Air Fryer Hamburgers

Air fryer hamburgers are probably the most delicious burger your will ever eat. Fresh or frozen meat patties (no defrosting necessary) cook up to perfection in only a couple of minutes without any grill mess. They are a great option for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Air fried hamburgers turn out tender and juicy on the inside and perfectly browned on the outside. Serve them on a toasted bun alongside your favorite kind of fries or a crunchy salad.

We have also included a list of our favorite burger toppings, and some helpful hints in case you would like to make your own fresh hamburger patties.

Choosing Hamburger Meat

For the best, beefy, and juicy burgers we recommend using ground chuck. Ground chuck usually provides the perfect lean meat/fat ratio at about 80-85 % lean meat and 15-20 % fat. The fat content is necessary to keep your burger flavorful and juicy. Even though, leaner cuts of beef might sound like a better and healthier choice on paper, they unfortunately make dry burgers that are no fun to eat.

Frozen Hamburger Patties vs. Fresh Hamburger Patties

There is actually not a big difference in quality or taste between frozen and fresh hamburger patties. While fresh hamburger patties do provide a slightly richer taste, they have a very short shelf life. Fresh patties are the better choice if you want to follow a specific hamburger patty recipe and if you are planning on cooking them within a day or two. Frozen hamburger patties, on the other hand, are a lot more convenient and still provide great taste. You can safely store them in the freezer for up to 6 months without losing any flavor. Frozen patties cook up quick and easy without defrosting, which makes them a great choice for a last minute meal.

Hamburger Topping Ideas

Burgers are a great meal, because they are super easy to personalize. Serve your cooked hamburgers or cheeseburgers on a toasted, open bun and let everyone add their favorite toppings by themselves. This way everybody can build their own favorite burger. Here is a list of our favorite traditional burger topping:

• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Onion
• Pickles
• Bacon
• Hamburger Sauce
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Mayonaise
• BBQ Sauce

Tips for Making Perfect Hamburger Patties

If you are making your own fresh hamburger patties, check out these helpful tips to ensure you end up with a tender and flavorful burger:

Ingredients:

• Use ground chuck with either 80/20 or 85/15 mixing ratio.
• Season your meat with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add additional flavorings such as garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, paprika or smoked paprika, cumin…..
• Add Worcestershire sauce to your patties to enhance the beefy flavor.
• Bread crumbs, panko crumbs or crushed up crackers can be added to your patties as they help bind the juices and create a more tender and succulent burger.

Shaping:

• Make sure your patties all weigh the same and therefore cook evenly.
• Shape your hamburger patties slightly bigger than your buns, as they shrink a bit during cooking.
• Create a divot in the middle of your meat patties by pressing down with a spoon or your thumb. This prevents your patties from shrinking too much and losing their shape during cooking.
• Separate burger patties with pieces of parchment paper for refrigeration until you are ready to cook them.

RECIPES TO MAKE WITH HAMBURGERS