These air fryer turkey burgers come out tender and juicy every single time, and it's not luck. The key is a grated onion, a tablespoon of mayo, and a quick freezer step before cooking. Made with simple real-food ingredients and lean ground turkey, these are an easy weeknight dinner when it's too hot to fire up the grill, or I just need a quick protein option.
I love serving these with my Paleo colelsaw and easy roasted sweet potatoes and Brussels for a well-rounded meal.
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"These are hands down the best turkey burgers I've ever made! So juicy and so easy to make in the air fryer.
- Cam
Why These Are the Best Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Juicy, not greasy. I use 93/7 ground turkey, which is the perfect balance of lean protein and fat to keep them juicy, but not overly greasy.
- Gluten-free. Breadcrumbs aren't needed in this turkey burger recipe, making them naturally gluten-free. You won't find breadcrumbs in my gluten-free chicken meatballs, either.
- Simple seasonings. Just a few simple seasonings keeps the flavor clean and family-friendly, letting the taste of the turkey shine through.
- 10 minutes of prep. Don't be intimidated to make your own patties. These are so easy to make and way better than any store-bought patties.
After learning the trick to keeping lean meat juicy is a little onion (moisture) and mayo (fat), I've always looked forward to these as the perfect substitute to ground beef burgers.
Not that I have anythign against red meat, I'm all for a big juicy red meat burger, but sometimes it's nice to switch it up and go with something lighter.
And just like my cashew chicken salad and oven baked fajitas, these air fryer turkey burgers are great for an easy dinner the whole family will enjoy.
Jump to:
- Why These Are the Best Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Ingredients Notes
- Optional Add-ins
- How to Make Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer
- Sara's Tips For Keeping Turkey Burgers Juicy
- Which Turkey is Best for Turkey Burgers?
- Recipe FAQs
- Air Fryer Turkey Burger Serving Suggestions
- Storing and Freezing
- More Air Fryer Recipes to Try!
- Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Ingredients Notes
- 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 an avocado oil based mayo, like Primal Kitchen or Chosen Foods.
- Dijon Mustard - I like Dijon, but you can use regular yellow mustard as well.
- Ground Turkey - I use 93/7 ground turkey to balance flavor and leanness, but you can use any ratio of ground turkey you have on hand.
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below. The above are some specific notes to help with selecting ingredients.
Clean food tip: Opt for organic turkey if you can. Organic turkey is raised without the use of antibiotics and is fed 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.
Optional Add-ins
- Add veggies. Mix in some chopped spinach, chopped sweet pepper, and/or chopped zucchini with the ground turkey.
- Add some herbs or spices. Elevate the flavor by adding chopped parsley, chopped scallions, chopped cilantro, ranch seasoning, or Italian seasoning.
- Make it a cheeseburger. Add cheese after the turkey patties are cooked. Turn off the air fryer, place the cheese on the burgers, and put the basket back in. Let the cheese melt. It should take less than 2 minutes.
How to Make Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer
Step 1: Make the fresh turkey patty mixture: Add ground turkey, grated onion, salt, onion powder, garlic, mayo, and Dijon mustard to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Step 2: Using your hands, mix all ingredients together.
Step 3: Divide mixture into 4 evenly sized portions. Make a ball from each quarter of the meat mixture in your hands and then place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Step 4: Place patties in freezer for a minimum of 20 minutes. This will help the patties set and hold their shape when transferred to the air fryer basket. Next, place patties in the air fryer.
Step 5: Cook the turkey patties in the air fryer at 380 degrees F. Air fry for 12-14 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Flip burgers halfway through cooking time.
Step 6: Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Sara's Tips For Keeping Turkey Burgers Juicy
- Use grated onion! This helps make the turkey burgers so moist and also is a flavor booster. So much better than just chopping. You'll find me using this trick in my gluten-free chicken meatballs as well!
- Don't overmix the meat. When overmixed, the mixture becomes dense and this can lead to dry burgers.
- Don't overcook. Turkey burgers should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Use a digital meat thermometer to check the temp and remove from the air fryer basket once they have reached 165-degrees.
- Let turkey burgers rest for 5-10 minutes. This will help keep the juices locked inside.
Which Turkey is Best for Turkey Burgers?
