Learn how to cook a frozen hamburger in the air fryer. Frozen beef patties, simple seasoning, your favorite condiments, and an air fryer is all you need to enjoy burgers all year round. In just 10 minutes, you can have a delicious burger that tastes like it came right off the grill! No defrosting or prep work necessary.
This method is perfect for beef burgers. This also works on veggie burgers, Beyond Meat, turkey burgers, salmon burgers, and other frozen meat patties.
Air Fryer Hamburger Recipe
Cook juicy, flavorful burgers from frozen beef patties perfectly every time! This is the easiest way to enjoy a hamburger whenever the craving strikes.
Premade frozen burgers are the ultimate convenience item! These patties are already formed, then frozen for purchase at your local grocery store. At about an inch thick, these only take 10 minutes to prepare.
Out of the many recipes we make in the air fryer, hamburgers are definitely our top choice. There’s something about the simplicity of whipping up a burger without all the fuss of preheating the grill, defrosting the meat, cleaning the grill, and… monitoring the weather.
I use a Ninja Foodi Air Fryer for all of my air fryer recipes. On average, we use it at least three times per week…sometimes more! We even use it to reheat pizza for leftover homemade pizza! A few of our other easy air fryer recipes include pizza rolls, French fries, “grilled” chicken breast, and chicken nuggets.
Here’s why I love this recipe.
It’s easy. There is zero prep work when you use premade burger patties. All you have to do is pull them out of the freezer, add seasoning, and air fry.
It’s fast. Burgers are ready in about 10 minutes, which is about a fraction of the time compared to grilling. No fuss over preheating the grill, defrosting meat, cleaning the grill, etc.
Weather friendly. No more stress over maintaining the grill’s temperature in really cold or hot weather. Plus, you can make burgers in rain, snow, sleet, or shine!
No grill needed. Air fryers can be used for so many different things. (more ideas below!)
No thawing. You can cook these burgers straight from the freezer. No defrosting necessary.
Air Frying vs. Grilling vs. Pan Searing Burgers
Air Frying: When air fried, these burgers cook very quickly while staying juicy and tender. There is also minimal mess to clean up, aside from washing the utensils and air fryer basket. Since these are (typically) non-stick, cleaning up is a breeze. Some can even go in the dishwasher.
Grilling Burgers: It’s a classic way to prepare burgers, but it’s also labor-intensive. There’s so much more to the cooking process with grilling: preheating the grill, cleaning the grill, stabilizing the temperature, considering the weather, etc.
Not to mention, you also have to replace the propane on occasion, have room for storing the grill, supplies, etcetera. Plus, there’s a bit of a learning curve with operating a grill.
Pan Searing Burgers: Before the air fryer, this was the default if the grill wasn’t an option. But, this gets messy and smelly. It also produces a lot of grease. The grease splatters when the cold burgers hit the pan and the smell can permeate through the house.
Best Brand of Frozen Hamburger Patties
There are many different options for premade frozen burger patties. Typically, we stick to generic brands, but we’ve also had great success using other brands, too.
Here are some of the most popular brands of frozen patties:
Ball Park
Bubba Burgers
Omaha Steaks
Applegate
Generic store brands like Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, Kroger, Meijer, etc.
Any lean-to-fat ratio is up to your own preference. Also, angus, chuck, reduced fat, flavored options, and more will all make for a great burger!
Frozen Burger Patties vs. Fresh
The key to keeping this process easy and simple is the pre-pattied frozen burgers. You can find these in the freezer section of the grocery store. You can also use this method to prepare frozen burgers you’ve made at home, too.
Can you cook a raw burger in an air fryer?
While these instructions are specific to frozen hamburger meat, you can also use these same steps for fresh, raw, or thawed burger patties. The cook time and temperature largely depends on the thickness of the burgers. Keep that in mind when you are preparing to cook.
How to make thawed burgers in the air fryer:
Add the patties to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook at 375°F for 6-8 minutes. Then, flip and cook for another 6-8 minutes.
The burger is done when the internal temperature reaches 160°F when read with a meat thermometer.
How to Season Frozen Hamburger Patties
You might be curious as to how the seasoning sticks to a frozen burger patty. Typically, we marinate our frozen burgers in Dale’s Seasoning before we put them in the air fryer. We let them marinate for about 10-15 minutes.
If you aren’t using a liquid seasoning or marinade, dry rubs and seasonings are great options, too. Place the frozen patties in the air fryer and sprinkle on the dry seasoning on one side. After flipping the patties, add the seasoning to the other side.
Use your own store bought burger seasoning, a homemade dry rub, or a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper.
How to Cook a Frozen Hamburger in the Air Fryer
You just need a few simple ingredients to make the perfect burger!
