Juicy and flavorful air fryer turkey burgers that are made without eggs or breadcrumbs. These delicious burgers are great for an easy meal and cook up in less than 15 minutes. These tender patties might just be the best turkey burgers you’ll ever make.
I love a good burger recipe, and I’m all for a big juicy red meat burger, but sometimes it’s nice to change things up a bit and go with turkey burgers. Some turkey burger recipes can be dry, but thanks to the mayonnaise and grated onions in these homemade patties, these air fryer turkey burgers are juicy, delicious, and better than any store bought.
Why use an air fryer? Air frying food is actually quicker than the oven thanks to quick pre-heating and the air circulation method of an air fryer. If you don’t have an air fryer, no problem. There are directions below for cooking on the stove, grill, or in the oven.
Wanting to try more air fryer recipes? If so, you might like air fryer frozen salmon, air fryer teriyaki chicken, air fryer apples, air fryer baby carrots, and smashed potatoes in the air fryer.
Recipe Features
These homemade turkey burger patties turn out juicy and perfectly tender every time!
Dietary needs include gluten free, dairy free, Paleo and Whole30 friendly
No egg and no breadcrumbs are needed in this recipe and the patties hold their shape and stay nice and moist when cooked.
These turkey burger patties are easy to make and take only 10 minutes to prep.
The Ingredients
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
A complete list of ingredients and amounts for these air fryer turkey burgers can be found in the recipe card below. Here are some specific notes and substitutions.
GROUND TURKEY – Most prepackaged ground turkey you buy will be made from a mix of light and dark meat (93/7 or 80/20). More white meat means it’s more lean and will contain less fat. Either variety will work as the mayonnaise in this recipe keeps the burgers moist and juicy.
ONION – I recommend a yellow or white onion, but in a pinch, a red onion can be used too.
MAYONNAISE – Mayo is used to add moisture so these burgers are nice and juicy. You can use any mayo, but I highly recommend Primal Kitchen. Not only is it clean, but it's also Whole30 and Paleo approved.
DIJON MUSTARD - I like Dijon, but you can use regular yellow mustard.
Clean food tip: Opt for organic turkey if you can. Organic turkey is raised without the use of antibiotics and is fed only certified organic feed (no use of harsh pesticides). Organic certification also requires outdoor access, but the term "access" is loosely defined. In addition, look for labels that certify the animals were raised humanely.
How to Make Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer
Start by adding ground turkey, grated onion, salt, onion powder, garlic, mayo, and Dijon mustard to a medium sized mixing bowl. Using your hands, mix all ingredients together.
The meat mixtures will be very sticky – get your hands slightly wet before creating the patties. To make the patties, start by dividing meat into 4 equal size portions.
Make a ball of each quarter of the meat mixture in your hands and then place on a baking sheet that's been lined with parchment paper. Press mixture down into a round patty shape about ½” thick. Using your thumb, place a dent in the middle of each patty (this will help the burger from shrinking while it’s being cooked).
Place patties in freezer for a minimum of 20 minutes. This will help the patties hold their shape when transferred to the air fryer basket.
About 5 minutes before you are ready to cook, pre-heat air fryer to 380 F. Using a spatula, carefully transfer patties to the air fryer basket. If patties get a little smushed, reshape them once in the air fryer.
Air fry for 12-14 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165 F. Flip burgers half way through cooking time.
Remove from air fryer and serve on your favorite bun or as a lettuce wrap with your favorite toppings. Then enjoy these air fryer turkey burgers!
FAQs
Yep! Pre-heat air fryer to 380 degrees F. Place frozen turkey patties directly in air fryer basket and cook for 15-18 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Note that cooking times will vary depending on your air fryer.
You bet! I have made this exact recipe using ground chicken and the burgers turn out just as delicious.
Place burger patties in freezer for 2 hours and then transfer to a freezer safe container, lining each patty with parchment paper to prevent sticking. These freeze great so I highly recommend making a double batch and freezing some for later.
Yes, turkey and other poultry items should always be fully cooked. It's best to use a meat thermometer to check doneness. Once internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F they are safe to eat. If you don't have a meat thermometer, just make sure they are no longer pink.
