Air Fryer Turkey Burgers (Juicy, Healthy and Easy)

Air fryer turkey burgers are such an easy, delicious, and healthy meal! They’re ready in less than 20 minutes, need under 5 ingredients, and have out of this world flavor. Each bite of these juicy burgers tastes like a classic summer barbecue, and they’re sure to become a new family favorite.

Personally, I much prefer turkey over beef burgers, however that opinion puts me in the minority in my family. Every single member of my immediate family would choose traditional cheeseburgers over ones made with ground turkey. So, with that being said, I had quite the challenge ahead of me in order to create a recipe that my family (particularly my dad) would enjoy- and I’m proud to say I succeeded.

I wanted every bite to taste like the most flavorful burger you’ve ever eaten. I packed each patty with fresh onion, sweet barbecue sauce, salt and black pepper, air frying to juicy perfection, topping with melty cheese, and finally spooning over my favorite mango salsa. There is absolutely NO lack of flavor in these incredible air fryer burgers.

This simple recipe only has a 10 minute cook time, needs under 5 ingredients, and will more than likely become a new favorite for the whole fam. Serve with potato salad, french fries, cucumber salad, or crispy zucchini and you’ve got an incredibly delicious, yet simple meal that tastes like summertime. Be sure to read the whole post for best results, and comment below if you made them!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Extremely easy to make (and easier to eat)
• Super juicy burgers
• Ready in 20 minutes
• Only 4 simple ingredients needed
• Lean and healthy meal

INGREDIENTS FOR AIR FRYER TURKEY BURGERS

• Ground turkey: I prefer to use 93/7 percent lean ground turkey
• Barbecue sauce: My favorite kind is Primal Kitchen, but any will work so use your favorite
• Onion: Use a yellow onion, they have a nice mild flavor
• Bread crumbs: I just use regular, plain bread crumbs, just don’t use Panko, they’re too light
• Salt & Pepper
• Burger buns + your favorite toppings

HOW TO COOK TURKEY BURGERS IN THE AIR FRYER

1. In a large bowl combine fresh ground turkey, BBQ sauce, finely diced onion, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper
2. Use your hands to thoroughly mix all ingredients, but don’t overwork them
3. Divide the turkey mixture into 4 equal portions and, with your hands, form each portion in a 1/2 inch thick patty, and place on parchment paper
4. Transfer the patties to a single layer in your air fryer basket and cook for 10-11 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F
5. Once cooked, let the burgers rest for 5-8 minutes so the residual heat finishes the cooking process and the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

Ground turkey: Use a 85/15 blend of fat instead of 93/7

Onion: A white or Vidalia onion will also work

Bread crumbs: Italian breadcrumbs or gluten free breadcrumbs will work in it’s place

WHAT TOPPINGS ARE GOOD ON BURGERS?

There’s so many good options, and toppings are a great way to add so much flavor to your healthy turkey burgers. Here’s a few of my suggestions:

• Red onion
• A slice of cheese (preferably Monterey Jack, Cheddar, or Pepper Jack)
• Mango habanero salsa
• Slice of tomato
• Lettuce or sprouts
• More BBQ sauce
• Ketchup or mustard
• Caramelized onions
• Guacamole

STORING AND REHEATING

Store any leftover patties in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Cooked burgers are hard to reheat because you run the risk of overcooking them, so I suggest letting them come to room temperature before reheating, and then placing in the air fryer basket and cooking at 330 degrees F for 4-5 minutes. They will probably be a little drier, but just put extra cheese on top of the burger and you won’t even tell.

EXPERT TIPS

• Read the entire recipe first
• Use quality ground turkey meat
• Don’t overwork the meat mixture or your burgers will be tough
• Only make the raw turkey burger patties 1/2 inch thick because they shrink in the air fryer
• The best way to get a juicy burger is to pull them out when the internal temp is 160 degrees F and let the residual heat bring them up to temperature
• Serve immediately for best results
• Different air fryers will cook at different times. The cooking time listed is for a Cosori 5.8 Quart size, so adjust as needed

FAQs

How long do you air fry a frozen turkey burger?

I have a whole post about that! Use this link to find out all you need to know about cooking frozen turkey patties.

What temperature is a turkey burger done?

You want the internal temperature of your burger to reach 165 degrees F. I like to stop cooking mine when a meat thermometer is reading 160 degrees F and let them rest so the residual heat finishes the cooking process and they’re still super juicy.

Why do some recipes call for making a thumbprint in the center of each patty?

This is done to prevent the patty from shrinking too much and bulging in the middle so that it fits nicely on your bun, however by just making mine 1/2 inch thick I’ve had great results without doing that.

Do I need to flip burgers in the air fryer?

I’ve found that the hot air circulating around them cooks it perfectly without flipping.

Did you make these super juicy air fryer turkey burgers? If you did, I would greatly appreciate you leaving a comment and star rating down below. Additionally, you can follow me on Instagram and tag me if you make this or any other of my easy air fryer recipes.

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