Air Fryer Turkey Burgers are tender, juicy and packed with flavour. They're ready in 20 minutes and perfect for days when you don't want to turn on your stove or break out the grill to cook burgers!
I seriously love a good turkey burger and pretty much live on them during the summer. While I normally grill my burgers, like these turkey jalapeño burgers, some days the weather is just too cold and rainy for outdoor grilling.
Enter the air fryer! It's the perfect way to enjoy juicy burgers year round, and with a trusty meat thermometer, it's almost impossible to overcook your burgers or dry them out!
If you love to change up your burgers, you'll also want to try these air fryer salmon patties and air fryer chicken patties served up on a burger bun!
Table of contents
Why you'll love this recipe
- Quick and easy. These burgers are ready in just 20 minutes. They don't need any time in the fridge to set up. You need just 5-7 minutes to make the patties and about 13 minutes to air fry them!
- Moist and juicy. Ground turkey and chicken burgers tend to dry out quickly. You need to cook them to an internal temperature of 165F for safe consumption, but if you go past that, poultry can be tough and dry. By adding a little bit of oil to the burger mixture, this helps keep them moist and juicy!
- No more bland turkey burgers! While this recipe calls for common seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried basil and oregano, these burgers are super tasty and flavourful. They will rival the flavour of any beef burger!
Details on the ingredients
- Ground turkey - I use extra lean ground turkey, but you can use any type of ground turkey (all white or a mix of dark and white), or substitute with ground chicken.
- Extra virgin olive oil - Since extra lean ground turkey doesn't have a high fat content, I like to add a tablespoon of oil to keep these burgers moist and juicy. You can use another type of oil if you prefer. If your ground turkey has a higher fat content, you can try leaving out the oil.
- Egg - Even though ground turkey is wet, I still like to use an egg as a binder.
- Panko crumbs - Panko crumbs also help bind the turkey burgers together. I prefer them over regular breadcrumbs as they're more absorbent and bind a little better. You can still use regular breadcrumbs, but the turkey patties may be a little wetter or sticky.
- Seasonings - The burgers are well seasoned with a mix of dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Feel free to change it up with other dried herbs and spices, but be sure not to skimp on the seasonings. Ground turkey can lack flavour without a lot of seasoning.
How to cook turkey burgers in the air fryer
Preheat your air fryer on 350F for 4 minutes.
Add all of the burger ingredients to a large bowl and use a fork to mix together until the seasonings are incorporated. (Be sure not to over mix as this will make the burgers tough).
Form into 4 equal patties about 4 inches in diameter and about ½-inch thick.
Carefully place them in the air fryer basket and air fry on 350F for 8 minutes. Flip the burgers and air fry for another 4-5 minutes.
Serve immediately with your favourite toppings.
Turkey burger toppings
There are so many options for topping these burgers:
- Lettuce, tomato and red onion are classic toppings for us. For the burgers pictured here, I added pickled red onion to change things up.
- Pickles and relish always add a pop of flavour.
- Add some sliced avocado or guacamole.
- Common condiments include ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce and mayo.
- Some homemade condiments include this cashew mayo, chipotle dip and jalapeño dip.
- Cheese is a must. Some of my faves on turkey burgers include cheddar, Monterey jack, Jarlsberg or feta.
- Sautéed spinach and mushrooms are a great way to add more veggie toppings.
- We also love burgers topped with these air fryer mushrooms and onions.
Frequently asked questions
Turkey burgers cook best at 350F degrees in the air fryer. This is a high enough temperature for them to brown on the outside and reach an internal temperature of 165F. I've tested these burgers at 400F, and they browned too much on the outside before the middle was fully cooked.
At 350F, these turkey burgers will take about 12-13 minutes. Every air fryer model is different, so you may need to adjust the time slightly. If you don't preheat your air fryer, you will need to add a few extra minutes to the cook time. The best way to check for doneness is to use a meat thermometer. Once the internal temperature of the turkey burgers reach 165F, the burgers are done. (Make sure to check each burger individually).
For a lot of air fried foods, you don't need to worry about flipping them as the air circulates around and cooks the food evenly. With turkey burgers, however, I find it's best to flip them to ensure they brown evenly on both sides.
