Air Fryer Frozen Veggie Burger (In 15 Minutes or Less!)

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Veggie Burger
Cook time: 12 min
Ingredients: 4 Veggie Burgers (Frozen)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

This easy method for Air Fryer Frozen Veggie Burgers turns a frozen vegetable burger into a crispy vegetarian burger you can serve for lunch or dinner on a bun or chopped up in a salad in 10 minutes or less. Great for any air fryer or Ninja Foodi!

I’ve been vegan and vegetarian many times throughout my life. Although I’ve since moved on from the veggie life, there are still some foods I love to eat from that lifestyle. One of those being veggie burgers.

There are so many different kinds of veggie burgers out there and most taste really great! How could they not with all the flavors of beans, lentils, chickpeas, and mixed veggies?

Whenever I’m craving a veggie burger, I take one from the freezer and make an air fryer veggie burger straight from frozen. Using your air fryer to make a frozen vegetable burger is one of the easiest ways to get a healthy start to a meal in just 10 minutes or less. Because air fryers cook differently than ovens, you’ll need to modify the process slightly.

Shouldn’t I just use the directions on the packaging?

Since the air fryer is a small convection oven, it uses dry heat to circulate air around the food making it cook fast. This means that the time and temperature may need to be adjusted and will be different from what’s on the package instructions. This is especially true with frozen foods as they are thawing AND cooking during the air frying process.

🥦Why Make Frozen Veggie Burgers In The Air Fryer?

They cook much faster. Because the heat is constantly circulating, all surfaces are being cooked evenly and all at once making the cooking time much faster than in a traditional oven.

The texture is much better in an air fryer. All of the surface areas are being crisped up by dry heat which leaves the outside with a slight crust and the inside nice and tender.

Less clean-up required. No need to use the stovetop, skillet, or even a baking sheet. The only thing that gets dirty while using this method is the air fryer basket which can easily be cleaned!

Gets healthy food on the table fast. One of the best things about having an air fryer in my house over the last few years is that I’m able to get food on the table FAST. This makes it much easier to stick to a healthy lifestyle.

Perfect for Vegans or Vegetarians. Have a vegan or vegetarian guest in your house? Frozen vegetable burgers are the perfect food to have on hand to air fry a quick dinner or snack. You’ll love them too!

🍔What You’ll Need

Frozen Veggie Burgers – The beauty of this method is that you can use any of your favorite brands of veggie burgers, you can even make them from scratch! In this house, we love buying Morning star, Dr. Praegers and we’ve even tried Impossible burgers. The choice is yours!

Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi – In the last couple years, the air fryer market has EXPLODED! There are so many great options for you to choose from and many are super affordable these days. I still think the best air fryer is any brand of Ninja Foodi. I use the all-in-one multi-cooker as well as the Ninja Foodi Grill which is becoming a fast favorite because it’s sturdy, has many functions and I use it 2-3 times per day.

📋 How To Make Air Fryer Frozen Veggie Burgers

1️⃣ Preheat your air fryer to 375F. This will take about 3-5 minutes depending on the size and power of your air fryer. Don’t skip this step!

2️⃣ While the air fryer is preheating, remove the veggie burgers from the package. There is no need to add additional oil or even grease the air fryer basket.

3️⃣ Place the veggie burgers in a single layer at the bottom of the air fryer basket and set the timer for 15 minutes. You may not need to use all of that time, but it’s best to have more on the clock in case you do.

4️⃣ After about 8 minutes, flip over the veggie burgers gently using a spatula. Air fry for another 5-8 minutes or until veggie burgers are crispy on the outside and warmed through on the inside. Remove with a spatula and serve warm on a toasted bun.

⏲Best Time & Temperature To Air Fry Frozen Veggie Burgers

The amount of time it takes to air fry a frozen veggie burger depends on how thick and large the burger patty is. These are general recommendations. The typical veggie burger needs about 8-12 minutes to cook at a temperature 375F.

You can air fry a frozen veggie burger at 350F, but it will take a few more minutes to cook through depending on the size. Always check regularly within the last 5 minutes of cooking to ensure they don’t burn or overcook as every air fryer is different!

Small Veggie Burgers or Plant-Based Sausage Patties – 7-8 minutes at 375F
Standard Veggie Burger – 8-12 minutes at 375
Homemade Veggie Burgers -10-15 minutes at 375F

Types Of Veggie Burgers For Air Frying

Black bean burger
Chickpea burger
Lentil
Impossible
Morning start
Dr. Praeger’s
Boca
Gardein

Storing, Freezing & Reheating

Storing: Store cooked and cooled air fried veggie burgers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.

Reheating: The best way to reheat a cooked veggie burger is in your air fryer at 325F for 5-8 minutes or until it’s warmed through and crispy again.

Freezing: This food has already been frozen once, therefore freezing cooked veggie burgers is not recommended.

❔ FAQ

Should I add any additional oil to when using my air fryer?

No need! Because the air fryer circulates dry and hot air, the outside of the veggie burger crisps without the addition of any more oil.

What temperature do you air fry frozen burgers at?

The main temperature to air fry a frozen veggie burger the best way is 375F. You can turn the temperature down to 350F, but it may take a few minutes longer to cook.

Are air-fried veggie burgers healthy?

They can be depending on your lifestyle. Since there is no added fat or oil added to them, they are known to be more healthy.

Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

Generally for frozen foods, I like to preheat my air fryer. Once the dry heat starts circulating the moisture evaporates immediately whereas if there is no preheating, the air fryer may not get a good crust on the veggie burger.

Can I add aluminum foil to my air fryer?

This depends on the type of air fryer you have and where you’re putting the foil. I like to put the foil UNDER the basket to catch any excess oil or grease that comes off the sausage. This eliminates the need to clean the entire air fryer and you’ll just use the basket. If the foil is in a position where it can become loose, it may get sucked into the heating element when the air circulates so be sure it’s weighed down properly.

🍔More Air Fryer Burger Recipes

👩🏻‍🍳 Did You Enjoy This Recipe? 💗

Please leave a ⭐ rating in the recipe card.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest for more recipes!