Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

These air fryer turkey burgers are extra juicy and tender, and cook up in no time at all! They make a fabulously fast and healthy weeknight dinner.

If you’ve tried our air fryer hamburgers before, you’ll no doubt love making turkey burgers in them as well.

Like our turkey meatballs, they use ground turkey and make a classic a little bit healthier without sacrificing on flavor!

Why this recipe works 

• Healthy. Ground turkey is one of the leanest and healthiest protein options available (we use it in our meatloaf and crustless pizza).
• Mess-free. Unlike using a skillet or grill, air frying burgers cut out tons of mess and oil splatter!
• Quick and easy. From prep to plate, these burgers come together in less than 10 minutes.

What I love about this recipe is just how perfectly juicy they turn out every single time. Pair them with other air fryer favorites like some air fryer french fries, sweet potato fries, or even potato wedges for the ultimate family-friendly meal.

Ingredients needed

Besides the turkey and some spices, there isn’t much else that goes into this recipe. Here is what you’ll need:

• Turkey. I like using lean ground turkey but standard turkey also works.
• Salt and pepper. To taste. 
• Garlic powder. Adds flavor. 
• Smoked paprika. To taste. 
• Olive oil. For air frying. 
• Worcestershire sauce. A must for any good burger patty.

How to air fry turkey burgers 

Step 1: Make the burger mixture

In a large mixing bowl, add all your ingredients and mix it well till all the spices and Worcestershire sauce are evenly blended into the ground turkey.

Step 2: Shape into patties

Start off by slightly wetting your hands to keep patties from sticking. Take a handful/ mound of the mixture and begin shaping it into a round burger patty. Repeat this process until you have four patties.

After preheating the air fryer to 180C.350F and greasing the air fryer basket, place the turkey burger patties in it.

Step 3: Air fry the turkey burger patties

Air fry the turkey burgers for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Before you assemble your burger, let the patties sit for 5 minutes for them to retain the juices. 

Will this work with frozen turkey burgers? 

If you don’t want to make burgers from scratch, you can use pre-made frozen turkey burgers.

There is no need to thaw these before adding them to the air fryer. Simply grease an air fryer basket then add the frozen turkey burger patties. Air fry at 200C/400F for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. 

Air fryer turkey burgers cooking time

With this recipe, you can have them ready in less than 15 minutes. But, the cooking time varies depending upon the weight as given below: 

• 4-ounce burger: 8-9 minutes.
• 5-ounce burger: 9-10 minutes.
• 6-ounce burger: 10-12 minutes.

For anything more than 6 ounces, add 3 minutes for every ounce from there. 

Tips to make the best recipe

• If you don’t have ground turkey on hand, you can make your own by adding turkey breast fillets into a food processor and blending it down.
• To maintain the firm shape of the turkey patties, keep the meat in the refrigerator for some time. 
• Always check the internal temperature of the patties to see if it’s cooked.

Storage instructions 

To store. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days.

To freeze. Place the cooked and cooled burgers in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

To reheat. You can reheat turkey burgers for 4 to 5 minutes in your air fryer.  

More air fryer recipes to try

• Turkey breast
• Fried chicken
• Pork tenderloin 
• Meatloaf
• Chicken parmesan

Frequently asked questions