Ready in less than 20 minutes, these juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers are simply the best! Much healthier and quicker than fast food, they are loaded with flavor and really hit the spot. Load them up in buns or salad bowls with all of your favorite toppings!
❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Easy: These juicy burgers couldn’t be more simple! Simply mix the burger ingredients, make the burger patties, and air fry them, flipping halfway.
- Quick: This air fryer burger recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes, including prep time. Much quicker than ordering takeaway!
- Healthy: Making burgers in the air fryer is much healthier than frying! The excess fat from the lean ground beef simply drips away into the air fryer basket. The hamburger patties themselves are loaded with simple ingredients like raw onion, garlic powder, and dried oregano adding a boost of nutrition.
- Meal Prep: I made sure this recipe could feed a hungry family with 8 portions, or half can easily be refrigerated or frozen for later. You can even reheat the burger patties in the air fryer!
- Delicious burgers: Not only are these air fryer hamburgers juicy, but they also have the most incredible flavor. I added Worcestershire sauce which really amps up the beefy flavor!
- Customizable: You can serve the burgers on gluten-free buns for a gluten-free version, and switch the Worcestershire sauce for coconut aminos if you can’t find gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. The coconut aminos substitute is also perfect for paleo and Whole30 diets, served in a keto-friendly salad bowl.
🗝️ Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Ground beef: I used 80/20 ground beef this time. You could substitute a 50/50 ground beef and pork mixture, or use ground lamb, ground chicken, or ground turkey instead.
Ground flaxseed: Instead of breadcrumbs, I used ground flaxseed which adds a hearty, nutty flavor. This ingredient is an excellent binder for things like burgers and meatballs. Breadcrumbs can be used instead for these air fryer hamburgers if desired.
Onion: Blended onion is my secret ingredient. This is the key to the juiciest burger patties! I blended half a red onion, but a white or yellow onion would be great too. Onion powder is not a good substitute in this case.
Egg: This ingredient binds the air fryer hamburger patties.
Ketchup: This adds sweetness and a little more spice to the hamburger patties. I made my Sugar-Free Ketchup for this recipe which happens to be paleo-compliant as well as keto. Store-bought is fine too. For Whole30, you can buy Whole30 ketchup or use tomato paste instead.
Worcestershire Sauce: Amp up the beefiness with Worcestershire sauce! I love this ingredient for all kinds of recipes. Make sure it’s gluten-free is needed (the original contains barley), or use coconut aminos instead.
Seasoning: Garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper add the finishing touches to these air fryer hamburgers.
Optional: A slice of cheese can be placed on top of the burger patties at the end to melt if desired. I like cheddar cheese, however, blue cheese, Monterey jack, Swiss, Gouda, or pepper Jack are also delicious.
🥣 How to make Air Fryer Hamburgers
Making Your Own Burger Patties
1. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F/190°C.
2. Blend the onion. I used a hand blender but you could also use a regular blender or food processor.
3. In a large bowl add all of the ingredients and mix them well together. I find that using my hands and squeezing it all together is the best way to mix it.
4. Split the mixture into 8 and form the beef burgers. I used an egg ring to get a good shape but you can easily just use your hands as well. Each burger uses about 1/2 a cup of raw meat mixture which is 4 oz. You could also use a kitchen scale to weigh each burger before shaping them.
How to Cook Hamburgers in the Air Fryer
1. Place the uncooked burger patties in the air fryer basket in a single layer, and cook burgers for 8 minutes.
2. Flip the burgers over and air fry burgers for a further 4-6 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 155°F/68°C. I use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature in the middle of the patty.
How To Add Cheese to an Air Fryer Hamburger
You can optionally add a slice of cheese to each of the cooked burger patties and air fry for 1 more minute. If it’s not quite melted, close the air fryer and allow the burgers to sit in the residual heat for an extra minute.
Allow the juicy hamburgers to rest for 5 minutes. Serve hot in a salad bowl or hamburger buns with your desired toppings.
