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My air fryer turkey burgers are extra juicy and tender, and cook up in just twelve minutes. They make a fabulously fast and healthy weeknight dinner.
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My family loves it when we grill turkey burgers, so I wanted to see how they’d fare in the air fryer, and they’ve become a weekly staple. The turkey burgers turn out perfectly juicy and tender, and my mighty yet straightforward seasoning combo packs them with flavor.
Like my air fryer turkey meatballs, these use ground turkey and make a classic burger healthier without sacrificing flavor (thanks to the lean protein and low saturated fat). It’s super quick and easy, with the total cooking time being less than twelve minutes! Bonus? Unlike a skillet or grill, air-frying burgers cuts out tons of mess and oil splatter! They are a savior during the cooler months when my family craves some good ol’ BBQ.
If you love grilled favorites in the air fryer like we do, try my air fryer hamburgers, air fryer chicken patties, air fryer hot dogs, and air fryer Italian sausage next.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“Excellent, easy to follow, faddy-free recipe. Just what I like. Cooking it for my daughter tomorrow. I sometimes meal-prep a batch on weekends for easy lunches, too. 👍” – Kendra
Key Ingredients
- Ground turkey. I like using lean ground turkey because I usually add some olive oil or oil to the mixture to prevent them from drying out. This recipe works with fattier cuts, too. Just be wary of some excess moisture during the cooking process.
- Seasonings. Salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. This may look a little scarce, but trust me, it doesn’t detract from the juiciness.
- Olive oil. A little oil in the burger mixture ensures the patties remain super juicy. This is important when working with any lean ground meat.
- Worcestershire sauce. A must for any good burger patty.
- Parsley. I like to add some finely chopped parsley for a pop of color and also for flavor. You can skip this if you like.
- Burger fix-ins. I keep things classic with buns, lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, and red onion, but use anything you like.
How to cook turkey burgers in the air fryer
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1- Combine. Add all the burger ingredients to a bowl.
Step 2- Mix everything until all the spices and sauce are just mixed into the ground turkey.
Step 3- Shape the burger mixture into four patties. Place the burgers in a greased air fryer basket.
Step 4- Air fry the turkey burgers for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Serve with burger fix-ins.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Don’t overwork the meat. My #1 rule for juicy burgers. You want the meat mixture to be mixed until all the ingredients are incorporated. If you overmix, you risk the burgers being rubbery or dry.
- Prep in advance. I sometimes make the burger mixture and shape it the morning before I cook it. It also helps keep their shape.
- Check the doneness. Turkey burgers are fully cooked once they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. I recommend using an instant-read meat thermometer to double-check.
- Press down on the center of each raw burger patty. This ensures the patties don’t puff up and keep their flat shape. It also promotes even cooking.
- If needed, cook the burgers in batches. I use a Phillips XL air fryer, which can comfortably fit four patties but adjust as needed.
Storage instructions
To store. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days.
To freeze. Place the cooked and cooled burgers in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To reheat. You can reheat turkey burgers for 2-3 minutes in the air fryer at 350 degrees F. You can also use a hot skillet or the microwave.
Frequently asked questions
If you don’t want to make burgers from scratch, you can use pre-made frozen turkey burgers. There is no need to thaw these before adding them to the air fryer. Grease an air fryer basket, then add the frozen turkey burger patties. Air fry at 200C/400F for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Due to Worcestershire sauce, this recipe is not gluten-free. However, you can swap it out for a gluten-free Worcestershire or gluten-free soy sauce.
I found that each 1/4 pound patty cooks in precisely 12 minutes. However, if your patties are thinner or thicker, you’ll need to adjust accordingly. Again, please use a meat thermometer to check that it reaches 165 degrees F.
I love to pair the burgers with other air fryer favorites like some air fryer French fries, air fryer sweet potato fries, or even air fryer potato wedges for the ultimate family-friendly meal.
More easy air fryer dinners
- Air fryer turkey breast
- Air fryer fried chicken
- Air fryer pork tenderloin
- Air fryer meatloaf
- Air fryer chicken parmesan
If you tried this Air Fryer Turkey Burgers recipe or any other recipe on The Big Man’s World, please rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below. It really helps others thinking of making the recipe.
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 180C/350F.
- In a large bowl, add the ground turkey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, olive oil, parsley, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix everything together until just combined.
- Lightly wet your hands and shape the mixture into four turkey burger patties. Press down in the center of each patty.
- Add the turkey burgers to a greased air fryer basket and air fry for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, remove them from the air fryer.
- Let the burgers rest for a minute or two before assembling them into burgers.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published December 2022, updated and republished April 2025
Did you add some herbs as picture looks like you have. Very tasty but would add more of the spices next time
Absolutely Incredible!
Thanks, Jess!
Turkey burgers really nice. I was always eating pork burgers. I think. I dont know which meat actually.
This was the first time I was successfully able to make a turkey burger in my air fryer!
I am gluten free so left out the sauce. I added Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel (my favorite for everything), Garlic Salt instead of powder (need to add more salt to my diet!), 1/2 tsp pepper vs 1 tsp. It was delicious and the timing was perfect.
Thanks!
Excellent easy to follow, faddy free recipe. Just what I like.
Cooking it for my daughter tomorrow 👍
Super juicy and tender!
VERY GOOD! These turned out juicy and flavorful.
Was looking for a quick lunch and these turkey burgers fit the bill. I added shredded cheese. I cooked 2 thick ones on 400 for 7 minutes each side. I cooked to smaller ones on 370 for 7 minutes each side. Yummy!!!
Love that, Jackie!
What a lovely simple recipe. I added a little bit of breadcrumbs too, and they turned out perfect!
Love that, Melissa!
Awesome recipe! Very flavorful, not dry at all. Paired with sesame seed, brioche buns it was absolutely delicious!
I am eating turkey for the first time. At first, I was really apprehensive how it is going to turn out. But I loved it. My son told me that he will never eat any other burgers ever but this. Every body loved it. Thank you. I love all your recipes.
I am eating turkey for the first time. At first, I was really apprehensive how it is going to turn out. But I loved it. My son told me that he will never eat any other burgers ever but this. Every body loved it. Thank you.
I haven’t tried the turkey burger, but certainly will. I just bought a air fryer so I’m just getting started. I figured it would be a good investment. I wanna try a ket friendly pizza. I’m 3xcited I love homemade pizza rolls, but I figure I better stay with friendlier things that have fewer calories. Thank you for your recipes. I’m look8ng forward to trying something different.