You can even customize your turkey burger exactly the way you like. Love a little spice? Add some chili flakes. Craving something cheesy? Throw a slice of your favorite cheese on top of each patty. And when it comes to toppings, the sky’s the limit! Avocado, crispy lettuce, tangy pickles, caramelized onions, or even a sunny-side-up egg– pick whatever you are craving. For more air fryer dinner recipes, try my Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan, Air Fryer Steak, and Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers next!
What You Need To Make This Recipe
Ground turkey — I suggest using an 85/15 blend of fresh ground turkey for extra juicy turkey burgers. Extra-lean ground turkey (93/7) lacks enough fat, leading to a lack of moisture and dry burgers. Worcestershire sauce — for adding a dash of umami to the turkey burger patties. If you don’t have Worcestershire on hand, other alternatives include fish sauce, soy sauce, or tamari. Minced garlic — fresh garlic is best, but you can also swap in about ½ teaspoon of garlic or onion powder instead. Smoked paprika — for warmth and smokiness, so your healthy turkey burgers taste like they got a kiss from the grill. Note that smoked paprika can either be made with mild/sweet chiles or spicy ones, so choose accordingly. You’re also welcome to swap in ground chipotle chiles for a spicy, smoky alternative.
How To Make Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F for 5 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the turkey, Worcestershire, garlic, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Gently mix to fully incorporate.
- Shape the turkey mixture into four 3½-inch patties.
- Press your thumb into the center of each patty to make an indentation. (This will keep them from puffing up too much during cooking.)
- Place the patties in the air fryer basket with about 1-inch of space between each patty. Cook for 8 minutes, flip, then cook until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of each patty reads 165°F, 5 to 7 more minutes. Serve on burger buns with your favorite toppings like onion, lettuce, tomato, and cheese, if desired.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
Consistency is key. Some air fryers don’t have to be preheated, but I find that the timing is more consistent when I do preheat them. For this recipe, preheating also heats up the basket, helping to get a bit of a sear on the outside of the burgers at the start of cooking. Making an indention in the center is the best way to prevent your patties from becoming too puffy and shrinking a lot during cooking. Make the patties for easy meal prep, up to 24 hours in advance! Refrigerate the shaped patties covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container to make sure they don’t dry out. Just place the patties in the preheated air fryer and cook as directed. Use cooking spray if needed. Once preheat, lightly spray the basket before adding the patties. If the burgers are not browning as well as you’d like when you go to flip them, give them a light spray on both sides and continue cooking. Get creative! Feel free to top your burgers with any number of tasty toppings. Go for the classics like sliced tomato, onion, and lettuce on a toasted brioche bun, or add some fiery turkey chili and cheese for a messy meal the whole family will love.
If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Turkey Burger recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
