Air Fryer Frozen Burgers

Air Fryer Frozen Burgers are a great way to get a delicious, perfectly cooked burger on the table in just 20 minutes or less! Skip the drive-thru and use an air fryer or Ninja Foodi to cook juicy and flavorful burgers from frozen hamburger patties quickly and evenly every time -great for busy weeknights!

Out of the many recipes to make in the air fryer (or Ninja Foodi), frozen burger patties are what we make the most!

🤔Why Make A Frozen Burger In Air Fryer?

The air fryer is a small convection oven that uses hot air to cook food. The hot air circulates around the food, cooking it evenly on all sides. This is what makes the air fryer so great for frozen foods!

It takes just 20 minutes or less to get a perfectly cooked burger without thawing or defrosting. Which means lunch or dinner on the table in no time.

You can use any frozen burger patties you enjoy including popular brands like Bubba Burger, Sweet Earth, Kirkland, Great Value, Good and Gather, Member’s Mark, or even store-bought patties from the grocery store.

That said, I cannot encourage you enough to skip the fast food and make these delicious frozen hamburgers in air fryer.

🍔 Ingredients & Tools

Frozen Beef Burger Patties: Frozen burgers can be found in almost any grocery store in the frozen section. I like using Bubba burgers, Open Nature, Tribali Foods, or even Trader Joe’s brand Angus burgers.

Air Fryer: You can use any air fryer you like to make this recipe. I’m partial to the Ninja Foodi All In One cooker because it’s good quality and multi-functional! Check out my full review of the Ninja Foodi.

📖How To Make Frozen Hamburger Patties In Air Fryer

1️⃣ Preheat the air fryer: Turn the temperature to 375F and preheat for 3-5 minutes.

2️⃣Add frozen burger patties: Place the frozen burgers in a single layer at the bottom of your air fryer basket and set the timer for 20 minutes. You may need less time depending on the size and thickness of the burger.

3️⃣ Flip halfway: At the 10-minute mark, flip the burger over using a spatula. Let the burger cook for an additional 5-10 minutes depending on size and how well done you prefer it.

4️⃣Top and serve: Once the burgers are finished cooking, remove them from the air fryer with a spatula, add them to a bun, and dress them with your favorite toppings!

⏲ Best Time & Temperature to Air Fry Frozen Burgers

The amount of time it takes to air fry a frozen burger depends on the size and thickness of the burger patty. These are general recommendations. When cooked at 375 degrees, the typical beef burger needs about 10-15 minutes to cook at a temperature of 375F (flipping halfway through). Check on your burgers at the 10-minute mark and adjust the time accordingly.

• Rare Burger: 10-12 minutes at 375F
• Medium Well Burger: 12-15 minutes at 375F
• Well Done Burger: 20 minutes at 375F

🐄Cooking Fresh Burger Patties In The Air Fryer

Can you cook a raw burger in the air fryer? Yes, you can cook raw patties right in the air fryer with similar steps. Season and form your burger patties the way you enjoy and use the following steps to make air fryer burgers with ground beef.

• Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cooking time: Cook for about 12 minutes or until burgers reach an internal temperature of 160F, flipping halfway through. Cook for less time depending on how well done you enjoy your burgers.

👩🏻‍🍳 Chef’s Tips

Do not overlap or over-crowd your air fryer basket. Make sure your air fryer hamburgers have enough room to lay flat in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer or Ninja Foodi, you may need to work in batches.

Cooking times will vary. It largely depends on how thick your burgers are and how many you’re cooking at once. It can take anywhere between 12 and 20 minutes, so be sure to keep checking for doneness.

Add seasoning. Once you’re halfway done cooking, feel free to add hamburger seasonings such as garlic powder, salt and pepper, onion powder, paprika, BBQ sauce, Mushroom Salt, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire, and liquid smoke.

Add cheese. If you want to add cheese to your burgers, do so during the last few minutes of cooking. This will give the cheese time to melt without overcooking the burger.

For easy clean-up. Depending on your individual air fryer, you can add aluminum foil to the bottom of your air fryer basket. This will keep the grease from falling down through the grate and smoking.

🥒Topping Ideas & Serving Suggestions

• Use classic condiments: Ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, and sliced pickles are all great options. Top with a slice of cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and onion!
• Get creative: Don’t be afraid to try new things! Blue cheese dressing, avocado, bacon, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, jalapeños, and BBQ sauce are all delicious toppings for air fryer burgers.
• Get saucy: Use BBQ sauce, Thousand Island Dressing, Habanero Ranch, or One Minute Mayo as a flavorful spread.
• Serve it up: Serve your air fryer burger on a toasted bun with your favorite toppings. If you’re looking for a healthier option, serve it on a lettuce wrap or with a side salad.
• Air fryer burger sides: Serve air-fried burgers with sweet potato fries, crinkle cut fries, onion rings, okra, and don’t forget the homemade ketchup!

🦃How to Cook Frozen Turkey Burgers in the Air Fryer

By following the same method, you can also make juicy, flavorful turkey burgers in the air fryer. Keep in mind that turkey, unlike beef, needs to be cooked through. The minimum internal temperature for turkey is 165F. For more detailed instructions, check out my air fryer frozen turkey burger recipe.

🔁 Storing & Freezing

Storing: Cooked ground beef burger patties should be stored in shallow air-tight containers or wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap and kept in the fridge no longer than 4 days.

Freezing: Once cooked, let burgers cool completely before storing patties individually wrapped in a freezer-safe airtight bag or container for up 6 months.

❔ FAQ

Can you cook fresh thawed burgers in the air fryer?

Absolutely. This recipe is specifically for store-bought frozen burgers, but if cooking from raw simply increase the cooking time until the desired temperature is reached.

Can you cook burgers and fries in an air fryer at the same time?

Yes, you can cook a small number of french fries along with the burger patties right in the air fryer as long as everything is in a single layer and you flip the fries often.

Why does my air fryer smoke?

When cooking fatty foods (like burgers) the grease sometimes splatters onto the heating element causing smoke.

How do I stop my air fryer from smoking?

If you start to notice smoke, simply add a tablespoon or two of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket and continue cooking. The smoke should stop and the burgers will continue to cook evenly.

Are air fryer burgers keto?

Store-bought frozen burgers are sometimes made with more than just ground beef so be sure to check those labels but for the most part, frozen burger patties are low enough in carbohydrates to be considered a keto-friendly food.

🍔More Air Fryer Burger Recipes

• Air Fryer Frozen Beef Burger Patties
• Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
• Air Fryer Salmon Burgers
• Air Fryer Chicken Patties
• Air Fryer White Castle Burgers
• Air Fryer Sausage Patties
• Blackened Salmon Burgers
• Air Fryer Impossible Burger
• Air Fryer Beyond Burger
• Chili Lime Chicken Burgers (Trader Joe’s Copycat)