What you need to make a juicy air fryer hamburger:
Air Fryer: You can use a traditional air fryer unit or a multi-cooker with an air fryer function.
Frozen Beef Patties: You can use premade options or cook a frozen homemade version. This method works with turkey burgers, veggie burgers, elk burgers, or bison burgers, too.
Seasoning: Use a liquid or dry ingredient marinade of your choice. Montreal steak seasoning or other store bought rubs are great for additional convenience.
Condiments and Toppings: Dress your burger with lettuce, cheese slices, condiments, and other toppings.
Step 1: Season the Frozen Burger Patties.
Remember, there’s no need to thaw the premade patty. Just remove it from the freezer and place the burgers in a single layer in a casserole dish or rimmed baking sheet.
Add the dry seasoning or pour in the marinade. If you are using dry seasoning, place the burgers into the air fryer basket and add the seasoning on the top side. Then, add seasoning to the opposite side after flipping the patties.
Step 2: Air Fry the Burgers.
Next, place the patties into the basket of your air fryer and cook for 8-10 minutes at 350°F. Flip halfway through the cooking time to ensure the patties are evenly cooked and browned on all sides.
The burgers are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F when read with a meat thermometer.
Do you need to flip burgers in the air fryer?
While it’s not absolutely necessary, flipping the burgers during the cooking process will ensure that the meat is evenly cooked throughout. Plus, a little “grill char” develops on the side that touches the air fryer basket. This adds additional flavor and appetizing coloring to the patty.
Step 3: Serve the burgers.
Once your hamburgers are cooked, remove them from the air fryer, add them to a bun, dress with your favorite toppings and condiments and serve!
How to Make a Cheeseburger
To turn your hamburger into a cheeseburger, place a cheese slice on top of the patty and allow the burger to rest for a minute or two inside the air fryer with the unit off. The cheese will not blow around with this method!
Serving Suggestions for Assembling Burgers
In my opinion, there’s no “correct” way to dress a burger. It’s all about what you like and the flavors you enjoy.
If you are serving more than a few people, I recommend setting up a “burger bar” with a large platter of condiments and toppings. This way, people can assemble their burgers in their own way.
Here are a few tips for serving burgers:
Include standard burger toppings: Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, pickle chips, lettuce, onion, and tomato are all classic additions to burgers.
Add sauces: Use bbq sauce, sriracha mayo, chipotle mayo, aioli spreads, and other flavorful spreads.
Incorporate themes: This could be from different regions, countries, or inspired by a party theme. Add regional flavors, sauces, and ingredients to play on the theme of the meal. Like Cajun, Mexican, Asian, and BBQ themes.
Don’t forget the buns: Use different flavored hamburger buns for variety. Toast them under the oven broiler or in the air fryer after the burgers have been removed.
Other toppings: Don’t be afraid to get creative with unusual toppings. Try sliced avocado, guacamole, caramelized onions and mushrooms, pickled onions and more.
Tips for the Best Frozen Burgers
Don’t crowd the basket. For even cooking and best results, make sure the patties are in a single layer inside the air fryer basket.
Season well. Use your favorite homemade seasoning or store bought seasoning.
Cooking times will vary. Since every air fryer is different, it’s hard to get the timing right for every make and model of air fryer. My advice is to use my time as a guideline, adjusting the cooking time according to your air fryer unit. The age of your air fryer, basket shape, and number of patties will all impact the cooking time.
Make cleaning up easy. Line the basket with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easier clean up.
Air Fryer Hamburger FAQ
How long does it take to cook a hamburger in the air fryer?
The process of cooking a burger in the air fryer takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.
Can you put frozen burgers in an air fryer?
Yes, frozen hamburgers do really well in the air fryer. In about 10 minutes, the burgers will go from completely frozen to juicy and tender.
Can you put aluminum foil and parchment paper in an air fryer?
If you want to make the clean-up process easier, line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Do you preheat an air fryer?
It’s not necessary to preheat an air fryer. There are many sources that say this makes the food even better, but I haven’t noticed a difference.
Should I grill or air fry burgers?
Air frying hamburgers is a much more convenient option than grilling. It’s cleaner, hassle-free, and doesn’t have a learning curve like grilling.
Are hamburgers good cooked in an air fryer?
Hamburgers are delicious prepared in the air fryer. It’s an easy way to have a juicy burger quickly.
What to serve with hamburgers:
Southern Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Steakhouse Baked Potatoes
Simple Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes
Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
See more side dishes here.
Air fryer hamburgers are the easiest way to enjoy burgers for a great weeknight dinner!
Air Fryer Frozen Burgers
Anna Kate
Learn how to cook a frozen hamburger in the air fryer. Frozen beef patties, simple seasoning, your favorite condiments, and an air fryer is all you need to enjoy the perfect burger. In just 10 minutes, you can have a delicious burger that tastes like it came right off the grill! No defrosting or prep work necessary.
