with new information, helpful tips and photos in April 2022.
Jaimie says
YESSSS! I will have 4 please 🙂
Mouth-watering!
Andrea Geddes says
Hi Jaimie! Thank you so much, I’ll pop four in the post for you 😉
Sarah says
Never would have thought to do burgers in the air fryer, great idea! And these turkey one’s look juicy and delicious, yum!
Andrea Geddes says
Thank you Sarah! Making them in the air fryer means less mess and a more healthy burger. It’s a big time saver too!
Sylvie says
This burger looks absolutely mouthwatering! What a great alternative to beef burgers, definitely one I want to try!
Andrea Geddes says
Hi Sylvie! Thank you so much. They are such a great alternative to red meat and a healthy twist with lots of flavour for burger lovers who want something a little lighter. I hope you enjoy them! Andrea.
Amanda says
I love this idea! I’ve never tried to make burgers in the air-fryer – I’m so excited. What a fantastic recipe.
Andrea Geddes says
Hi Amanda! Thank you so much. I do love my air fryer and how quick and easy it makes getting dinner on the table after a busy day. I hope you enjoy them! Andrea.
Adrianne says
Oh boy yum!! These turkey burgers look SO good. I would definitely devour one for lunch on a weekend. The patties look juicy and delicious too. Nice work!
Andrea Geddes says
Hi Adrianne! Thank you so much, they were a huge hit here and one that we will make over and over again! I do love a good air fryer recipe 🙂