This air fryer turkey burger recipe is so easy and bursting with flavor! Simple ingredients will give you the best juicy burger that is also healthy! Air fried and browned to delicious perfection in less than 30 minutes!
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It's burger season! If you don't want to fuss with firing up the grill and you are looking for a juicy burger you don't have to cook in the oven or on the stove, an air fryer turkey burger will be exactly the recipe you are looking for!
I've been all about turkey burgers lately - check out this spinach feta burger to prove it! Add some fresh asparagus and potato wedges to your sides and you have one tasty burger you entire family will love!
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple ingredients with all the best seasonings making this totally family friendly.
- Easy to prep ahead so you can cook them straight from frozen.
- Goodbye dry turkey burgers! Zucchini gives the perfect amount of moisture and air frying makes them deliciously crispy on the outside and juicy inside!
- Ground turkey is a great heart healthy swap for ground beef. This recipe also uses no oil or butter.
- Keto and low carb friendly: just make without breadcrumbs (use almond flour if needed instead) and omit bbq sauce. Serve without the bun or in a burger bowl.
Ingredients You Need For This Recipe
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Ground turkey: I highly recommend ButcherBox meat for this and all of my recipes.
- Zucchini: Zucchini is a great add-in to make this air fryer turkey burger with no egg.
- Breadcrumbs: Optional but recommended to help keep the burgers together. Panko or any kind of breadcrumb will work.
How to Make This Recipe
This is a step by step walkthrough of how to cook this recipe. Exact cook time and temperatures are available in the recipe card at the bottom.
Preheat your air fryer or Ninja Foodi while you combine the ingredients. Add ground turkey to a large bowl, season with salt & pepper and add in remaining zucchini, bbq sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Use your hands to incorporate but not over mix.
If the mixture seems too wet, add in breadcrumbs, starting with ½ cup and adjusting from there. Use your hands to mix and create 6 patties.
Place patties on parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze for 10 minutes or up to one hour to set. Place into air fryer basket with a small space between each. Air fry on 360F for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway. Burgers are cooked at 165F.
Expert Tips
- Use your thumb to push a divot into the burger. This will help them from plumping up too much.
- Check for doneness using an instant-read thermometer. Overcooking will result in a dry turkey burger.
- Make sure you chill or freeze the burgers before cooking. This will help them to keep their shape during air frying.
- If meat mixture is sticky, add in a bit of breadcrumbs.
- Use a higher-fat ground turkey if possible. Ground turkey thighs work very well for this recipe.
- For a low-carb, no bun burger try wrapping these in lettuce instead of a bun.
- Storage Tips: Store cooked burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Make Ahead Tips: Make patties and store in a freezer safe container with parchment paper between burgers. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat: Heat at 350F for 3-4 minutes.
FAQs
Cook time for frozen raw burgers are slightly longer than fresh, up to 18 minutes for frozen and as low as 15 for fresh. Burgers are cooked when a quick read thermometer temp reads 165F.
Classic toppings like tomatoes, lettuce, onion and pickles are perfect for burgers. You can also add some melted cheese, sautéed onions, fried egg, mushrooms or avocado.
Making them with breadcrumbs and freezing before cooking will help to keep them together.
Related Recipes
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Air Fryer Turkey Burger
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey higher fat or turkey thigh recommended
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup bbq sauce
- 1 cup zucchini grated
- breadcrumbs optional, up to ⅓ cup
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer or Ninja Foodi while you combine the ingredients. Add ground turkey to a large bowl, season with salt & pepper and add in remaining zucchini, bbq sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Use your hands to incorporate but not over mix.
- If the mixture seems too wet, add in breadcrumbs, starting with ½ cup and adjusting from there. Use your hands to mix and create 6 patties and place a divot with your thumb on the top of each patty.
- Place patties on parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze for 10 minutes or up to one hour to set. Place into air fryer basket with a small space between each. Air fry on 360F for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway. Burgers are cooked at 165F.
Notes
- Make sure you chill or freeze the burgers before cooking. This will help them to keep their shape during air frying.
- If meat mixture is sticky, add in a bit of breadcrumbs.
- Storage Tips: Store cooked burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Make Ahead Tips: Make patties and store in a freezer safe container with parchment paper between burgers. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat: Heat at 350F for 3-4 minutes.
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