Air Fryer Hamburgers {Extra Juicy and Tender}

My air fryer hamburgers are tender, juicy, and flavorful- and they take half the time of grilling! They’re easy to customize and are a hit among kids and adults.

It’s no secret that I use the air fryer almost every night for my family’s meals. For something fun, we’ve recently been making air fryer hamburgers. They taste like they came off the grill, but in a fraction of the time and without the mess!

My burgers are made with simple ingredients and require minimal prep time. With less oil used, my recipe is far healthier than grilled or pan-fried hamburgers. I like to pair them with air fryer French fries or air fryer sweet potato fries for the ultimate takeout fakeout, but they are also great over a salad or in a burger bowl.

If you love grilling in the air fryer, try my air fryer turkey burgers, air fryer chicken patties, air fryer brats, and air fryer sausage links.

Key Ingredients

• Ground beef. I used lean ground beef, but any ground beef works.
• Spices. Onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
• Onion. My mom taught me that grating onions into a hamburger mixture makes all the difference; I can’t disagree. It adds flavor without any chunks or bits throughout.
• Worcestershire sauce. No burger patty is complete without this sauce.
• Burger fix-ins. American cheese, hamburger buns, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and burger veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles.

How to air fry hamburgers 

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Step 1- Mix the beef, seasonings, sauce, and grated onion in a bowl.

Step 2- Add the patties to the air fryer basket. Press down onto the center of each patty.

Step 3- Air fry the hamburger patties for 4 minutes per side.

Step 4- Add cheese to each burger and air fry for another minute until it melts. Remove from the air fryer and assemble the burgers.

Arman’s recipe tips

• Line the air fryer basket. While I prefer the natural grill marks the air fryer basket makes, for a completely mess-free experience, use air fryer liners or a disposable air fryer basket.
• Shape the patties into equal-sized portions so that they cook evenly at the same time.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket if you can’t comfortably fit all the patties in it. My Phillips XL air fryer can fit four patties (as pictured), but cook in batches if needed.
• Press down in the center of each patty to prevent the burgers from puffing up during the cooking process.

Storage instructions

To store: Place leftover air fryer burgers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

To freeze: Wrap the cooked and cooled burger patties in aluminum foil, then place them in a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Frequently asked questions

More air fryer dinners

If you tried this Air Fryer Hamburgers 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. 

Originally published September 2022, updated and republished May 2025