If you’re wondering how long to cook burgers in the air fryer, you’re in the right place. Air fryer burgers cook fast, turn out juicy, and don’t require firing up the grill or standing over a stove.
I’ve tested air fryer hamburgers using different patty sizes, fresh and frozen beef, and multiple air fryer models to dial in the exact time and temperature that works consistently at home.
Also try swaping out your traditional condiments for this Dipping Sauce. It's a family favorite.
Air Fryer Burger Time & Temperature Chart
| Burger Size | Temperature | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thin patties (¼ lb) | 360°F | 6–8 minutes |
| Standard patties (⅓ lb) | 360°F | 8–10 minutes |
| Thick patties (½ lb) | 360°F | 10–12 minutes |
| Frozen burger patties | 360°F | 12–15 minutes |
Why Make Burgers in the Air Fryer?
Air fryer burgers are one of my favorite quick dinners because they’re:
- Fast — dinner is ready in under 15 minutes
- Hands-off — no grease splatter or pan babysitting
- Juicy — the circulating heat cooks evenly
- Reliable — consistent results every time
Whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a family, the air fryer makes burgers easy any night of the week.
Ingredient Roll Call ~ Burger in Air Fryer
Let’s take a look at what makes these air fried hamburgers so good:
- Ground Sirloin – Lean yet flavorful; this cut delivers rich, meaty taste without too much grease.
- Ground Pork – Adds moisture and depth to balance out the sirloin.
- Bread Crumbs – Help bind the burger mixture and give it a tender bite.
- Egg – Keeps the patties juicy and helps everything hold together.
- Garlic (minced) – Adds savory flavor that pairs beautifully with the meats.
- Salt, Oregano, and Black Pepper – Classic seasonings that enhance every layer of flavor.
To make a perfect patty, you need a good mixture of ground meat. I prefer a Ground Sirloin with 90/10% Lean mixed with Ground Pork. Ground Pork will add flavor and a little bit more fat to your burger. It’s wonderful and will make the most juicy burger ever.
The Must-Haves
You’ll want these kitchen tools on hand for success:
- Mixing Bowl – Big enough to combine ingredients without making a mess.
- Air Fryer – Your key to that perfect crispy exterior and juicy interior.
- Parchment Paper or Basket Liner – Keeps patties from sticking.
- Meat Thermometer – Ensures burgers are cooked safely to 160°F.
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Let's Make It! Air Fryer Burger Patties
In a large bowl combine Ground Sirloin and Ground Pork. Ground Pork is different than Ground Sausage. If you have trouble finding ground pork make sure to ask your butcher for help. Ground pork will be leaner than ground sausage and preferred when making Hamburger Patties.
Add Panko Bread Crumbs, Egg, Garlic, Onion Powder, Oregano, and Black Pepper. Mix to combine. But do not over mix or work the meat. Doing so will cause your patty to become tough. Mix just enough to combine ingredients and leave it at that.
Form Patties into ⅓ lb burgers by forming a ball in your hands and then flattening. Burgers will be about ¾ - 1 inch thick.
Make a dimple in each patty using the back of a spoon and pressing slightly in the center. This helps with an even cooking process. The center is always the last to cook. Adding a dimple in the center means it will cook faster and be done cooking with the outsides are cooked. This helps to ensure a juicy burger.
Burger Doneness & Internal Temperature Guide
For food safety and best results, use a meat thermometer.
| Doneness | Internal Temp |
|---|---|
| Medium | 160°F |
| Well-done | 165°F |
Ground beef should reach 160°F minimum for safe consumption.
When to Add Cheese to Air Fryer Burgers
Add cheese during the last 1–2 minutes of cooking.
Simply place a slice on each patty, close the air fryer, and let the heat melt it perfectly.
Kitchen Secrets
Here is a TIP for you! Make a batch and Freeze individual patties for another day! Can you hear the heaven’s opening and sunshine pouring down? YES! Make a big batch, get your hands dirty only once, and Freeze hamburger patties for another day. You can also make these bad boys in advance of a BBQ Potluck or family reunion to save you time for later.
The secret to juicy air fryer burgers? Don’t overmix your meat! Gently combine ingredients and shape patties just until they hold together.
Another tip—air fryer temperature matters. 360°F gives you that golden crust while locking in juices without drying out the inside.
If you love a melty cheese topping, add it during the last minute of cooking and close the air fryer drawer to trap the heat.
Fridge & Freezer Magic
It’s best to layer burgers using parchment paper so they do not stick together. Burgers can be place in the refrigerator until ready to cook or frozen for up to 6 months.
Store leftover cooked burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350F for 2-3 minutes to bring back that crispy outside.
When Freezing burgers, I lay flat on a parchment lined cookie sheet to freeze. Then I remove and place in a Zip-Loc bag for long term storage. Individual patties are easy to pull from the bag as needed.
Using Internal Thermometers
Air Frying is my new favorite. It’s easy to do, doesn’t heat up my kitchen, and the clean up is quick. Not to mention I can set it and forget it. If you know me then you know I use that extra time to start a load of laundry, set the table, and clean up the dishes.
