Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers From Scratch
Today, we will discover how to prepare delicious air fryer turkey burgers from scratch. The recipe is incredibly easy and surprisingly versatile.
And in case you are busy, I’ve also included a guide on using premade frozen turkey burger patties.
What You Will Need To Make Turkey Burgers From Scratch
To start, you need some ground turkey meat. Turkey is generally not a very fatty kind of meat. But to make tender patties in an air fryer, you need some fat. It adds flavor, gives the patties a better mouthfeel, and, most importantly, makes each bite uber-juicy.
So, it will be best to go for the “lean” ground turkey option, not the “extra-lean” ones. If you don’t have any choice, use what you can. You can make adjustments to future recipes as needed.
- Lean ground turkey: A versatile protein that will form the basis of our patties. Remember, we’re going for lean, not extra lean for added juiciness.
- Breadcrumbs: Preferably something like Panko, for better flavor absorption and a great binder for our ingredients.
- Salt: This will bring out the flavor of our turkey.
- Freshly ground black pepper: A classic seasoning that adds a subtle kick.
- Smoked paprika: This will impart a slightly smoky flavor to our patties.
- Garlic powder, onion powder, and optional chili powder: Our core spices for this simple recipe, adding depth and dimension to the turkey.
You can add the spices once your ground turkey and breadcrumbs have been mixed. Now, I’ve only included salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder for this simple recipe.
Ingredients for the Turkey Burgers:
- Hamburger buns: Choose your favorite type! Optionally, you can butter them for added richness.
- Fresh lettuce leaves, tomato slices, optional sliced pickles, and optional cheese (Parmesan or Gouda): These fresh ingredients will provide a nice crunch and a complementary flavor to our juicy turkey patties.
- Dijon mustard and Mayonnaise: Classic condiments to finish off our burgers, adding tanginess, creaminess, and a bit of spice.
How to make Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Begin by combining all patty ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Separate the blend into four equal parts and shape them into burger patties. Chill these in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
While the patties are chilling, you can prepare your burger buns and toppings.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place the patties in the air fryer, ensuring they don’t touch, and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway. For frozen patties, follow the same steps but extend cooking time to 10-12 minutes.
Once cooked, let the patties rest for 5 minutes before assembling your burgers with your chosen toppings and sauces.
How to Layer a Burger
Sauce: Start with your chosen sauces (Dijon mustard and mayonnaise) on the bottom bun.
Turkey Patties: Add your juicy, air-fried turkey patties on top of the sauce.
Cheese: Place a slice of your favorite cheese on the hot turkey patty to allow it to melt slightly.
Tomatoes: Layer freshly sliced tomatoes and pickles for a burst of juicy freshness.
Lettuce: Add fresh lettuce leaves for a crispy crunch and to prevent the top bun from getting soggy.
Top Bun: Finish off with the top half of the bun. Your delicious turkey burger is now ready to serve! Enjoy!
Variations For This Air Fryer Turkey Burger
You can add different dried herbs or spices like chili or cayenne pepper.
Parsley, chives, sage, and cilantro are excellent herb options that pair well with the natural flavors of turkey.
You can play with spices such as cumin, mushroom powder, oregano, and ginger. Plus, many seasonings work well with turkey too.
You can also really play around with sauces you use as toppings. It’s another easy way to add flavor that pairs well with the turkey patties without changing the patty itself.
Can You Use Pre-made Frozen Turkey Patties?
While we are making turkey burgers from scratch today, that doesn’t mean you cannot air-fry frozen burgers.
The biggest difference will be the frying time. Alternatively, you can use the same frying technique I will show you today and the same frying temperature (unless the packaging specifies otherwise).
How Long To Cook Turkey Burgers In Air Fryer
This largely depends on the thickness and size of your patties. The more substantial in thickness they are, the more time they require for complete cooking.nThe thinner they are, the shorter the cooking time will be.
For today’s air fryer turkey burgers, you can leave them to cook for 8-10 minutes. That is, if each patty weighs roughly 4 ounces.
The internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C).
You may need to cook frozen turkey burgers slightly longer, about 10-12 minutes. That’s because they need to defrost before they can start cooking.
FAQs
Most likely, it’s because your air fryer is set too high or you overcooked the patties. If you don’t know the fat content in your ground turkey, it may also be the cause.
This is an easy one, and my website is full of amazing options you can try! I LOVE serving Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes or Crispy Air Fried Potato Wedges. But you can get more creative with Crispy Eggplant Parmesan Slices or Tortitas De Papas Recenta Mexicana.
You don’t need to, but it helps them cook more evenly and gives them a beautiful color on all sides. I always recommend flipping food inside an air fryer.
The Ultimate Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers From Scratch
Ingredients
For The Homemade Turkey Patties
- 1 pound ground turkey (lean)
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- 1/3 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp chili powder, optional
For The Turkey Burgers
- 4 hamburger buns
- Butter, optional
- Lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- Tomato slices
- Pickles, sliced, optional
- Cheese (Parmesan or Gouda), optional
- Dijon mustard
- Mayonnaise
Instructions
Make The Turkey Patties
- To start, combine all of the patty ingredients in a clean, cold, large bowl. Use gloved hands and mix the ingredients together well. You want to work the mixture so it becomes uniform in consistency.
- Once combined well, divide the meat mixture into 4 equally-sized portions.
- Use your hands to form flat round patties. You can pay around with the size and thickness here. But keep in mind that this will affect the frying time.
- Once shaped, place the patties onto a lined baking tray. Store them in the fridge and leave them to firm up for 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, you can prepare the buns, toppings, sauces, or any other accompaniments.
Air Fry The Homemade Turkey Burger Patties
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). You can line the bottom of the basket with perforated non-stick baking paper liners. They have to be perforated to ensure proper air circulation.
- Add the patties, making sure they don't touch or overlap each other.
- Cook them for 8-10 minutes in total. At the halfway mark, flip the patties over so they can cook on the other side.
Air Fry Frozen Turkey Patties
- To cook frozen turkey patties, you can still preheat the fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- The only difference is that these frozen patties will cook for 10-12 minutes. Always check the package instructions for specific cooking temperatures and times.
Assemble Your Turkey Burgers
- Once the patties are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and leave them to rest for 5 minutes. This ensures the patties remain juicy once you begin eating them.
- Then, you can start assembling the burgers using toppings and sauces that you like.
