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Why You’ll Love My Recipe

These Air Fryer Hamburgers are perfect for those days when grilling outside just isn’t an option! After many years of perfecting burgers at home, this recipe has become a tried-and-true favorite. And when winter temperatures hit -40°C here in Canada, cooking burgers in the air fryer is the next best thing to firing up the barbecue!

If you love using your air fryer as much as I do, you’ll definitely want to try these Air Fryer Buffalo Wings and Air Fryer Kale Chips next!

Karlynn’s Recipe Notes

Skill Level: This recipe is super easy to make – no barbecue required!
Total Time: These hamburgers take only 35 minutes to make, so they’re a quick and tasty meal.
Variations: If bacon in the patty isn’t your thing, feel free to leave it out or cook the bacon separately and add it on top of the finished burger instead! You can also add extra depth to your patties with a splash of Homemade Worcestershire Sauce. Serve your burgers with fries, a Classic Homemade Coleslaw, or Mom’s Potato Salad for the perfect meal!
Tools For This Recipe: You will need an air fryer, a medium mixing bowl, a small container for forming the patties, a potato masher, a cheese grater, an instant-read thermometer, and a spatula for flipping the burgers.

What You’ll Need for Ingredients

Ground Beef: Ground beef forms the base of these burger patties and gives them their classic, juicy texture!

Cheese: Shredded cheese is mixed right into the patties for extra richness. Use your favorite cheese – cheddar, pepper jack, or another variety all work well. Karlynn’s Tip: Grating your own cheese helps it melt more smoothly than the pre-shredded options!

Bacon: Finely chopped bacon adds a savory boost to your patties. Instead of putting bacon on top of the burger, mixing it directly into the patty spreads that delicious taste throughout every bite!

Onion Powder: Onion powder adds a simple but delicious base seasoning here. Karlynn’s Tip: You can also enhance the patties with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, or a pinch of cayenne for a little heat!

Egg: Using one egg helps bind the ingredients so the patties hold their shape easily while cooking.

How To Make Air Fryer Hamburgers

This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.

air fryer hamburgers - rolled into balls

A metal potato masher presses down on raw ground meat mixed with diced onions and other ingredients in a clear plastic bowl against a white background.

Combine the ground beef, cheese, bacon, egg, and seasoning in a medium bowl. Gently mix everything by hand, being careful not to overwork the meat.
Divide the mixture into equal portions for your burger patties.
Place one portion of the mixture into a small container about the size of a burger patty.
Use a potato masher to press the meat into shape, pressing lightly so the patty stays tender instead of smashed.
Turn the container over and tap it lightly, so the formed patty pops out.
Place the patties into the air fryer basket, spacing them evenly.
Cook the burgers in the air fryer according to the instructions in the recipe card below. Once finished, check that the burgers have reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
Serve your burgers and enjoy!

Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Air Fryer Hamburgers

Cooking Frozen Burgers: While you can absolutely cook frozen burger patties in the air fryer, they won’t taste quite as good as these homemade ones. If frozen patties are all you have, cook them at 380°F for about 10 minutes per side, flipping halfway through. Cooking time varies by air fryer model and patty size, so always check that burgers reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving!
Prevent Bulging Patties: Press a small indentation into the center of each raw patty with your thumb before cooking. This simple trick helps the burgers cook more evenly and prevents them from puffing up in the middle!
Customize Your Toppings: One of the best things about burgers is how easy they are to customize. Keep it classic with ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, lettuce, tomato, and onions, or get creative with caramelized onions, different cheeses, or your other favorite toppings. No matter how you dress them up, toasting the buns always makes a burger even better!

Storage Instructions

These hamburgers are just as tasty the next day, so they’re perfect for quick lunches or easy dinners later on!

Refrigerator: Let the cooked burger patties cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven until warmed through.

Freezer: Burger patties freeze very well! Wrap each cooked patty individually in plastic wrap or foil, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months, following USDA food safety guidelines. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in the air fryer or oven until hot!

More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes

Air fryers make cooking quick and easy, so if you use yours as often as I do, be sure to try these Air Fryer Recipes next:

This crispy Air Fryer Turkey Bacon is perfect for breakfast or adding to sandwiches!
These Air Fryer Baked Potatoes turn out fluffy on the inside with perfectly crisp skins.
Great for a side dish or snack, our Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are guaranteed to please the crowd!

And just like that, you have juicy, flavorful burgers made right in the air fryer! No barbecue, no fuss, and still every bit as satisfying as a classic backyard burger.

Give this recipe a try the next time you’re craving a homemade burger but don’t feel like firing up the grill, and don’t forget to let me know how they turned out in the comments below.

Happy Cooking!

Mike (Mr. Magpie)