Set Air Fryer to 360 Degrees and cook for 8-9 Minutes. Then turn over and repeat for an additional 6-8 minutes. Each Hamburger Patty should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Using a quality Thermometer is key. I recommend using the Thermoworks Thermopen MK4 for all your temperature needs. This unit is reliable and easy to use from cooking meats to even making candy where temperatures are so vital to a recipe.
I have owned countless thermometers and this one has been my new favorite for a number of years now. Don’t waste your money on a cheap thermometer. I promise you won’t regret it! And they come in fun colors too.
Try This Instead / Swap it Out
We’ve made the perfect patty. We’ve cooked it to perfection in the Air Fryer. Now it’s time to dress it up! Here are few ideas to get you licking your lips. The possibilities are endless.
Traditional Burger with Cheese: Add Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup to a Toasted Bun. With Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and Cheese.
BBQ Burger with Bacon: Brush BBQ sauce while cooking the patty for delicious added flavor. Toast bun and add some Cowboy Dipping Sauce to bun. Top Burger with a few strips of cooked bacon, French Fried Onions, Lettuce, and Tomato.
Mushroom Burger: Serve burger on a toasted bun topped with sautéed mushrooms and onions and seal with melted Swiss Cheese.
Cheesy Cheese Burger: Add cubes of cheddar cheese to the patty before cooking. Air Fry as direction and melt a slice of cheese on the hot burger. Place on a toasted bun with Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, and Pickles.
Hawaiian Burger: Brush Burger with Teriyaki Sauce while cooking for an extra bonus flavor. Add 1 ring grilled pineapple on top of cooked burger. Serve with Lettuce, Tomato, and Avocado. Brush additional Teriyaki Sauce on Toasted Bun.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to making burgers. The key is in the patties and making sure they are well seasoned and cooked to perfection.
| Dress up your Burger | Toppings |
|---|---|
| Traditional Burger with Cheese | Add Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup to a Toasted Bun. With Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and Cheese. |
| BBQ Burger with Bacon | Brush BBQ sauce while cooking the patty for delicious added flavor. Toast bun and add some Cowboy Dipping Sauce to bun. Top Burger with a few strips of cooked bacon, French Fried Onions, Lettuce, and Tomato. |
| Mushroom Burger with Cheese | Serve burger on a toasted bun topped with sautéed mushrooms and onions and seal with melted Swiss Cheese. |
| Cheesy Cheese Burger | Add cubes of cheddar cheese to the patty before cooking. Air Fry as direction and melt a slice of cheese on the hot burger. Place on a toasted bun with Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, and Pickles |
| Hawaiian Burger with Grilled Pineapple | Brush Burger with Teriyaki Sauce while cooking for an extra bonus flavor. Add 1 ring grilled pineapple on top of cooked burger. Serve with Lettuce, Tomato, and Avocado. Brush additional Teriyaki Sauce on Toasted Bun. |
- Cooking times can vary on the size of your patty. ⅓lb patties will cook 8-9 mins at 360 degrees and an addition 6-8 minutes on the other side to reach 165 degrees internally.
- ¼ lb patties will cook faster. Air Fry at 360 degrees for 6-7 minutes and flip over cooking an addition 5-6 minutes.
- ½lb patties. Air Fry at 360 degrees for 11 minutes before flipping over and cooking an addition 9-11 minutes.
- Always check the internal temperature. Hamburgers should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Frozen Burgers in Air Fryer
From time to time it's always nice to be able to cook a frozen burger in Air Fryer. But determining the right time and temperature can be a challenge. There are always variables, so let me help you when it comes to a few tips and tricks to cooking Air Fryer Burgers from Frozen.
Always cook frozen hamburger patties with the seasoned side up. Burgers will need to be flipped over about half way through the cooking process. If flare ups happen, turn the temperature down.
You can fit as many patties or Hamburger Steaks in the air fryer basket as will reasonable fit without stacking making sure to leave spare around patties for proper air flow. Make sure to spray the basket with Avocado Cooking Spray or use parchment paper.
How to Toast Hamburger Bun
I find Hamburgers are just better when served on a Toasted Bun. Do you agree? Toasting Buns is an easy step but often overlooked because you are ready to eat and hungry. Do yourself a favor and put someone in charge of prepping the buns to be toasted! Trust me when I say the family will help because they will want a toasted bun too.
Spread a light coating of butter on each bun. Place bun in Air Fryer at 360 Degrees for 1-2 minutes to toast.
You can also toast a cookie sheet pan of buns at once using the Oven. Set to Broil and place the rack on the 2nd notch down. Toast buns under broiler for 1-2 minutes or until toasted. Remove from oven and serve.
Kitchen Q&A's
Yes, Frozen patties work great. Just air Fryer at 260F degrees for about 14-16 minutes. Flipping halfway through.
Yes, it's a good idea to flip halfway through. This ensures even cooking and that signature sear on both sides.
Avoid overcooking and do not press down on them while cooking. Using a mix of ground sirloin and ground pork also helps retain mositure.
