Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers might just be your new favorite “go-to” meal on busy weeknights! Air frying them keeps them nice and juicy, plus they come together with just a few simple ingredients, and cook in under 15 minutes, so they are perfect when you need something quick, healthy, and kid-approved for dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Turkey Burger Recipe
I love these burgers, because they are fast, low effort and low mess. Win, Win, Win, right!?
Its really just combining ingredients for the meat mixture, shaping patties, and letting my air fryer do the work! Plus they are made with lean ground turkey, so they are lighter than traditional beef burgers, but still full of flavor. And everyone can customize their meal by adding their own toppings, which is always a hit in my house.
Making them in the air fryer vs a fry pan not only makes them healthier, but also means no mess. I used to pan fry my turkey burgers, and they would splatter all over my stove which drove me nuts. I tried them on the grill, but they would get get extremely dry, and start to crumble while cooking. Making them in the air fryer helps lock in the moisture from the onions and Worcestershire sauce, so they come out nice and juicy and, and my kitchen stays clean.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Turkey Burgers
- ground turkey (93% I like lean for the best balance of moisture and flavor)
- onion (yellow or red onion)
- seasoned salt (I like this one)
- black pepper
- Worcestershire sauce
- brioche buns
Toppings
- mayonnaise
- dijion mustard
- avocado
- shredded lettuce
- Swiss cheese slices
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer by either using the preheat setting, or set air fryer temperature to 400 degrees and run it for about 5 mins.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, diced onion, seasoned salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands.
Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape them. I first roll them into a tight ball, and then press them into turkey burger patties about ½ inch thick. A consistent shape and thickness will help them cook evenly.
Place the patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry turkey burgers at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Flip halfway through, and air fry for another 5 minutes. Use a meat thermometer(like this one) to check internal temperature. Insert tip of thermometer into the the middle of the thickest part of the burger. The burgers are done when internal temperature reaches 165°F. If the temperature is not quite to 165°F, flip the burgers again and cook for another 2 mins, or until you get to that temperature. Let the burgers rest for another 2 minutes in air fryer before removing to let the juices settle.
Optional: If you like cheese on your turkey burgers, place a slice of cheese on each burger patty, and run air fryer another 30-60 seconds for cheese to melt, then let the burgers rest for the 2 minutes.
Grab a small bowl and mix 2T of mayonnaise with 2T of Dijon mustard. Stir until completely combined. Slice an avocado.
Slice hamburger buns in half and slather mayo mixture on inside of bun. Place cooked turkey patties onto bun and top with shredded lettuce and a few slices of avocado. Replace top of bun and use a toothpick to keep sandwich together if need be. Serve immediately.
Toppings for Turkey Burgers
Since turkey burgers have such a mild flavor, the possibilities are endless when it comes to toppings you can add.
My favorite toppings to serve on turkey burgers are a slice of Swiss cheese, a mayo-mustard sauce, shredded lettuce and sliced avocado. Sometimes I dip my burger in a little ranch dressing as well! My husband prefers a slice of cheddar cheese and bbq sauce on his.
Give your family the power to customize their own burger how ever they’d like for an easy dinner that everyone will eat. Here are some more topping ideas to have on hand…
Cheeses (use a sliced cheese that melts well):
- cheddar
- pepper jack cheese
- provolone
- gouda
- mozzarella
- colby jack
Sauces
- barbecue sauce
- ketchup
- yellow mustard
- honey mustard
- dijion mustard
- mayonnaise
- siracha mayo
- ranch dressing
Veggies
- lettuce
- tomato
- pickles (dill or try the bread and butter style for a touch of sweetness)
- avocado
- sliced onion
- roasted red peppers
- fresh herbs
Burger Buns
- brioche rolls
- sesame seed buns
- potato rolls
- whole wheat buns
- or skip the bun and wrap burger in crisp lettuce for a low-carb option
Best Side Dishes for Turkey Burgers
- french fries
- potato wedges
- sweet potato fries
- tater tots
- side salad
- corn on the cob
- coleslaw
- pasta salad (try this one or this one)
- roasted veggies
- carrots and ranch dip
- potato chips or pretzels with this dip
Tips for Achieving the Best Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Cooking turkey burgers can be a bit intimidating because if they are not fully cooked, the meat can be unsafe to consume. But if you over cook them, they get dry and fall apart. Follow these simple tricks for great results every time.
Use a meat thermometer! The key to a juicy burger is making sure it reaches 165°F without being overcooked. Grab a meat thermometer here and use it to measure the internal temperature without cutting into each patty and releasing all of the juice.
