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No grill? No problem. Make this juicy and tender Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe in just minutes and get the perfect results! It beats making burgers on the stovetop and gives you an easy dinner in under 30 minutes.
I live in Florida, so summertime is cookout season, but it’s also the rainy season full of everything from small sun-showers to massive thunderstorms! With the unpredictable weather of the “Sunshine State,” the air fryer is often the best way to get the job done.
If you love using the air fryer, check out more of my air fryer recipes, like classic hot dogs, crisp and fluffy Texas Toast Garlic Bread, and these adorable Air Fryer Cherry Hand Pies for an air-fried dessert! There’s plenty to choose from and I am adding new ones often!
What’s in this Hamburger Recipe for the Air Fryer
Hamburger Fixings
Don’t forget to complete these air fryer hamburger patties with your favorite hamburger buns and toppings. Below are my go-to’s for burger night that the entire family loves!
- Hamburger buns
- Slices cheese, favorite
- Tomato, sliced
- Leaf lettuce
- Pickles or relish
- Onion, sliced or chopped
- Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup
Variations and Substitutions
- Short Cut: To make this recipe even easier, use pre-made hamburger patties or frozen burgers. Cook frozen hamburger patties for a little longer than the fresh ones, checking at about 10 minutes.
- Favorite Toppings: Top your juicy burger with all your favs, like bacon, avocado, caramelized onions, jalapeños, mushrooms, fried egg, coleslaw, red onion, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and crumbled blue cheese or feta.
- Air Fryer Turkey Burgers: For a healthier alternative, try swapping the beef with ground turkey or even try ground chicken burgers.
- Low-Carb Burgers: One of my favorite ways to enjoy this air fryer burger recipe is in a lettuce wrap for fewer carbs and less guilt!
- Seasoning Ideas: Feel free to experiment with other classic patty seasonings, like Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, paprika, or liquid smoke.
- Hamburger Buns Options: Different types of buns, like classic sesame seed, brioche, potato, whole wheat or multigrain, and pretzel buns, are all good options for hamburgers, each offering a unique texture and flavor.
Ground Beef vs.Ground Beef Chuck
Ground beef is a mix of different cuts of beef. Ground beef chuck comes specifically from the shoulder area and has more fat, which makes burgers juicier and tastier. It’s great for making flavorful, moist burger patties.
How to Make the Juiciest Air Fryer Hamburgers
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Prepheat and prep patties
After preheating the air fryer to 370°F, combine meat, garlic powder, onion flakes, onion powder, ground mustard, baking powder, ground pepper, and salt in a large bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands.
Step 2 | Form patties
Next, divide the hamburger mixture into 4 equal portions and form each into a pattie, about 1/2 ½ thick. Press an indention in the center of the burgers with your thumb for even cooking.
Step 3 | Cook burgers
Now, brush the patties with the optional sauce.
The air fryer is preheated in just 5 short minutes. Then, you can place patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook them for 6 minutes, flipping them and cooking for an additional 3-5 minutes.
Step 4 | Add cheese and rest
If you want cheese on your burgers, add it just before removing the patties. After a quick minute, remove the burgers and let them rest for a couple of minutes.
Step 5 | Assemble hamburgers
Finally, assemble the burgers. I like to toast the hamburger buns in the air fryer for a minute or so. For extra toasty buns, I spread butter on them before toasting.
Then, place the air-fried burgers in the buns, add all your favorite fixings, and dig in!
Tips
- Time Varies—Keep in mind that the time will vary depending on the thickness of the burgers and your particular air fryer.
- Cook Evenly– Be sure to form the patties into similar sizes and thicknesses for even cooking. And never overcrowd the air fryer basket! The patties should have plenty of room without overlapping.
- Chill the Patties– For perfectly round burgers, try chilling the patties before adding them to the air fryer.
- Check Doneness—Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. When they are finished frying, the patties should reach at least 160°F.
Recipe FAQs
I always preheat my air fryer as the manufacturer suggests. If you skip preheating, just add an extra minute or two to the cooking time, and you’ll be all set!
Yes, it’s okay to use raw hamburger in an air fryer—it cooks completely following the provided instructions.
To cook hamburgers in an air fryer without making a mess, you can use air fryer liners or a disposable air fryer basket for a cleaner experience. Shape the patties evenly, so they cook uniformly and avoid any mess. Most basket air fryers wipe clean easily anyway.
Storage
Refrigerate: Fresh burgers are great, but if you have leftovers, store them in the fridge in an airtight container or wrapped in foil—they’ll stay good for 3-4 days.
Freeze for Long-term Storage: You can also freeze cooked burger patties. Just make sure to let them cool completely, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil or store them in airtight containers before placing them in the freezer. This helps maintain their flavor and texture for several months.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Burgers Recipe
Juicy hamburgers are perfect for a summer cookout with a crowd-pleasing salad, like Southern Potato Salad or Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, plus some chips for everyone to pick from or easy oven-baked french fries to keep things simple.
And don’t forget to add a great dip to go with those chips- our dill pickle dip and million-dollar dip are some of my favorites.
Or maybe mix a little indulgence with something green and nutritious, like my Baked Beans With Bacon And Brown Sugar and Oven-Roasted Broccoli Recipe With Parmesan.
More Burgers and Cookout-Worthy Sandwiches
- Ground Chicken Burger Recipe
- Stuffed Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger
- Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwich
- Baked Reuben Sandwich Sliders
- Pizza Sloppy Joes
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Air Fryer Hamburgers
Equipment
Ingredients
Hamburger Ingredients
- 1 to 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef, 80/20
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried onion flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard, (optional)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 4 tablespoons chili sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, optional – use your favorite
Hamburger Fixings
- 4 hamburger buns
- 4 slices cheese, favorite
- 1 tomato, sliced
- leaf lettuce
- pickles or relish
- onion, sliced or chopped
- Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F for 5 minutes.
- Combine meat, garlic powder, onion flakes, onion powder, ground mustard, baking powder, ground pepper, and salt in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly.
- Divide the hamburger mixture into 4 equal portions, and form each into a pattie, about 1/2 ½ thick. Press an indention in the center of the burgers with your thumb for even cooking.
- Brush patties with the chili sauce (or ketchup or bbq sauce), if using.
- Place patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 6 minutes, then flip them and cook an additional 3-5 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 160°F.
- If adding cheese slices, place them on top of hamburger patties and cook for an additional minute.
- Remove cooked hamburgers from the air fryer and allow them to rest for a couple of minutes.
- Toast Hamburger Buns in air fryer a minute or so, if desired. (for extra toasty buns spread button them before toasting)
- Place hamburger patties in buns, and add any of the suggested fixings desired. Cut in half if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
