Air Fryer Chicken Burgers – Creating flavorful air fryer chicken burgers at home is effortless – they’re easy to make, healthy, and bursting with flavor! Just add your favorite toppings and transform them into a weeknight meal that’s both convenient and delicious.
LET’S MAKE AIR FRYER CHICKEN BURGERS
Say goodbye to bland burgers with our mouth-watering Air Fryer chicken burgers. Chicken burgers in the air fryer are perfect if you are looking for a healthy alternative to traditional burgers. Serve them on a bun or inside romaine or butter lettuce as we do for our ground beef lettuce wraps for a lighter option.
INGREDIENTS FOR AIR FRYER CHICKEN PATTIES
- Chicken: Use ground chicken thighs that are 80-90% lean, so you have more fat to flavor and keep the burgers together. For a lighter variation, use ground chicken breast.
- Garlic: I suggest using two cloves, but don’t let my recipe tell you how much garlic to use – measure with your heart.
- Spices: Flavor the air fryer chicken burgers with a tasty combination of salt, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, and onion flakes.
- Egg: Increase moisture by adding an egg to bind the ingredients together.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise helps maintain moisture and deeply flavors the burgers; it’s the perfect complement to the otherwise bland chicken.
- Liquid Smoke: We may not be grilling burgers to make this recipe, but no one needs to know that. A few taps of liquid smoke lend the perfect smokiness that makes it feel like they’re coming right off the grill.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS
- Spice it Up – Don’t be afraid of experimenting with different spice blends. Replace the seasonings with blackened seasoning or Slap Ya Mama Seasoning recipe.
- Make it Crispy – Add panko (about ⅓ cup) to the burger mixture if you prefer more of a crispy chicken sandwich texture.
HOW TO AIR FRY CHICKEN BURGERS
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Combine the ingredients for the chicken burgers in a mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 320°F (160°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a food scale to portion 3-5 ounces of ground turkey.
Form the meat into a ball and set it onto the baking sheet; repeat with the remaining turkey. Use another baking sheet to press down the turkey to create patties.
Make an impression in the center of each patty using your thumb. Air fry for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE PERFECT AIR FRYER CHICKEN BURGERS
- Use your hands to mix the ingredients just enough to combine. Over-mixing causes the burgers to become dense and less juicy.
- Refrigerate the chicken mixture before forming and cooking the burgers. Chilling the mixture beforehand helps the ingredients come together and prevents the patties from falling apart during the cooking process.
- Lower cooking temperatures and longer cooking times in the air fryer keep the burgers from shrinking and puffing up; you can also use your thumb to press down in the center of each patty to do the same.
- Chicken is lean and prone to drying out. For this reason, be sure you don’t overcook the patties. The best way to know if the burgers are finished cooking is to use a food thermometer; the safe internal temperature is 165°F (73°C).
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TOPPINGS FOR CHICKEN BURGERS
Elevate juicy chicken patties with basic toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, avocado, jalapeños, or cheese. Or take them to another level with crispy bacon, caramelized mushrooms and onions, sliced pineapple, sumac onions, homemade coleslaw, or a fried egg.
Condiments are another great way to build a burger. Try sriracha mayo, skhug, guacamole without tomato, serrano crema, McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce, chipotle aioli, honey mustard, teriyaki sauce, tzatziki, or a zesty buffalo sauce!
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Serve the air fryer chicken burgers with crispy and flavorful air fryer frozen sweet potato fries, roasted potatoes, or air fryer Hasselback potatoes. For a refreshing side dish, consider making avocado cucumber tomato salad.
You can also put a Mediterranean twist on the meal with çoban salatasi or piyaz. For something tangier, vinegar coleslaw is a great option, or complete the meal with air fryer zucchini and squash, southern potato salad, healthy potato salad, gluten free pasta salad, or egg salad with pickles.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVERS
- Refrigerate – Store leftovers in an airtight container; they will keep for 3-4 days.
- Freeze – Wrap and store uncooked chicken patties for 3 months. Air fryer chicken burgers will keep for 1-2 months. Prevent freezer burn by layering plastic wrap over the burger patties before securing them in an airtight container.
- Thaw – When you’re ready to eat, defrost them in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat – Warm leftover burgers in the air fryer at 360°F (182°C) for 5 minutes or in microwave, and enjoy!
- Repurpose – My favorite way to use leftover burgers is to make a cheeseburger salad and finish it with homemade Big Mac sauce.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long do you cook a chicken burger in an air fryer?
The cooking time for air fryer chicken burgers will vary depending on the thickness and size of the burger patty and the model you use. We have an Instant Pot Air Fryer, and 20 minutes at a lower temperature, 320°F (160°C), produces the best results. It’s also a good idea to check the internal temperature of the chicken burger using a food thermometer to ensure it reaches a safe temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Do I have to use chicken breast?
While many use ground chicken breast for its leanness and mild flavor, I opt for ground chicken thighs. The slightly higher fat content produces a juicier, more flavorful burger that is less likely to dry out.
Can I prepare this recipe in advance?
You can combine ground chicken with the other ingredients and even form the patties 1-2 days before cooking them. Cooked patties, on the other hand, will keep for 3-4 days, making this recipe perfect for meal prep.
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Air Fryer Chicken Burgers
- 1 pound ground chicken, 80-90%, dark meat
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion flakes
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
- 2 taps liquid smoke
- Combine the ingredients for the chicken burgers in a mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 320°F (160°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a food scale to portion 3-5 ounces of ground turkey.
- Form the meat into a ball and set it onto the baking sheet; repeat with the remaining turkey. Use another baking sheet to press down the turkey to create patties.
- Make an impression in the center of each patty using your thumb. Air fry for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Use your hands to mix the ingredients just enough to combine. Over-mixing causes the burgers to become dense and less juicy.
- Refrigerate the chicken mixture before forming and cooking the burgers. Chilling the mixture beforehand helps the ingredients come together and prevents the patties from falling apart during the cooking process.
- Lower cooking temperatures and longer cooking times in the air fryer keep the burgers from shrinking and puffing up; you can also use your thumb to press down in the center of each patty to do the same.
- Chicken is lean and prone to drying out. For this reason, be sure you don’t overcook the patties. The best way to know if the burgers are finished cooking is to use a food thermometer; the safe internal temperature is 165°F (73°C).
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.