My air fryer hamburgers are so flavorful and juicy, plus they cook perfectly every time! All I need is ground beef and Montreal steak seasoning to have burger night ready in 12 minutes flat, no grill required.
Samantha’s Recipe Highlights
Faster Than the Grill – There’s no waiting around for the grill to heat up. The patties cook in about 10 to 15 minutes total, and from fridge to table, burger night happens in 15 minutes flat!
Less Cleanup Than the Stovetop – No grease splattering all over my stovetop! The grease drips below the basket instead, and pouring 1/2 cup of water or setting a piece of bread under the basket catches it so the air fryer doesn’t smoke.
Flavor That’s Just as Good – These air fryer hamburgers come out juicy with browned edges, just like off the grill. The Montreal steak seasoning does so much heavy lifting that everyone thinks I put in way more effort than I did!
How Long to Cook Hamburgers in the Air Fryer
Here’s a quick guide for how long to cook air fryer hamburgers at 350 degrees F based on your preferred doneness:
| Doneness | Internal Temperature | Approximate Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rare | 125 degrees F | 6-7 minutes |
| Medium Rare | 135 degrees F | 7-8 minutes |
| Medium | 145 degrees F | 9-10 minutes |
| Medium Well | 155 degrees F | 10-11 minutes |
| Well Done | 160 degrees F | 11-13 minutes |
These times are the full cook time, so flip the burgers halfway through. I always pull mine out about 5 degrees early since the patties keep cooking while they rest.
Key Ingredients and Tips
- Ground beef – I highly recommend 80/20 ground beef for air fryer hamburger patties because the extra fat means flavorful, juicy burgers that aren’t too greasy. Just be sure to use one of my two smoke prevention tips (1/2 cup of water or a piece of bread under the basket) since that extra fat creates grease as it cooks. I’ve also used 90/10 when I wanted a leaner option. The burgers are slightly less tender, but the lower fat also minimizes the smoking issue that comes with fattier meat.
- Montreal steak seasoning – This is where the big flavor boost comes from. I get garlic, pepper, and savory seasoning that enhance the taste of the beef without needing a long ingredient list. I use the 25% less sodium version. If you don’t have any, use salt and pepper with a little garlic powder and onion powder for a similar savory flavor.
- Hamburger buns – A soft and sturdy bun like brioche or potato buns helps soak up all the burger juices.
How to Cook Hamburgers in The Air Fryer
Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements and storage tips.
Preheat the Air Fryer. Set your air fryer to 350 degrees F and let it come up to temperature. Starting hot is one of my biggest secrets for cooking hamburgers in the air fryer evenly from edge to center.
Season and Shape the Patties. Gently combine the ground beef and Montreal steak seasoning in a mixing bowl, then divide the mixture into 4 equal parts. Shape each one into a patty about 3/4 to 1 inch thick. I like to press each patty down with the bottom of a plate to get an even layer, then use my thumb to make a small indent in the center so the air fryer hamburger patties don’t puff up while cooking.
Air Fry and Flip. Place the patties in a single layer in the basket and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. This timing is for medium-rare burgers.
Rest and Serve. Let the burgers rest for 2 minutes so the juices redistribute back through the meat. Then serve your juicy air fryer hamburgers on buns or lettuce wraps with all your favorite toppings!
Expert Tips
Always preheat the air fryer before the patties go in. A preheated basket cooks the burgers consistently from the inside out, so you never end up with one side done before the other.
Be careful not to overwork the meat when mixing in the seasoning. The more you handle ground beef, the tougher and drier the burgers get. I mix just until the seasoning is combined and then stop.
Make a small indent in the center of each patty before cooking. Burgers naturally puff up in the middle as they cook, and that little thumbprint has saved me from tall, round burgers time and time again.
Pour a little water or a piece of bread under the basket before cooking to catch the grease. I’ve found it also keeps the air fryer from smoking, which can happen with 80/20 beef.
