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About This Recipe
Everyone always thinks about grilling burgers during the summer but what happens when you’re craving a big, juicy cheeseburger but it’s freezing and snowing outside? We air fry them!
These juicy air fryer hamburgers are perfect for satisfying your burger craving any time of year! They’re super simple and easy to make and ready in just 20 minutes thanks to the air fryer!
Typically, burgers use a higher fat ground beef to prevent them from drying out on the grill since you’re cooking at a higher heat. But by using the air fryer, we avoid dry burgers while still being able to use lean ground beef so it saves a ton of extra calories! Who doesn’t love that?
And it’s perfect so you can add extra toppings or yummy side of sweet potato wedges, which we all know are really the best part!
And you absolutely cannot skip my Low Calorie Special Sauce! It’s seriously the best copycat of In-N-Out’s special sauce (but only 30 calories!) and is the perfect tangy sauce to add to this air fryer hamburger recipe!
The air fryer seriously saves us in the winter and if you’re looking for more easy air fryer recipes check out my Air Fryer Turkey Burgers or my favorite Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich! Of course, you can cook these burgers on the grill or stovetop is you prefer!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Burger Recipe
- All the classic tastes of a big, juicy cheeseburger without the extra calories!
- The easiest way to make the juiciest burgers every time!
- Quick to make! Ready in just 20 minutes and way better than a frozen burger!
- The best hamburgers perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep. Everyone will love these!
- Made with simple ingredients and super easy to customize with your favorite cheeses, toppings or buns!
- Ground beef – I used 96/4 lean ground beef. You could also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Butter
- Yellow mustard
- Hamburger buns – I used Martin’s
- Cheese – I used sliced American cheese. My favorite good melty kind is Kraft!
- Toppings: red onion (or pickled red onions), tomato, mixed greens or green leaf lettuce
- Low Calorie Special Sauce
- Switch your protein! Not a fan of ground beef? Use ground turkey (like in my Air Fryer Greek Turkey Burgers) or ground chicken for an equally delicious, high protein option!
- Different cheese! I stuck with classic American cheese but try Colby jack, blue cheese, cheddar cheese, pepper jack, feta, goat cheese, etc. for a delicious variation.
- Use your favorite toppings! Add even more flavor with additional toppings like jalapeños, bacon, grilled caramelized onions, mushrooms, chili, slaw, etc.
- Bunless burgers! Skip the bun and wrap your patty in lettuce for a low carb option.
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. In a large bowl, add the ground beef, worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Mix the ingredients together with your hands until well combined (be careful not to overwork the meat).
2. Divide mixture into four equal parts (about 4-oz. each) then shape into 1/4 – 1/2-inch patties. Press your thumb into the middle part of the burger to create a divot (so it doesn’t puff up in the middle when it cooks). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes if time allows.
3. Mix together the softened butter and mustard in a small bowl. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F. Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray and place burger patties in a single layer.
4. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, then flip and brush the burgers with the butter mixture.
5. Cook for another 3-4 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160F (or until cooked to liking). Cook time will vary depending on your air fryer, thickness or burger and how you like your burger cooked. Add cheese slices the last minute of cooking if using.
6. Serve on a bun (or lettuce wrap for lower carb) with red onions, tomato, lettuce and lots of special sauce and eat up! 🙂
What To Serve With Air Fryer Burgers
There are so many delicious options to serve with this juicy air fryer burgers! A few of my favorite recipes include:
- Veggie side dish like Broccoli, Green Beans or Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots
- Macaroni Salad, Pasta Salad, Rainbow Corn Salad or Fruit Salad
- Sweet Potato Wedges, Roasted Potatoes or french fries
- Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese or Mac and Cheese Bites
Can I cook these cheeseburgers on the grill or stovetop instead?
Yes, to cook on the stovetop, grease a skillet and set to medium heat. When hot, add the burgers and cook for 4-5 minutes, then flip and cook for 3-4 minutes or until burgers are cooked through. To grill, grease grill grates to prevent sticking. Set the grill to medium heat and cook burgers for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
Why did my burgers puff up in the middle?
Burgers will puff up during cooking when the exterior shrinks due to heat and all the juices and steam swell in the middle. To prevent this, be sure to create a small divot in the center of the burgers while forming them to prevent them from puffing up.
Do I have to brush these easy air fryer hamburgers with butter during cooking?
You don’t have to brush the burgers with butter, but I highly recommend if you want juicy hamburgers. The butter helps replace some of the moisture since we’re using lean ground beef and prevents the burgers from drying out while cooking.
How do I store these air fryer hamburger patties?
Store leftover cooked patties in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, place burger patty back in air fryer and reheat at 350 for 3-4 minutes or until heated through.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Air Fryer Burgers
Ingredients
Burgers:
- 1 lb. lean ground beef 96/4*
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
For Assembly:
- 4 hamburger buns
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1 red onion sliced
- 1 tomato sliced
- 1 cup torn green leaf lettuce shredded lettuce, or mixed greens
- 1 batch special sauce see notes
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Instructions
- Add the ground beef, worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder and pepper to a large bowl. Mix the ingredients together with your hands until combined (without overworking the meat).
- Divide into four equal parts, about 4-oz. each. Shape into 1/4 – 1/2-inch patties.
- Press your thumb into the middle of the burger to create a divot (so it doesn’t puff up in the middle when it cooks). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes if time allows.
- Mix the softened butter and mustard in a small bowl.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Spray basket with cooking spray and place burger patties in a single layer. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Flip the burgers and brush with the butter mixture. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until desired doneness (see notes below for cooking times). Add cheese the last minute of cooking.
- Serve on a bun (or lettuce wrap for lower carb) with red onions, tomato, lettuce and lots of special sauce and eat up! 🙂
Notes
Remember, cooking time will vary amongst different air fryers, burger thickness and how you like your burger cooked. The best way to ensure desired doneness is to check your meat with an instant read thermometer. Burger Temperature Guide:
- Medium-rare: 130-135°F (seared brown outside, pink/red center, slightly firm)
- Medium: 140-145°F (pink center, firm and springy)
- Medium-well: 150-155°F (a little pink in the center)
- Well-done: 160-165°F (no pink, completely cooked)
Other cooking methods:
Stovetop: Grease skillet and set to medium heat. When hot, add the burgers and cook for 4-5 minutes, then flip and cook for 3-4 minutes or until burgers are cooked to liking.
Grill: Grease grill grates to prevent sticking. Set the grill to medium heat and cook burgers for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked to liking.
Ingredient notes: Ground beef: I know 96/4 beef is too lean for some people (me too sometimes) so just want to say, 90/10 ground beef is still lean and works great here – don’t let that deter you from the recipe! Special sauce: If possible, make sauce in advance and give it time to chill in the fridge. This will allow the flavors to come together more. 24 hours of chill time is great, but if 30 minutes is all you can do, some chill time is better than none!
Nutrition notes: Burger patties, cheese, buns and toppings are all included in nutrition. Everything but the special sauce is included so you can add as much or as little as you wish. Nutrition calculated with Martin’s buns and Kraft cheese.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
