Juicy air fryer turkey burgers that are packed with flavor and are great for an easy and healthy meal. They cook up in less than 15 minutes and are made with simple ingredients. These tender patties are gluten free and must just be the best turkey burgers you'll ever make.
Make it a healthy meal by eating alongside my peach and goat cheese salad, superfood salad, or southwest quinoa salad.
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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
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 these air-fryer turkey burgers.
Some turkey burger recipes can be dry, but fret not, I've added mayonnaise and grated onions to the patties, which makes these air fryer turkey burgers juicy and delicious every time. Gluten free? No problem... breadcrumbs aren't needed in this recipe and the patties hold their shape and stay nice and moist when cooked.
And don't be intimidated by making your own patties. These are so easy to make with only 10 minutes to prep. And these homemade patties are better than any store bought.
These air fryer turkey burgers are great for a quick lunch or easy dinner. And if you're wanting more easy recipes to try, you might also like my cashew chicken salad, chicken sausage sheet pan dinner, healthy chicken fried rice, oven baked fajitas, or skillet lasagna.
Ingredients Notes
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.
- 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 as it's made with avocado oil and no seed or vegetable oils.
- Dijon Mustard - I like Dijon, but you can use regular yellow mustard as well.
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.
Flavorful 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.
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!
Tips for the Best Turkey Burgers
Using your thumb, place a dent in the middle of each patty (this will help the burger from shrinking while it's being cooked).
Get your hands slightly wet before making the patties - the meat mixture is sticky and this will prevent sticking.
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.
Use grated onion! This helps make the turkey burgers so moist and also is a flavor booster. So much better than just chopping. I use grated onions in my gluten-free chicken meatballs as as well!
Equipment Needed
In order to make these air fryer turkey burgers, you will need the below equipment.
Air Fryer - I've been using an air fryer by Instant Vortex I bought a few years ago on a black Friday deal and I really like it. I have heard really good things about Phillips air fryers, too.
You can't go wrong with whatever you choose. Just pay attention to the size. Mine is a 6 quart and I wouldn't recommend going any smaller.
Meat thermometer - I recommend a good quality instant digital read meat thermometer so that you can know when your meat is cooked to the required temperature.
Spatula - Needed so you can carefully transfer the patties to the air fryer basket.
Which Turkey is Best for Turkey Burgers?
You'll probably notice when buying ground turkey that you have a few different options; most commonly 98% lean/ 2% fat or 93% lean/ 7% fat. You may even see 85% lean/ 15% fat. Basically, the higher the fat content, the more juicy and flavorful the turkey will be.
I recommend using the 93/7% for these turkey burgers, but really any ground turkey will work. And because of the mayonnaise and grated onion, you'll still end up with a juicy flavorful burger, regardless of which you choose.
Recipe FAQs
Yep! Pre-heat air fryer to 380-degrees F. Place frozen turkey patties directly in air fryer basket and cook for 13-15 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 depends on your dietary goals and preferences. They are both excellent sources of protein, but turkey is lower in calories and typically lower in fat content. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide which one is "healthier." They are both great choices in my opinion.
Suggested Toppings and Side Dishes
Try some of these toppings to bring your turkey burger to whole new level.
Lettuce
Tomato
Onion
Pickles
Bacon
Cheese
Goat cheese
Mayo
Avocado
Kale vegan pesto
Dairy-free Ranch dressing
Whole 30 BBQ sauce
And try serving alongside some of these side dishes for a well-rounded meal: healthy broccoli salad, air fryer smashed potatoes, oven roasted potatoes with garlic and rosemary, Roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, Paleo coleslaw, roasted cauliflower steaks, or grilled vegetable pasta salad.
Storing and Freezing
Storing: Keep any leftover turkey burgers in the fridge, covered, for 3-4 days.
Freezing: Allow burgers to cool then place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 6 months. These freeze great so I highly recommend making a double batch and freezing some for later.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try!
Eat Clean.Be Healthy!
Sara
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
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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.
- To prevent sticking, get your hands slightly wet before forming the patties. Next, divide meat mixture into 4 equal size 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, 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, turn the air fryer off and return 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 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.
- If patties get a little smushed when moving to the air fryer basket, reshape them once in the air fryer.
- Stove top directions: cook turkey patties over med heat for 5-6 minutes on each side, or until internal temperature reaches 165-degrees F.
- Air fryers have different wattage levels which could impact cooking time. For best results, changes to cooking time or temperature may be needed.
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.