Your Next Favorite Recipes
- Hawaiian Mac Salad
- Best Potato Salad
- Orange Fluff
- Snicker Salad
- Dutch Oven Potatoes
- Cowboy Beans
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
Air Fryer Hamburger Patties
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Sirloin
- 1 lb Ground Pork
- ½ Cup Bread Crumbs
- 1 Egg
- 2 Cloves Garlic - Minced
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add Ground Sirloin, Ground Pork, Bread Crumbs, Egg, Garlic, Salt, Oregano, and Pepper to a large bowl. Using your hands or a Stand Mixer, mix ingredients until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Separate mixture into 6 balls for ⅓lb burgers, 8 for ¼lb burgers.
- Using your hands shape each ball into a patty by pressing and shaping into a circle
- Place patty on parchment paper
- Set Air Fryer to 360 Degrees and cook according to weight of burger.¼ lb 360 Degrees 6-7 Minutes Flip over cook 5-6 minutes more⅓ lb360 Degrees 8-9 Minutes Flip over cook 6-8 minutes more½ lb 360 Degrees 11-12 Minutes Flip over cook 9-11 minutes more
- Dress your Burger with these OPTIONAL ideas.Traditional Burger with Cheese: Add Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup to a Toasted Bun. With Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and Cheese.BBQ Burger with Bacon: Brush BBQ sauce while cooking the patty for delicious added flavor. Toast bun and add some Cowboy Dipping Sauce to bun. Top Burger with a few strips of cooked bacon, French Fried Onions, Lettuce, and Tomato.Mushroom Burger with Cheese: Serve burger on a toasted bun topped with sautéed mushrooms and onions and seal with melted Swiss Cheese. Cheesy Cheese Burger: Add cubes of cheddar cheese to the patty before cooking. Air Fry as direction and melt a slice of cheese on the hot burger. Place on a toasted bun with Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, and PicklesHawaiian Burger with Grilled Pineapple: Brush Burger with Teriyaki Sauce while cooking for an extra bonus flavor. Add 1 ring grilled pineapple on top of cooked burger. Serve with Lettuce, Tomato, and Avocado. Brush additional Teriyaki Sauce on Toasted Bun.
Notes
Air Fryer Cooking Times
- Always check the internal temperature. Hamburgers should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
| Size | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ lb | 360 Degrees | 6-7 Minutes Flip over cook 5-6 minutes more |
| ⅓ lb | 360 Degrees | 8-9 Minutes Flip over cook 6-8 minutes more |
| ½ lb | 360 Degrees | 11-12 Minutes Flip over cook 9-11 minutes more |
Frozen Hamburger Patties Cooking Time
| Size | Temperature | Frozen Hamburgers Air Fryer Time |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ lb | 350 Degrees | 8-9 Minutes Flip over cook 6-8 minutes more |
| ⅓ lb | 350 Degrees | 11-12 Minutes Flip over cook 9-11 minutes more |
| ½ lb | 350 Degrees | 14-16 Minutes Flip over cook 13-15 minutes more |
Dress up Burger (Optional Ideals)
| Traditional Burger with Cheese | Add Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup to a Toasted Bun. With Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and Cheese. |
| BBQ Burger with Bacon | Brush BBQ sauce while cooking the patty for delicious added flavor. Toast bun and add some Cowboy Dipping Sauce to bun. Top Burger with a few strips of cooked bacon, French Fried Onions, Lettuce, and Tomato. |
| Mushroom Burger with Cheese | Serve burger on a toasted bun topped with sautéed mushrooms and onions and seal with melted Swiss Cheese. |
| Cheesy Cheese Burger | Add cubes of cheddar cheese to the patty before cooking. Air Fry as direction and melt a slice of cheese on the hot burger. Place on a toasted |
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Sally
This is a great recipe. Sooo good. I've never used ground pork before but I will be making these again and again.
Love having some in the freezer and popping them in the air-fryer whenever I'm hungry for one.
Keep the great recipes coming!
Becky P.
What kind of air fryer do you have? Curious if it’s the oven type or basket — have you tried both types?
Devour Dinner
I have a Cosori Air Fryer it has a basket. I also use a Mealthy CrispLid which turns any 6qt or 8qt Instant Pot / Electric Pressure Cooker into an Air Fryer too. It's wonderful.
Sally
How would you cook these after freezing? Would you need to let them thaw before cooking?
Devour Dinner
Hi Sally, My boys will make a frozen patty often. When cooking 1 or 2 at a time frozen we keep the time the same. If we do more then we add a minute or two to the cooking time. Keep in mind that with frozen ingredients it will take longer to pressure up which is also cooking the ingredients.
Sally
Thank you. I am cooking some now. Can't wait to try them.
Sally
Just realized we are talking about a "Air Fryer" recipe and an Instant Pot one.
So now what about cooking from frozen?
RebeccaGrace
I haven't tried cooking from frozen in the Air Fryer. I would lower the temperature just a little bit and then add a couple minutes. As always check the internal temperature to make sure it reaches 165F degrees to know when it's done.