Don’t overmix your turkey mixture. Overworking the turkey burger mixture can make the burgers tough, so use your hands to mix the ingredients together just well enough that the seasonings are evenly dispersed throughout meat.
Flavor and moisturize the turkey. Turkey is naturally pretty dry and flavorless, so its important to add some flavor and some moisture to the meat mixture before cooking. Worcestershire sauce (or you can substitute soy sauce) work great for moisture. Diced onions (yellow and red both work) add another layer of moisture, and help add flavor. Seasoned salt and black pepper also add nice flavor without overpowering the meat, so it won’t interfere with any toppings that you want to add. If you like a little heat, you can also include 1-2 tsp of chili powder to the meat.
Avoid bread crumbs! Adding breadcrumbs is a common practice to keep things like meatballs and meatloaf together while it cooks, but this recipe stays together just fine without them. Adding them will cause them to soak up some that moisture we just worked so hard to add. So skip them.
Let the patties sit for 2-3 minutes after cooking to let the juices redistribute thought the meat. Just leave them right in the fry basket (no need to dirty another dish). This is a good time to prep the toppings.
How to Store Leftovers & Reheat Turkey Burgers
Storing Leftovers:
Keep leftover turkey burgers in an airtight container (I love these glass ones) in the fridge for 3-4 days
Reheating Instructions:
Either re-heat patties in air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, or pop them in your microwave for 30-60 seconds.
FAQ’s
Can I make these burgers with ground chicken instead?
Sure! Swap fresh ground turkey for ground chicken and follow the same instructions.
How do I prevent turkey burgers from drying out?
Use 93% lean ground turkey (not extra lean) as a little bit of fat will help with moisture, but still be a healthy meal. Add Worcestershire sauce and diced onion to meat mixture which helps keep burgers juicy. Do not add any breadcrumbs though as they will absorb the juice.
Can I make turkey burgers ahead of time?
Yes. Turkey burgers actually make a great meal prep for busy weeknights. Sometimes I even prep them the night before. Simply shape the turkey burger patties, place them between parchment paper, and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking. You can even freeze the uncooked patties to use at a later date. Place patties between parchment paper or individually wrap in plastic wrap, and place in a freezer-safe bag before you put them in freezer. They will last in the freezer for 3 months.
Can I cook frozen turkey burgers in the air fryer?
Absolutely. Just increase the cook time to 12-14 minutes and flip halfway through. Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check for the 165°F internal temperature to ensure they are cooked all of the way through before you serve.
Bonus Recipes
Here are some of my other favorite air fryer recipes…
Air Fryer Pickle Chicken Sandwiches
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Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Equipment
- serrated knife
- spoon
Ingredients
Turkey Burgers
- 1 lb ground turkey (I like 93% lean for the best balance of moisture and flavor)
- ½ cup diced onion (yellow or red onion)
- 1 tsp seasoned salt (I like this one)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 hamburger buns I like brioche style buns
Toppings
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp dijion mustard
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer by either using the preheat setting, or set air fryer temperature to 400 degrees and run it for about 5 mins.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine 1lb ground turkey, ½ cup diced onion, 2T Worcestershire sauce, 1t seasoned salt, and ½ t pepper. Mix with your hands.
- Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape them. I first roll them into a tight ball, and then press them into turkey burger patties about ½ inch thick. A consistent shape and thickness will help them cook evenly.
- Place the patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry turkey burgers at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Flip halfway through, and air fry for another 5 minutes. Use a meat thermometer (like this one) to check internal temperature. Insert tip of thermometer into the the middle of the thickest part of the burger. The burgers are done when internal temperature reaches 165°F. If the temperature is not quite to 165°F, flip the burgers again and cook for another 2 mins, or until you get to that temperature. Let the burgers rest for another 2 mins in air fryer before removing to let the juices settle.
- Optional: If you like cheese on your turkey burgers, place a slice of cheese on each burger patty, and run air fryer another 30-60 seconds for cheese to melt, then let the burgers rest for the 2 minutes.
- Grab a small bowl and mix 2T of mayonnaise with 2T of Dijon mustard. Stir until completely combined. Slice and avocado.
- Slice hamburger buns in half and slather mayo mixture on inside of bun. Place cooked turkey patties onto bun and top with shredded lettuce and a few slices of avocado. Replace top of bun and use a toothpick to keep sandwich together if need be. Serve immediately.
Notes
Best Side Dishes for Turkey Burgers
- french fries
- potato wedges
- sweet potato fries
- tater tots
- side salad
- corn on the cob
- coleslaw
- pasta salad (try this one or this one)
- roasted veggies
- carrots and ranch dip
- potato chips or pretzels with this dip
