Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

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These southwestern-style Air Fryer Turkey Burgers are so juicy and full of flavor, it’s hard to believe that they are healthier than traditional burgers.

Although ground turkey has more calories than beef, it’s lower in saturated fat, which is more important to many people.

I loooooove that like these Air Fryer Hamburger, this totally tasty air fryer burgers recipe is soooo quick and easy. We’re talking ready in less than 10 minutes, folks!

Juicy Burger Patties

And cooking turkey burger air fryer style means you’ll get a crispy exterior and a tender and juicy interior without all the grease usually associated with cooking burgers. So one of those healthy meals with so much flavor that you can make for dinner tonight.

There is no need to heat up the grill, cooking and cleanup is a breeze, and you can top these just like a regular hamburger. Everyone needs a good healthy turkey burger recipe and this one will give you great results every time.

Just ask my kids if you don’t believe me! Loved as much as these awesome Air Fryer Frozen Burgers and delicious Air Fryer Venison Burgers.

Why Make This Recipe

• Healthier – Ground turkey is lower in saturated fat and you won’t have as much grease as traditional burgers.
• No more dry turkey burgers – the air fryer gives you a juicy burger every time.
• Customizable – everyone adds their own favorite toppings to create an individual burger they will love. Serve them in Easy Yeast Rolls.
• No mess or fuss – Cooking and cleanup is a breeze.

Ingredient Notes

• Turkey – This recipe calls for fresh ground turkey. If using frozen turkey, make sure to thoroughly defrost it first. You can easily use ground chicken instead (or ground beef to make beef burgers).
• Breadcrumbs – This recipe calls for gluten free breadcrumbs, but you can use regular breadcrumbs if you prefer. These add in a delicious texture.
• Worcestershire sauce – adds in a delicious flavor.
• Seasoning – Onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper give this it amazing flavor. Feel free to substitute in fresh version of the ingredients.
• Salt and pepper – add to taste.

Soooooo, let’s gather up those ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Turkey Burgers in Air Fryer

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Pre heat air fryer to 350 degrees F / 176 degrees C.
2. Combine the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, and seasonings in a medium sized bowl.
3. Lightly mix to combine ingredients and shape into 6 burger patties. Place in the air fryer basket, making sure they do not touch (in my case, I cooked them one at a time).
4. Spray each patty lightly with olive oil or cooking spray and air fry for 10 minutes flipping halfway through
5. If desired, add cheese to the top of each burger and air fry for 20 seconds more.
6. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings and condiments.

How To Make Frozen Turkey Burgers in Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350F / 176C.
2. Place fresh made, store bought or frozen (following the make ahead instructions below) turkey burgers in the air fryer basket, making sure to leave space around them.
3. Cook for 15-18 minutes, flipping half way through cooking.
4. If desired, add a slice of cheese to the top of each burger and air fry for 20 seconds more.
5. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings and condiments.

Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting out with less cook time, checking for doneness, and then adding more time as needed.

Top Pick Air Fryer Accessory

Expert Tips

• Learn How to Cook Ground Turkey, if you have any leftover from making the burgers.
• Just lightly mix all the ingredients. Over-mixing can cause dry, tough burgers.
• If the mixture is sticky, wet your hands before forming the patties.
• Toss hamburger buns into the air fryer for 40 seconds to make them warm and toasty.
• Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model, so it is important to always check your food for doneness. 

Flavorful Variations

• Season it – Feel free to swap out the seasonings for your favorite blend. I recommend trying Greek Seasoning or Italian seasoning.
• Make it spicy – Add diced red onion, diced jalapeno, a pinch of cayenne, red pepper flakes, or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
• Top is off – The sky’s the limit when it comes to topping a turkey burger. Go traditional with lettuce, tomato and onion or try something out of the ordinary like slices of crispy bacon (or turkey bacon), a fried egg or sliced avocado, feta cheese and onion rings.
• Make it cheesy – I love a burger with cheese! Top these burgers with a sliced cheese like cheddar, Monterey Jack or swiss during the final moment of air frying.

Pro Tip: when cooking meat, always check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer. Ground turkey is considered done and safe to eat when it has reached an internal temperature of 165F / 74C.

Make Ahead and Storage

This southwestern Turkey Burger recipe is perfect for prepping ahead.

• Make Ahead – Prepare the burger mix and shape into patties. Wrap each patty in plastic wrap or layer between parchment and store in the fridge for 3 days or freezer for 3 months.
• Store – Leftovers can be stored for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
• Freeze – Place tightly wrapped burgers into a freezer bag and freeze up to 3 months. Cook from frozen following our instructions above.

FAQs

How Long To Cook Turkey Burgers In Air Fryer?

Wondering how long to cook burger patties in air fryer? You’ll have to trial it if you new to to your machine. Cook time will depend on the thickness of your burger and the make of your air fryer. We have found that cook times vary dramatically between different air fryers.

Start with 10 minutes in the first instant. For thinner air fried burgers, decrease the overall cook time. And for thicker ones increase the cook time, starting with a couple of minutes. And don’t forget to check to check the temperature using your thermometer.

Can I Use Other Ground Meats?

Yes! You can use any ground meat such as chicken, pork, or beef in these burgers. If you love beef, check out my Air Fryer Hamburgers recipe.

Can I Make These Turkey Burgers Gluten-Free?

Making these air fried turkey burgers gluten-free is easy to do with a few swaps. Leave out the breadcrumbs and use almond flour instead. You will also want to make sure to serve them on gluten-free buns.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Turkey Breast.
• Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs.
• Air Fryer Venison Burgers.
• Air Fryer Hamburgers.
• Easy Air Fryer Salmon.
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
• Air Fried Chicken Breast.

Serving Suggestions

• For a lighter side serve with Air Fryer Cauliflower or Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.
• For some starch add Air Fryer French Fries, delicious Homemade Air Fryer Tater Tots easy to make Air Fryer Frozen Waffle Fries and the best Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.
• You can serve with some Pesto Aioli or really easy Sriracha Aioli or barbecue sauce.
• Easy Southern Coleslaw.

Air Fryer Basics

• How To Preheat Air Fryer.
• Do You Put Oil In an Air Fryer.
• How To Clean An Air Fryer.
• Air Fryer Tips and Tricks.

Weight Watchers Points

There is just 1 Blue Plan SmartPoint in a serving (buns, cheese and toppings not included in calculation).

Tools Needed

• Your Air Fryer.
• Handy mixing bowls.
• Measuring spoons and cups.
• A handy meat thermometer.
• Accessories.

Thank you for reading my Turkey Burger Air Fryer recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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