Use an instant-read thermometer to pull the burgers at your exact preferred doneness. It’s the easiest way to guarantee juicy air fryer hamburgers instead of guessing and overcooking them.
Variations
- Swap the beef for ground turkey or chicken. I love these leaner options when I want something lighter that’s still fun to eat. My turkey burgers in the air fryer are another favorite in my house!
- No air fryer available? My oven baked burgers and Ninja Foodi burgers get me the same juicy results when my air fryer is busy with something else.
- Try ground bison burgers for a richer flavor. The meat is great for a hearty burger that still cooks beautifully in the air fryer.
- Skip the bun and turn air fryer hamburger patties into burger bowls. I like serving the patties over lettuce with all my favorite toppings.
- Use a plant-based ground meat alternative. I made an Impossible Burger in the air fryer for my friend who doesn’t eat meat, and she said it was one of the best she’s ever had!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Burgers
I always start with the sauce. A good spread of smash burger sauce or copycat big mac sauce cuts right through that 80/20 beef. When I want some heat, I swap in spicy mayo instead.
Adding toppings is where I have fun. Crispy air fryer bacon and BBQ sauce turns it into a western burger, or I pile coleslaw right on the patty. Cold and crunchy on a hot burger? So good!
For sides, I keep the air fryer going since it’s already out. Air fryer french fries are the easy pick, and sweet potato fries add a little sweetness next to all that Montreal seasoning. In the summer, I throw on air fryer corn on the cob and call it a cookout.
Storing and Reheating
Leftover air fryer hamburgers will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Place them in an airtight container or wrap each one individually in foil.
To reheat, pop the patties in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees F for about 2 to 3 minutes until warmed through. I have a full guide on how to reheat a burger in the air fryer if you want my exact method for keeping them juicy the second time around.
Frequently Asked Questions
I recommend 350 degrees F because it gives the burgers enough time to cook through without drying them out. For ½-pound patties, I usually air fry them for 7 to 13 minutes total, depending on how I want them cooked. Using an instant-read thermometer is still the easiest way to guarantee burgers are cooked to your perfect level of doneness.
Yes! I make frozen hamburgers in the air fryer whenever I don’t have thawed ground beef in my fridge. They just need a few extra minutes, and I season them once the surface starts to thaw so the seasoning sticks better.
It’s usually grease dripping to the bottom and burning, especially with 80/20 beef. Pour 1/2 cup of water or place a piece of bread under the basket to catch the grease, or switch to 90/10 beef since leaner meat gives off less grease. I cover more fixes in my guide to why your air fryer is smoking.
Turn the air fryer off first! I set a slice of cheese on each patty after the cooking time ends and close the air fryer for 1 to 2 minutes. The residual heat melts the cheese perfectly without the fan blowing it off the patty.
A small thumb indent in the center of each patty keeps them from puffing up. Burgers naturally shrink a little as the fat cooks, so don’t overwork the meat and press each patty into an even layer with the bottom of a plate.
When my burgers turn out dry, it’s usually because I used beef that was too lean or cooked the burgers too long. That’s why I prefer 80/20 ground beef and always check the internal temperature early.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Hot Dogs
- Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
- Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Tilapia
Juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers (Doneness Chart!)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef , 80/20
- 2 tablespoons Montreal steak seasoning
For Serving
- 4 Hamburger buns
- Your other favorite toppings
Instructions
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Set the air fryer to 350 degrees F and allow it to preheat empty for a few minutes
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In a medium mixing bowl, gently combine the ground beef and Montreal steak spice. Avoid overworking the meat to keep the burgers tender.
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Divide the meat mixture into 4 equal parts. Form each part into a patty about 3/4 – 1 inch thick by pressing it down with a plate. Using your thumb, make a small indent at the center of each burger patty. This will prevent the burger from puffing up during cooking.
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Place the patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook them for 7-8 minutes for medium-rare burgers, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
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Remove the burgers from the air fryer and let them rest. This will allow the juices to redistribute. Serve your juicy burger patties on buns or lettuce wraps with your favorite toppings!
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
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