Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

If you have been looking for a turkey burger recipe that actually tastes good, you are in the right place. These air fryer turkey burgers are anything but dry or bland.

A few simple ingredients mixed into the ground turkey make all the difference. You get juicy, well-seasoned patties every single time without babysitting them on the stove or grill.

The air fryer cooks them evenly and keeps them moist on the inside. Plus, you can toast the buns in there too, which is a nice bonus.

Top each one with a slice of melted cheddar, some lettuce, tomato, and pickles, and dinner is done. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.

It’s one of those easy recipes you will keep coming back to once you try it.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

They Actually Stay Juicy – The mayo mixed into the meat adds fat and moisture so these turkey burgers never turn out dry.

No Grill Needed – You get that crispy seared outside on the patty without ever stepping foot outdoors.

Perfectly Melted Cheese Every Time – Adding the cheddar in the last minute lets the air fryer melt it right onto the patty.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 lb Ground Turkey (93% lean)
• 2 tbsp Grated Yellow Onion
• 1 tbsp Mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 clove Garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 3/4 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
• 4 slices Cheddar Cheese
• 4 Brioche Hamburger Buns
• Lettuce, Tomato, and Pickles, for serving

How To Make

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, grated onion, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. The mayonnaise adds fat and moisture, which is critical for preventing dry turkey burgers.

Step 2

Mix everything gently until just incorporated, then divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape them into patties about 3/4-inch thick. Press a slight indent into the center of each patty with your thumb to keep them flat during cooking.

Step 3

Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F for 3 minutes.

Step 4

Place the turkey burger patties in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. Cook for 8 minutes.

Step 5

Flip the burgers carefully using a thin spatula. Cook for another 4 minutes, then place a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty. Cook for 1 more minute until the cheese is melted and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

Step 6

While the burgers finish cooking, lightly toast the brioche buns in the air fryer for 1 to 2 minutes or in a toaster.

Step 7

Assemble the burgers on the toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and your favorite condiments. Serve immediately while hot and juicy.

Tips

Grate the Onion, Don’t Chop It

The recipe calls for grated onion and that’s important. Chopped onion pieces won’t break down during the short cook time in the air fryer, so you’ll end up biting into crunchy onion chunks inside the burger.

Grating the onion on a box grater turns it into an almost paste-like texture. It distributes evenly throughout the meat and adds moisture and flavor without any awkward texture.

Use the small holes on your grater and just watch your fingers as you get to the end of the onion.

Don’t Skip the Thumb Indent

Turkey burgers puff up a lot more than beef burgers when they cook. If you skip the thumb indent in the center, you’ll end up with thick, round balls instead of flat patties that fit nicely on a bun.

Press your thumb right into the middle of each patty to create a shallow dip. Make it a little deeper than you think you need to because it will fill in as the burger cooks.

Don’t Overwork the Meat

When you’re mixing the turkey with all the seasonings, use your hands and fold everything together gently. Stop as soon as you don’t see any unmixed spots.

If you keep squeezing and kneading the meat, the proteins bind together too tightly. That gives you a dense, rubbery burger instead of one that’s tender and juicy.

Same goes for shaping the patties. Form them just enough to hold together and stop there.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Cheeseburgers
• Air Fryer Greek Turkey Burgers
• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• Air Fryer Crispy Panko Onion Rings
• Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Patties

Frequently Asked Questions

Why add mayonnaise to the turkey burger mixture?

Turkey is much leaner than beef, so burgers made with it tend to come out dry and a bit tough. The tablespoon of mayonnaise adds just enough fat and moisture to keep the patties juicy without making them greasy.

You won’t taste the mayo in the finished burger at all – it just quietly does its job in the background. It’s one of those small tricks that makes a big difference with lean meats.