The easiest, juiciest, most tender burgers – are made in an air fryer! Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. Here’s how to cook burgers in a Ninja Foodi Air Fryer (or any air fryer, really.)
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No greasy frying smell in your house, no dealing with uncomfortable weather while grilling outside. Pop open your air fryer and make mouthwateringly delicious air-fried burgers in no time! With your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer, you’ll get a perfectly tender and juicy burger every time.
Did You Know?
Air fryers are just glorified ovens!
Are they, though?
Ovens use thermal energy to cook food. The heating element at the top and/or bottom warms up and radiates heat to cook your food. On the other hand, air fryers use a heating mechanism and a fan to blow hot air around your food. This allows for quicker and more even cooking.
However, if you have a convection or dual-function oven, then yes, air fryers are just mini ovens! Nonetheless, since air fryers are smaller, it takes less time to heat and cook food, making them the more convenient option in many situations!
Enter – easy air fryer cheeseburgers! Done in just a few minutes with minimal effort, air frying your burgers really does produce the best results for tender, juicy hamburgers with the convenience of a glorified oven!
About the Ingredients
Air fryer burgers can be as basic or complex as you want them to be. But to learn how to cook burgers in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer, we’re going to start with simple, delicious cheeseburgers.
- Beef patties – Beef burgers need enough fat in the mix to keep them tender, juicy, and flavorful. You’ll get the best results using 80/20 ground chuck or 85/15 ground round. I personally opt for the ground round.
- Montreal Steak Seasoning – this is my go-to seasoning to make flavorful burgers. It enhances the flavor of the beef without overpowering it. I use a fairly decent amount of seasoning on each side and give it a few gentle pats to make sure it sticks.
- Cheese – Sliced or shredded; cheddar cheese, colby jack cheese, spicy pepper jack, or good ol’ American cheese. Whatever your heart desires!
- Buns – To me, there are different buns for different occasions. Simple, delicious burgers deserve simple, soft white buns in my book.
- Toppings – Ketchup, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, and kosher dill pickle slices. That’s my jam. What are your favorite toppings?
How to Cook Burgers in the Ninja Air Fryer
So how do you cook the perfect burger in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer? It couldn’t be simpler. Honestly, you’ll wonder why a whole post is needed for this. (for the record, SEO my friends. S.E.O.)
Also of note, these instructions are not limited to the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. That’s just the specific brand of air fryer that I have and have tested these burgers in. You can make your perfect burger in any air fryer!
As with any recipe, there are numerous factors that can affect cook times and temps and sometimes you just need to experiment and adjust to find what works for you!
So let’s get to it.
- PREHEAT YOUR AIR FRYER. Air Crisp setting. 400°F.
- PREP YOUR BURGERS. Gently shape your hamburger patties if needed, then season both sides with your seasoning of choice. Mine will forever and always be Montreal Steak Seasoning. It makes the most flavorful burgers! For my picky kiddo, I simply use salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- AIR FRY. Place patties into the fryer basket in a single layer. For a perfect Medium burger, air fry for 3 minutes, flip the burgers, then cook for another 3 minutes. Once done, add a slice of cheese on top of each patty and close the lid. Let the residual heat melt the cheese for about a minute before removing the cheeseburgers. Serve with your favorite burger toppings.
- SAVOR. Every tender, juicy, slightly greasy bite. And then come to terms with the fact that you will indeed be making air fryer cheeseburgers more often.
NOTE: Cook time in the Ninja Air Fryer is 6-8 minutes for a medium to medium-well burger that is ⅓ lb, or about ½” thick. Variations in appliances, altitude, meat temperature, thickness of the burgers, fat content, etc. all impact exact cooking times. Adjust as needed.
Juicy air fryer hamburgers are a great choice for a busy weeknight! Ready in about 10 minutes, it’s an easy meal the whole family will love. Serve with your favorite sides like french fries, potato salad or pasta salad.
Thin Burger Patties
Maybe you prefer a thin hamburger patty; even layering two patties to create a succulent double cheeseburger. Yummm!
Thin hamburger patties are harder to achieve a pink center because they cook very quickly and they are so thin. However, you can still achieve a delicious air fryer burger with thinner patties!
I typically take one of the pre-formed patties that come in the package from the grocery store, split it in half, and reshape it to make two smaller, thinner patties for my kids. Since they’re younger, smaller patties are easier for them to eat.
Thin patties, about 1/8 – 1/4″ thick, only take about 3 minutes at 400°F to cook to medium-well doneness and are still juicy and delicious!
Frozen Burger Patties
Can you can cook frozen hamburger patties in the air fryer too?! Yep, you sure can! They just need 2-3 extra minutes of cook time.
