Frozen burgers in the air fryer make for a quick dinner that tastes as good as on the grill. Healthy and start to finish ready in under 15 minutes. You can even add cheese!
Here's the deal. If you are on the fence about learning how to cook frozen burgers in the air fryer, my job today is to convince you how freaking good they really are.
If I am being honest, I wasn't sure I was going to like burgers in the air fryer. I pictured totally dried out hockey pucks that couldn't compete with the taste of a grilled burger.
I was wrong.
Cooking them in the air fryer tastes even better than the grill and easier. Here's why:
- It is almost completely hands off. You have to flip once half way thru, other than that, its easy peasy.
- No babysitting, worrying that some are going to cook uneven like they do on a grill.
- So much healthier than frying in a pan, all of the fats release and drip to the bottom of the fryer.
- They taste incredible! The are juicy, cooked all they way thru and 100% not an overcooked hockey puck.
- It is so perfect to have frozen burgers stashed in the freezer and just throw them in the air fryer when you have zero desire to cook dinner.
- Your house will not smell like a greasy smoked fill restaurant like it does when you cook burgers in a frying pan!
On a scale of 1-10 of my favorite foods in the air fryer, burgers are definitely a 10. You just can't beat the convenience and taste. I love having burgers in the meal rotation, but prior to trying them in my air fryer I was getting super frustrated with how they kept turning out on the grill. Problem solved, and bonus, you don't even have to handle the raw meat to make a patty!
Let's learn how to make burgers in the air fryer shall we?
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Ingredient notes and substitutions
Frozen Burgers- I used frozen grass fed burgers that were 80% fat, Which for grass fed is a good way to go for the most flavor. You can use your favorite frozen ground beef for this recipe. The burgers I used were large being ½" thick and about 6 inches in diameter prior to cooking.
Optional ingredients- I encourage you to sprinkle with salt prior to cooking for the best flavor. Cheese is also optional, use your favorite type!
Expert tips
- Don't over lap- The burgers can be touching. In fact, mine were a pretty tight fit. Just don't let them overlap. If you need to cook in batches to cook the amount of burgers you need, please do.
- Preheat the air fryer- Preheat the air fryer at the cooking temperature for 5 minutes. Be careful when adding the patties to the basket, it will be hot.
- Flip halfway- Don't skip flipping. They cook evenly when flipped.
- Wipe the bottom if cooking in batches- To prevent any kind of smoking during the second batch I did a quick wipe down of the basket to clean out the grease and fat from the first batch.
FAQ's
My air fryer is a 6.8 QT air fryer and it held 3 large frozen burgers in the basket without overlapping. You may have to do less depending on the size of your air fryer. They can be touching, but not overlapping.
This recipe is for well done burgers. You will cook to an internal temperature of 160°F.
Not gonna lie. This does make for a messy bottom of the air fryer basket but it is super easy to clean. Wipe out any grease or fat you don't want going down your drain. Then clean in your sink with soap and water. If anything is stuck to the bottom you can do a quick soak to loosen.
Everyone will have a different size frozen burger so keep that in mind with the cooking times. If your patties are small check them at the 10 minute mark. If they are large they may need a few minutes added on to reach an internal temp of 160°F.
Remove any ice if there is any from being in the freezer. This keeps the air fryer from smoking.
No, you do not need to spray the basket or food. The non stick surface will be easy to release the food, especially with the grease released from the burgers.
Step by step photo guide
More frozen food air fryer recipes and side dish ideas
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How to Cook Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer
- Total Time: 17
- Yield: 3 1x
Description
Frozen burgers in the air fryer make for a quick dinner, that tastes as good as on the grill. Healthy and start to finish ready in under 15 minutes. You can even add cheese!
Ingredients
- 3 frozen burgers (or any amount you need, see notes)
- optional- salt to season, cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes. Season burgers with a sprinkle of salt if using.
- Once preheated add frozen burgers to the air fryer basket in a single layer. They can touch, but should not overlap. See notes.
- Cook for 6 minutes and then flip burgers with a spatula. Cook for an additional 6 minutes or to an internal temperature of 160°F for a well done burger. Your cooking time may vary depending on the size of your burger. See notes.
- If topping with cheese, after you have reached final cooking temp, place cheese slices on burgers and cook for an additional 1 minute.
Notes
- You can cook as many burgers as you need for your family. Depending on the size of your burgers and air fryer you may need to do multiple batches.
- All burgers will be different sized. Using a digital meat thermometer will be best. If your burgers are not done at 12 minutes, cook in 1-2 minute increments until desired temperature is reached.
- Remove burgers from the basket and serve as desired! Ideas include, topping on a bun, burger bowls or even plain with a side of fries or salad.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 12
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer frozen burgers, burgers in air fryer, air fryer recipes
Katie
These burgers have been a life changer! Especially in the winter time when I don’t wanna go outside and stand in the rain while I barbecue. My kids say they like them even better then grilled because they don’t get that charred flavor from flareups. We make these at least once a week now!
★★★★★