🫙 Storage Instructions
Store any leftover air fryer hamburgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer until piping hot.
🪄 Recipe Notes & Tips
Meal Prep Tip: I love to double batch this recipe and freeze half either raw or cooked for later. It makes the next burger night such a breeze! Follow my instructions for freezing air fryer hamburgers.
Gluten-Free: This air fryer hamburgers recipe was written with my gluten-free friends in mind, however, Worcestershire sauce sometimes contains gluten. You can substitute it for coconut aminos or make sure that you use a gluten-free brand.
Cook time: Cooking time will vary between different brands of air fryer. I find it best to check the air fryer hamburgers halfway through when you flip them. If they still look raw on the flipped side, cook them for the full amount of time. If they look nearly finished just cook the hamburgers in air fryer for a few more minutes.
Cheese: Cheese is completely optional but it tastes amazing on a burger! I love to add pre-sliced cheddar cheese, however, I also recommend blue cheese, pepper jack, or Swiss. The best cheeses I’ve found are hard cheeses that melt well.
Other cooking methods: You can also cook hamburgers in the oven, on the grill, or pan-fry them. Check out my Best Burger Recipe for all of the cooking times and temperatures.
Easy clean-up: Make this recipe fuss-free by adding parchment paper or aluminum foil to the bottom section of your air fryer (below the basket). Simply remove the paper or foil when you’re finished cooking the air fryer hamburgers and rinse off anything else left in the air fryer.
🍽️ What to serve with Hamburgers
On the burgers
My family enjoys brioche buns, but I usually opt for a salad bowl or lettuce wrap to keep it light and add a little more nutrition.
Sliced tomatoes, sliced or sautéed onion, pickles, and lettuce are my favorite burger toppings to make the perfect bite.
Bacon! Yes, bacon, particularly with blue cheese on a burger is so delicious! I always go for streaky bacon as opposed to regular British bacon.
Speaking of cheese, I think cheese is an essential component of any great burger. It’s so incredibly tasty and adds just an extra element of salty, tanginess. I recommend adding your favorite melty cheese slices, similar to cheddar or gouda. Soft cheeses tend to run everywhere so I avoid ones like soft mozzarella for these air fryer cheeseburgers.
Slather the burgers with ketchup, BBQ sauce, burger sauce, and/or mayonnaise. I like it a little spicy so often add a dash of hot sauce, sweet chili sauce, chili jam, or green taco sauce.
Side dish ideas
Burgers and fries? Of course! While my burgers rest I like to air fry some fries. It’s really quick and I don’t even really need to clean out the air fryer to do it. I rotate between Air Fryer Frozen French Fries, Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries, and Air Fryer Curly Fries.
For a healthier option, I love a side salad with my juicy burger. My Pickled Beet Salad goes with pretty much anything and is super refreshing for summer. Coleslaw is also a great veggie option!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
I use 80/20 lean ground beef for air fryer hamburgers. It makes a classic-tasting burger and it is absolutely delicious.
Yes! I flip my hamburgers in the air fryer around the 8-minute mark with a spatula. This ensures both sides of the burgers cook evenly.
The best temperature for cooking burgers in the air fryer is 175°C/350°F. Any hotter and the outside cooks too quickly leaving the inside raw. Any cooler and it just takes more time.
Air-fried burgers are much healthier than deep-frying or even pan-frying burgers. All of the excess fat drips off of the air fryer burgers and into the air fryer basket, leaving you with juicy meat.
⏳ How Long to Cook Hamburgers in the Air Fryer
The FDA recommends cooking ground beef until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. This reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses and food poisoning. Of course, many people like to enjoy a medium-rare burger, and that risk is entirely up to each individual. Here are the internal temperatures to aim for your desired doneness:
- Well-done burgers: 155-160°F (68-71°C)
- Medium-well burgers: 150-155°F (65-68°C)
- Medium hamburger patties: 140-145°F (60-63°C)
- Medium-rare burgers: 130-135°F (54-57°C)
- Rare hamburger patties: 125-130°F (51-54°C)
❄️ How to Make Frozen Hamburgers in the Air Fryer
Yes, you can cook frozen burgers in the air fryer as well! All you have to do is place your frozen burger patty or patties in the air fryer and cook! Check out my post on How To Cook Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer for all of my tips and tricks.
