Air Fryer Hamburgers
Skip the hassle of the grill and make an extra-juicy hamburger right in the air fryer.
Serves4
Prep10 minutes
Cook12 minutes to 15 minutes
You don’t need to dine out to enjoy a good burger. Hamburgers can be super delicious even at home — and they don’t always have to be grilled. For an extra-juicy, low-fuss burger with tons of flavor, use your air fryer.
For the best results, use 80/20 ground beef and handle the meat mixture as little as possible. (Over-mixing will lead to toughness.) And don’t forget to flip the burgers halfway through cooking to help evenly distribute the juices.
How to Make Air Fryer Burgers Ahead of Time
- Up to 2 days ahead: Form patties, then store between parchment or wax paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Up to 4 months ahead: Form patties, then store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 4 months. To cook from frozen, air fry at 350°F for 10 minutes. Increase temperature to 380°F, flip the burger, and cook to desired doneness, 7 to 10 minutes.
Air Fryer Hamburger Variations
- Add sliced avocado and runny egg for a California-style burger.
- Brush with BBQ sauce during the last 2 minutes of cooking and add a couple of slices of thick-cut bacon on top.
- Caramelize mushrooms and onions and add slices of Gruyère cheese for some extra umami.
Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe
Skip the hassle of the grill and make an extra-juicy hamburger right in the air fryer.
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 12 minutes to 15 minutes
Serves 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 3 slices
thick-cut bacon (about 6 ounces, optional)
- 1 1/2 pounds
ground beef, preferably 80% lean
- 2 teaspoons
smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon
plus 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 slices
cheese, such as cheddar, pepper Jack, or Swiss (optional)
For serving (optional):
Split hamburger buns
Lettuce
Sliced tomato
Thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
Finely chop 3 slices thick-cut bacon, if using. Place in a medium skillet over medium heat and cook until the fat begins to turn semi-translucent, about 4 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
Place the bacon, 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, and 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Using your hands, quickly and gently mix until just combined.
Divide the mixture into 4 patties (about 6 ounces each). Season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Heat an air fryer to 380°F. Working in two batches if needed, place the patties in a single layer in the basket so that they are not touching. Air fry for 4 minutes. Flip the patties and air fry to desired doneness, 5 to 7 minutes more for medium. Top each patty with a slice of cheese, if using, during last minute of cooking. Serve in buns with toppings if desired.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: Form the patties and refrigerate in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between each patty up to 2 days ahead before air frying. The patties can also be frozen up to 4 months. To cook from frozen, air fry at 350°F for 10 minutes. Increase the temperature to 380°F, flip the patties, and cook to desired doneness, 7 to 10 minutes more.
Storing: Air fryer burgers are best enjoyed right away. Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.