Cooking on the Stove Top, Grill, or Oven
Regardless of which method you choose to cook these turkey burgers, ensure they are cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. A meat thermometer is the easiest way to do this. If you don't have a meat thermometer, make sure the patties are no longer pink in the middle.
Grill – After patties have set in the freezer, you can easily transfer them to the grill. Grill over med-high heat for 4-6 minutes per side until cooked through and no longer pink.
Stove top – Allow patties to set in the freezer first. Then, coat a large skillet with a small amount of olive oil or avocado oil and heat over med-high heat. Add turkey burgers and cook 5-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
Oven – Once patties are made, place on a baking sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper (or a silicone baking mat). Bake at 375 F for 15-20 minutes, or until fully cooked (no need to chill first as you won't be transferring them from the baking sheet).
Tips for the Best Homemade Turkey Burgers
Prior to forming into patties, wet your hands to prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your hands. It will be very sticky!
Once burger patties are formed, use your thumb to place an indent in the middle of each patty. This will help to prevent them from shrinking up into hockey pucks when cooked.
Spice up these air fryer turkey burgers by adding chopped parsley, chopped scallions, chopped cilantro, ranch seasoning, or Italian seasoning.
Add more veggies to the ground turkey like chopped spinach, chopped sweet pepper, and/or chopped zucchini.
Add cheese once turkey patties are fully cooked. Turn air fryer off, add cheese to burgers, and return air fryer basket/pan to air fryer and allow cheese to melt. This should take less than 2 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Try the below toppings and side dishes to turn these air fryer turkey burgers into a well-rounded meal!
Toppings:
Lettuce
Tomato
Onion
Pickles
Cheese
Goat cheese
Mayo
Avocado
Ranch dressing
Side dishes:
Broccoli Salad
Roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes
Coleslaw
Roasted cauliflower steaks
Grilled vegetable pasta salad
More Dinner Recipes
Eat Clean.Be Healthy!
Sara
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- ¼ cup grated yellow or white onion (see notes)
- ½ tsp. fine sea salt
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tbsp. mayonnaise
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and combine with your hands until evenly blended.
- Get your hands slightly wet before forming the patties to prevent sticking. Next, divide meat mixture into 4 equal sizes. Using a quarter of the meat mixture, create a ball in your hands and then place on the prepared baking sheet. Press mixture down into a round patty shape about ½” thick. Using your thumb, place a dent in the middle of the patty (this will prevent the patty from shrinking when cooked). Repeat until all 4 patties are made.
- Place patties in the freezer for a minimum of 20 minutes. This helps them hold their shape so they don't fall apart when transferring them to the air fryer.
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F. Once preheated, gently transfer the turkey patties to the air fryer basket using a spatula.
- Air fry for 12-14 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Flip burgers half-way through cooking time. If adding cheese, add once burgers are fully cooked. Turn air fryer off and return burgers to air fryer with cheese to allow cheese to melt (this should take less then 2 minutes).
- Serve with your choice of toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- To grate onion, place a box grater on a stack of 2-3 paper towels. Using the largest side, grate the onion until you have ¼ cup. Allow paper towels to soak up moisture from onions (no need to ring the moisture out - a little bit keeps the burgers moist).
- If needing these to be Whole30/Paleo be sure to use Whole30 mayonnaise, such as Primal Kitchen. All other ingredients are Whole30/Paleo approved.
- See blog post for directions on cooking in the oven, on the grill or the stove.
- Leftover turkey burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
These look great! I make turkey burgers all the time because I have to watch my cholesterol. I can't wait to try this air-fried version.
This is such a great way to enjoy homemade turkey burgers! The air fryer gets them so juicy!
These were definitely hands down the best burgers I've ever made! So juicy and so easy to make in the air fryer.
So happy to hear and thanks so much for sharing!
These are the most perfect turkey burgers! I'm going to make them for Friday family night tonight and I know they're going to be a hit.
I hadn't made turkey burgers before and loved this one! I include them in my weekly recipe rotation!