My air fryer turkey burgers are lean and seasoned for that perfectly savory and satisfying bite. I use simple ingredients to pack on the flavor while keeping it easy to put together!
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My Recipe For Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer
Don’t get me wrong. I love a good beef burger, but now that I can air fry them all year round, my son Connor asks me to make them constantly. I decided to create these air fryer turkey burgers as a nice switch, and I find myself eating them more and more.
I love that ground turkey has less fat and is healthier than ground beef, but I was nervous about how it would taste when air fried. My family loves beef burgers so much that I wanted to find a good change-up that we all still enjoyed eating.
I tested this recipe about 10 times before I landed on that perfect flavor profile. I wanted something that still tasted indulgent while still keeping it leaner. What I came up with is this juicy, flavorful, satisfying turkey burger.
My son confirmed this was the one when he downed his turkey burger so fast it was gone before I sat down at the table. It’s amazing how fast he can eat sometimes.
And, if you love a good air fryer dinner recipe like this one, try my recipes for air fryer hamburgers, frozen turkey burgers in the air fryer, air fryer hot dogs, air fryer meatloaf, and air fryer chicken legs.
Air Fry Turkey Burgers Ingredients
- Ground turkey
- Breadcrumbs – I’ve used both Italian breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs with this recipe
- Egg
- Ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce
- Seasoning salt – I’ve used kosher and table salt, but find the extra flavor the seasoning salt brings in is worth it
- Pepper
- Hamburger buns and toppings
How to Cook Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Add the ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl and stir with a fork until well incorporated. Do not over mix.
STEP TWO: Portion them into 4 equal turkey patties, each ½ inch thick. Place the patties on a large plate in one layer not touching. Refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes.
STEP THREE: Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F, then add the burgers in one single layer, keeping a little space between each one.
STEP FOUR: Air fry the turkey burgers for 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking. The internal temperature should read 165 degrees F on a meat thermometer.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Don’t overwork the meat. I find overworked meat affects the texture. I use a fork or my hands to mix it up until just blended.
- Use a kitchen scale to measure the meat. I find that when I weigh each patty to be equal in size, they finish air frying all at the same time.
- Place a thumbprint in the middle of the burgers before cooking. This helps the burgers stay flatter with less shrinkage.
- Leave some space between each turkey burger in the air fryer. An air fryer works by circulating hot air, so if they are touching, they won’t cook evenly.
- Pull the burgers out right at 165 degrees F. Overcooking burgers will cause them to get tough. I recommend using a meat thermometer to help get a juicy burger.
Air Fry Turkey Burgers Variations and Substitutions
- Use ground beef, plant-based meat, or even ground chicken instead of ground turkey. I love air frying all kinds of ground meat in the air fryer because it cooks up delicious.
- Melt cheese on the burgers by placing a piece of cheese on each patty and closing the air fryer for 1 minute with it off to let the cheese melt in the residual heat. My favorite cheese to use is cheddar cheese.
- Use a homemade seasoning blend of spices and/or herbs like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder instead of the seasoning salt.
- Turn them into a taco-style flavored burger by using taco seasoning instead of seasoning salt.
- Use lettuce wraps instead of buns. I love buying romaine hearts when doing this.
- Use panko breadcrumbs instead of Italian breadcrumbs. I’ve made this recipe with both and love it both ways!
What to Serve with Turkey Burgers in the air Fryer
I love to keep my dinners with this recipe BBQ style, so I pair it with side dishes like air fryer tater tots, air fryer French fries, and air fryer onion rings. I complete it with a salad like my grape salad or watermelon salad.
I also love adding fall and winter produce like air fryer butternut squash and air fryer sweet potato fries when I can.
Toppings for Turkey Burgers
I love some good old-fashioned burger toppings on my turkey burger. Sometimes, I like to keep it simple with my favorite Big Mac sauce recipe. My other go-to includes a good smear of mustard, thinly sliced red onions, sautéed mushrooms, and a slice of cheddar cheese that melts beautifully right as the burgers finish cooking!
I’ve also tried a Mediterranean-inspired turkey burger patties topped with sun-dried tomatoes, feta, and a smear of pesto that was phenomenal. My husband, on the other hand, likes to keep it classic with shredded lettuce, minced onion, ketchup, a slice of American cheese, and some pickles.
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers FAQs
How to Reheat Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer
I love to reheat my leftover turkey burgers in the air fryer at 360 degrees F for about 4-5 minutes. They taste just as juicy and delicious as when they were first cooked!
How Long to Cook Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer
I find turkey burgers cook in just 15 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 360 degrees F. They are done cooking as soon as they hit 165 degrees F with a meat thermometer.
How to Cook Frozen Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer
I love the air fryer because I can cook so many foods, including meats, in the air fryer. I air fry frozen raw turkey burgers in a preheated air fryer at 380 degrees for about 15 to 18 minutes.
Do I Need to Flip Air Fried Turkey Burgers?
I always flip my turkey burgers in the air fryer about halfway through the cooking time. While it’s not technically necessary, I find they cook much more evenly this way. Plus, I get that delicious browning on both sides.
How To Know When Air Fryer Turkey Burgers are Done
To be completely safe, I use a meat thermometer to make sure the turkey burgers have reached a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the burger. Cooking them for 15 minutes usually does the trick, but I like the peace of mind of using a meat thermometer.
How to Store Air Fry Turkey Burgers
I store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I also love storing extras in the freezer for the future. I find they stay good for up to 2 months.
Why Should I Chill My Burgers Before Air Frying?
I find that chilling this recipe helps the flavors really meld into the burgers and helps them stay together super well. I’ve even noticed a difference in the amount they shrink by doing this, too!
More Easy Air Fryer Dinners
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Pork loin in the air fryer
- Air fryer boneless pork chops
- Air fryer grilled cheese
- Air fryer Cornish hen
- Air fryer brats
- Air fryer steak bites
- Air fryer chicken thighs
- Air fryer shrimp
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Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- ½ cup dried breadcrumbs Italian or panko
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- Black pepper to taste
- Hamburger buns optional
- Toppings such as lettuce, tomato, onion, or other favorite burger toppings
Instructions
- Place the ground turkey in a mixing bowl with the breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning salt, and pepper.Â
- Use a fork to mix the contents of the bowl together well, being sure not to over mix.
- Shape into four ½-inch thick round patties and place them on a large plate. Chill the patties in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
- Preheat an air fryer to 360 degrees F for 5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, then place the burgers in an even layer in the basket.
- Air fry for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached.
Notes
- Melt cheese on the burgers by placing a piece of cheese on each patty and closing the air fryer for 1 minute with it off to let the cheese melt in the residual heat.
- Don’t overwork the meat.
- Place a thumbprint in the middle of the burgers before cooking. This helps the burgers stay flatter with less shrinkage.
- Leave some space between each turkey burger in the air fryer. An air fryer works by circulating hot air, so if they are touching, they won’t cook evenly.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