Homemade Frozen Burgers
Want to make your own frozen burgers for air frying? It’s really simple to make frozen burger patties, and pre-made hamburger patties make this quick meal even quicker. Check out my post on How to Freeze Hamburgers. They can be frozen either raw or cooked!
How to Season Frozen Burgers
If you want to spice up your frozen patties, be sure to read 21 Ways to Season Frozen Hamburgers!
🍔 Air Fry for the Best Burgers and Fries
The air fryer is truly the best way to make burgers and fries. In fact, you can even cook them together!
Place one burger patty on one side of the basket, and frozen french fries on the other side. Follow the instructions on this recipe, giving the fries a shake or flipping them over when you flip the burger. The fries may cook a little quicker than the air fryer hamburger so keep an eye on them!
😋 More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
- Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Sausages
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (gluten-free!)
- Air Fryer Drumsticks
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe
Ingredients
- 750 g 1.7-2lbs 80/20 ground beef (see note 1)
- 34 g 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (or breadcrumbs)
- 1/2 medium onion blended
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons ketchup see note 2
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Optional: 8 cheese slices
To serve
- Buns or salad bowls
- Sliced tomatoes
- Sliced or sauteed onion
- Pickles
- Ketchup BBQ sauce, burger sauce, and/or mayonnaise
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 370°F/190°C.
- Blend the onion. I used a hand blender but you could also use a regular blender or food processor.
- In a large bowl add all of the ingredients and mix them well together. I find that using my hands and squeezing it all together is the best way to mix it.
- Split the mixture into 8 and form the beef burgers. I used an egg ring to get a good shape but you can easily just use your hands as well. Each burger uses about 1/2 a cup of raw meat mixture which is 4 oz. You could also use a kitchen scale to weigh each burger before shaping them.
- Spray a little olive oil in the air fryer basket (optional), add the patties, and air fry the burgers for 8 minutes.
- Flip the burgers over and air fry for a further 4-6 minutes, or until the meat temperature reads 155°F/68°C. I use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature in the middle of the patty.
- Optional: Add a slice of cheese and air fry for 1 more minute before serving.
- Serve Worcestershire Sauce Burgers in a bun or on a salad bowl with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- Ground beef: You can substitute ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, lamb, or pork. My favorite is a 50/50 mix of ground beef and pork. SO juicy!
- Ketchup: I made my Homemade Sugar-Free Ketchup (paleo/keto) for this recipe but store-bought will also work. You can also use BBQ sauce instead if desired.
- Whole30 option: For Whole30, use a Whole30-compliant ketchup or tomato paste and swap the Worcestershire sauce for coconut aminos.
- Like it spicy? Feel free to add 1 or 2 teaspoons of chili powder to the burger mixture. Expert tip: A little hot sauce on top at the end is delicious as well!
- Cleanup: Make this recipe fuss-free by adding parchment paper or aluminum foil to the bottom section of your air fryer (below the basket). Simply remove the paper or foil when you're finished cooking the air fryer hamburgers and rinse off anything else left in the air fryer.
- Cooking temperature: It is recommended by the FDA to cook ground beef until it reaches 160°F. This reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses and food poisoning. Of course, many enjoy a medium-rare burger, and that risk is entirely up to each individual. I cook my burgers to 155°F and let them rest for a few minutes. The burger temperature rises to 160°F while they rest. Here are the temperatures to aim for different levels of doneness:
- Well-done burgers: 155-160°F (68-71°C)
- Medium-well burgers: 150-155°F (65-68°C)
- Medium burger patties: 140-145°F (60-63°C)
- Medium-rare burgers: 130-135°F (54-57°C)
- Rare burger patties: 125-130°F (51-54°C)