Yes! To freeze the raw patties, wrap them individually in plastic wrap and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer. Once frozen, store them in an airtight container. They should last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Yes! To air fry turkey burgers from frozen just add another 3-5 minutes to the air frying time.
Yes! Just follow the recipe and air fry the burgers at the same temperature for roughly the same amount of time. You'll want the internal temperature of your beef burgers to be a minimum of 160F.
Key recipe tips
- Type of air fryer. I used a Cosori 5.8 quart basket air fryer for this recipe so it was large enough to air fry all four burgers at the same time. If your air fryer is smaller, you will need to air fry the burgers two at a time.
- Make it gluten-free. For gluten-free burgers, you can use gluten-free panko crumbs or almond flour. (Just note that the almond flour will make these burger patties very sticky). Make sure your seasonings are gluten-free too.
- Sticky burgers. If your burgers are sticky, you can use parchment paper to help shape them or refrigerate them for 30 minutes before adding them to the air fryer.
- Non-stick air fryer basket. My air fryer basket is non-stick so I didn't spray it with oil before adding the burgers. If your basket doesn't have a non-stick coating, you might want to spray it so the burgers don't stick.
- Preheat the air fryer. Preheating your air fryer isn't absolutely necessary, but I find it reduces the air frying time by a few minutes. If you don't preheat it, you will need to cook the burgers a little longer.
- Safe temperature. Turkey burgers are safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165F. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
If you make these air fryer turkey burgers, please leave a comment and rating below to let me know how it turned out!
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Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) extra lean ground turkey
- ¼ cup panko crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 burger buns
- Toppings of choice
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer on 350F for 4 minutes.
- Add all of the burger ingredients to a large bowl and use a fork to mix together until the seasonings are incorporated. (Be sure not to over mix as this will make the burgers tough).
- Use your hands or a burger press to form the ground turkey mixture into 4 equal patties (they will be about 4 inches in diameter and about ½-inch thick).
- Carefully place them in the preheated air fryer basket and air fry on 350F for 8 minutes. Flip the burgers and air fry for another 4-5 minutes, or until the internal temperature of each burger reaches 165F. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- Serve immediately with your favourite toppings.
Notes
- I used a Cosori 5.8 quart basket air fryer for this recipe so it was large enough to air fry all four burgers at the same time. If your air fryer is smaller, you will need to air fry the burgers two at a time.
- If your basket doesn't have a non-stick coating, you should spray it with some oil.
- For ground turkey with a higher fat content, you can try leaving the tablespoon of oil out of the burger mixture.
- Instead of panko crumbs, you can use regular bread crumbs or almond flour. Just note that this will make the burger patties a bit sticky.
- If your burgers are sticky, you can use parchment paper to help shape them or refrigerate them for 30 minutes before adding them to the air fryer.
- If you don't preheat your air fryer, you will need to add a few minutes to the cook time.
Nutrition Facts per Serving
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary depending on the substitutions made and the brands used.
Did you make this recipe or have any questions?
I love reading your comments and addressing your questions, so please leave your comments and ratings or questions below!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs says
These air fryer turkey burgers look perfectly cooked! And I love how easy they come together and bake up in the air fryer!
Leanne says
Thanks Tasia!
Katerina | Once a Foodie says
That is such a great idea to use air fryer for these, Leanne! They look absolutely delicious. I have to admit I haven't had turkey burgers often but you've inspired me to give these a go. Hope you've been well.
Leanne says
Thanks Katerina! Please let me know if you give them a try! And hope you've been well too!
Michelle says
These turkey burgers look incredible, Leanne! I've always got ground turkey in my freezer so I'll have to whip these up soon!
Leanne says
Thanks Michelle! Let me know if you get the chance to try them!
Ben | Havocinthekitchen says
These turkey burgers look irresistibly delicious; so delicate and nicely cooked. It's almost unbelievable how many things you can make in an air-fryer. Or it's easy to ask what you cannot make 🙂
Leanne says
It's definitely easier to list the things you can't cook in the air fryer! Thanks Ben!
Terry says
Another great air fryer recipe! I love that it is so quick and less mess. Great option when the weather isn’t great for bbqing. More amazing pictures as well!
Leanne says
Thanks Terry! Definitely a great option for rainy days!