Season patties after letting them sit for a couple of minutes so the seasonings can stick to the moisture that begins to form on the surface. After preheating to 400°, place your frozen hamburger patties into the air fryer basket and cook for 10-11 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Easy peasy, super convenient!
Burger Cooking Temperatures
Per USDA guidelines, ground beef should be cooked to 160-165°F. This results in a well-done burger and eliminates any concern of bacteria. Buuuttt, it also usually means less flavorful burgers that are more dried out.
If you prefer your burger to be in the Medium range with a little more pink in the middle, refer to the temperatures below and use a meat thermometer to confirm when your burgers are ready.
It’s important to note that residual heat will continue to cook the burgers for several minutes after being removed from the heat source. Because of this, it’s ok to remove the burgers when they are about 5-10 degrees under your preferred doneness.
TIP – insert the meat thermometer into the side of the burger until it reaches the center, this will give you the most accurate reading.
- Medium-rare: 130˚ to 135˚F
- Medium: 140˚ to 145˚F
- Medium-well: 150˚ to 155˚F
FAQ
Do you need to flip burgers in an air fryer?
Though you technically do not have to, it does make the burger look more appealing on both sides!
Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer to keep it clean?
Absolutely! The key is to ensure it fits well and is secured within the basket. In air fryers that require preheating, such as the Ninja Foodi, put the foil in after the preheating phase so it’s not flying around and possibly getting stuck onto the fan. It’s also recommended not to use aluminum foil with acidic foods. Consider parchment paper in those situations.
How do you keep burgers from shrinking in an air fryer?
Burgers shrink because proteins get smaller as they are exposed to heat, and, in turn, liquids in the form of water and fat are released from the burger. Cooking burgers at a lower temp, using beef with high fat content (80/20 or 85/15), and adding a dimple to the center are all common ways to help prevent burgers from shrinking.
Why do people dimple burgers?
As meat cooks, it gets tighter from the outside edges in, causing it to bulge in the middle. A slight dimple in the middle of the patty will keep it from doming and have a more even surface.
Can you cook burgers and fries in an air fryer at the same time?
Some fries, like Ore Ida Golden Crispers, cook at 400F for 8 minutes and are Perfect for cooking at the same time as your burgers. Depending on the type of fries, you may need to start cooking them first and then add the burgers in at about the halfway tossing point.
More Easy Recipes to Try
Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini Rounds
Chipotle Ranch Chicken Wraps
Buffalo Chicken Spicy Nachos
Chicken Sausage Breakfast Burritos
Crispy Baked Parmesan Shrimp
If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below!
Thank you so much!
How to Cook Burgers in a Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
The easiest, juiciest, most tender burgers – are made in an air fryer! Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. Here’s how to cook burgers in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer (or any air fryer, really.)
3
servings3
minutes8
minutes11
minutesKeep your screen from going dark while you cook
Ingredients
85/15 or 80/20 beef patties, about ⅓ lb, ½” thick each
Montreal Steak Seasoning (or other seasonings of choice)
Cheese
Buns
Toppings & Condiments
Directions
- PREHEAT YOUR AIR FRYER. Air Crisp setting. 400°F.
- PREP YOUR BURGERS. Shape your hamburger patties (if needed) and season both sides, patting the seasoning gently into the meat.
- AIR FRY. Place patties into the fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip the burgers, then cook for another 3-4 minutes. (*See cook time note below)
Once done, add sliced or shredded cheese on top of each patty and close the lid. Let the residual heat melt the cheese for about 1 minute before removing the cheeseburgers. Finish with your favorite burger toppings. - SAVOR. Every tender, juicy, slightly greasy bite.
Notes
- Cook time in the Ninja Air Fryer is 6-8 minutes for a medium to medium-well burger that is about ⅓ lb, or about ½” thick. Variations in appliances, altitude, meat temperature, thickness of the burgers, fat content, etc. all impact exact cooking times. Adjust as needed.
- The ingredients specify 3 burger patties because that’s how many I can fit in my air fryer. Your air fryer may hold more or less.
- HAVE A MINUTE? I’d really appreciate a comment and/or a star-rating on this recipe! Ratings help my recipes get found on Google and comments are nice to read and can be helpful to others! Thank you ⭐️💜⭐️💜
Just received my Ninja Foodi oven today, and the first recipe I will try tomorrow is your burger recipe! Thank you Anna! <3
It was SO delicious, I wish I could add a 6th star! Thank you again!
Aw thank you, that’s awesome! So glad it turned out well for you and thank you so much for taking the time to comment 🙂
Perfect!!! Thank you for taking the time to post this!!!
Thank YOU for trying it out and letting me know how it went, much appreciated!! 🙂