You'll probably notice when buying ground turkey that you have a few different options
- 98% lean/ 2% fat (most common)
- 93% lean/ 7% fat
- 85% lean/ 15% fat.
What does this mean? Basically, the higher the fat content, the more juicy and flavorful the turkey will be.
I recommend using the 93/7% to balance lean and juicy, which is especially important in the air fryer where food can dry out quickly. For turkey burgers that still feel like a lighter option, but full of flavor, 93/7 is my top choice!
Recipe FAQs
Yep! Pre-heat air fryer to 380-degrees F. Place frozen turkey patties directly in air fryer basket and cook for 14-16 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Note that cooking times will vary depending on your air fryer and size of the burger patties.
Turkey burgers should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165-degrees F, or until they are no longer pink. Unlike beef, ground turkey should not be undercooked as turkey poses the risk of salmonella and other foodborne illnesses.
This will depend on how large your burgers are and your exact air fryer, however, a ¼ pound turkey burger should take about 12-14 minutes. It is cooked through when the internal temperature reaches 165-degrees F.
Ground turkey is more lean that ground beef, which means there is less fat to keep them juicy when they are cooked. Overcooking and not properly preparing the ground turkey can also lead to dry turkey burgers. For juicy turkey burgers, add moisture (like grated onions), don't overmix the meat and cook just until the internal temp is 165-degrees F.
For even cooking, yes, you should flip the burgers about halfway through cooking time.
Air Fryer Turkey Burger Serving Suggestions
Try some of these toppings to bring your turkey burger to a whole new level.
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Onion
- Pickles
- Bacon
- Cheese
- Goat cheese
- Mayo
- Avocado
- Kale vegan pesto
- Dairy-free Ranch dressing
- Whole30 BBQ sauce
And I love serving these turkey burgers with these crispy air fryer smashed potatoes and healthy broccoli kale salad.
Or I have a whole collection of healthy side dishes you can check out!
Storing and Freezing
Storing: Keep any leftover turkey burgers in the fridge, covered, for 3-4 days.
Freezing cooked patties: Allow burgers to cool, then place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. These freeze great so I highly recommend making a double batch and freezing some for later.
Freezing raw patties: Make the patties as the recipe states and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze. Once fully frozen, transfer them to a freezer safe container (placing parchment paper between patties as needed). Air-fry at 375-degrees F for 12-15 minutes, or until internal temperature is 165-degrees F.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try!
If you make this recipe, please let me know what you think! I would so appreciate you leaving a star rating and/or comment below. And don't forget to share a photo on Instagram or Facebook and mention @CleanPlateMama!
Eat Clean.Be Well!
-Sara
Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
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Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey (93/7 is recommended)
- 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. Do not overmix.
- To prevent sticking, get your hands slightly wet before forming the patties. Next, divide meat mixture into 4 equal-sized pieces. Create a ball in your hands with each piece 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 for all 4 patties.
- Place baking sheet with patties in the freezer for a minimum of 20 minutes. This helps them hold their shape, so they don't fall apart when transferring to the air fryer.
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F. Once preheated, using a spatula, gently transfer the turkey patties to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 12-14 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165-degrees F. Flip burgers halfway through cooking time.
- If adding cheese, turn the air fryer off and return the cooked burgers to air fryer with sliced cheese to allow cheese to melt (this should take less than 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 wring the moisture out - a little bit keeps the burgers moist).
- If you need these to be Whole30/Paleo be sure to use Whole30 compliant mayo.
- If patties get a little smushed when moving to the air fryer basket, reshape them once in the air fryer.
- Air fryers have different wattage levels which could impact cooking time. For best results, changes to cooking time or temperature may be needed.
- Stove top directions: cook turkey patties over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Nutrition
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Anonymous says
Great burgers! Thanks for the recipe!
Tavo says
I hadn't made turkey burgers before and loved this one! I include them in my weekly recipe rotation!
Aimee Mars says
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.
Cam says
These were definitely hands down the best burgers I've ever made! So juicy and so easy to make in the air fryer.
Sara says
So happy to hear and thanks so much for sharing!
kate says
This is such a great way to enjoy homemade turkey burgers! The air fryer gets them so juicy!
Beth says
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.