This method is perfect for beef burgers. This also works on veggie burgers, Beyond Meat, turkey burgers, salmon burgers, and other frozen meat patties.
Cook the burger for 8-10 minutes at 350°F, flipping the patties at the 5-minute mark.
Burger is done when it reaches an internal temp of 165°F.
Optional: Add a slice of cheese to the patty and close the lid of the air fryer. Allow it to rest for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melted. This is done with the air fryer off and lid closed.
Remove the hamburger from the air fryer basket. Serve on a bun with desired toppings.
Notes
This method is perfect for beef burgers. This also works on veggie burgers, Beyond Meat, turkey burgers, salmon burgers, and other frozen meat patties.
If you are using dry seasoning, place the burgers into the air fryer basket and add the seasoning on the top side. Then, add seasoning to the opposite side after flipping the patties.
Reheating / Storing / Leftovers Info:
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat burgers in the microwave for one minute at a time, or in the air fryer for 3 minutes at 375°F.
Variations
Don’t be afraid to get creative. Add flavors from different regions, countries, or themes. Include their local flavors, sauces, and ingredients. Examples: Cajun, Mexican, Asian, BBQ, etc.
How to make raw, defrosted hamburgers in the air fryer:
Add the patties to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook at 375°F for 6-8 minutes. Then, flip and cook for another 6-8 minutes.
The burger is done when the internal temperature reaches 160°F when read with a meat thermometer.
A note on air fryer units: Every air fryer is different which means cook times and temperatures vary across different units. The age of your air fryer, basket shape, and capacity will all impact the cooking time. Use the time listed in the recipe card as a guideline, adjusting the cooking time according to your air fryer unit.
How to Air Fry Frozen Burgers. Place frozen burgers in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer. Air fry frozen burgers at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, flipping the burgers halfway through cook time. If desired, add the cheese during the last minute of cooking time.
Yes you definitely can and the results are amazing! The hot circulating air of the air fryer cooks hamburger patties from frozen. The burger patties are fantastic, simple and quick. Best of all, it's budget friendly to make these at home rather than going out to eat.
Use cold, wet hands when making the patties, and let the meat rest in the fridge until you're ready to hit the grill. We want the fat in the patties to be super chilled so it rapidly expands when exposed to heat, creating flavor pockets inside the patty. This leads to a burger with a nice sear and maximum juicy flavor.
Yep, it's completely safe to grill burgers from their frozen state. According to the USDA, it's safe to grill both meat and poultry from frozen as long as you cook it to the proper doneness—for ground beef, that's 160°F.
Well, for one thing, they'll cook a lot faster. A frozen burger may take up to twice as long to cook as a defrosted patty. For another, it's tricky to get an icy beef puck to cook through evenly.
They will need to air fry for about 8 minutes at 350˚F and, importantly, you don't need to flip them while they cook. Just let them cook! Once the burgers are cooked, you can add some cheese to the burgers and fry them for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese is perfectly melted.
Preheat the air fry function of your air fryer to 375 degrees. Add the burgers when it is ready. Cook 7 to 9 minutes. The longer you cook the more well done your burger will be.
An air fryer is simply a small oven that runs on convection heat. The heat is circulated around a tight space by a powerful fan that lies just below or behind the heating element. Just as in a standard oven, it is perfectly safe to use aluminum foil in the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Place the patties in the basket, leaving some space around each (cook in batches if needed). Air fry the burgers for 6 minutes, then flip and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the burger reaches 155 degrees F, about 2 to 4 minutes more.
Place the burgers in the air fryer basket in an even layer. Cook at 360 degrees for 4 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 140-150 degrees for medium well doneness.
Frozen burgers need to be cooked at 425°F for about 20-25 minutes. Cook time, of course, will depend on your oven and the exact thickness of your burger patties. Just make sure burgers reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
Preheat an air fryer to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Place eggs in the air fryer basket. Cook eggs in the preheated air fryer for 15 minutes. Transfer eggs to a cold water bath until fully cooled, 8 to 10 minutes.
The size of the air fryer basket will determine how many rashers you can cook at one time. Set the air fryer to 200C and cook streaky bacon rashers for 6-10 mins – just-cooked bacon will take 6 mins, but crispier bacon will take 9-10 mins.
Do I need to defrost my food before air frying? No, you should generally never thaw frozen pre-cooked food you want to cook in an air fryer. Cook itstraight from frozen for best results.
Place frozen, seasoned patties onto the hot cast-iron pan.Cook 3-5 minutes on each side, then flip.Continue flipping until a nice crust has formed — about 15 minutes. Remove from the pan and serve on your favorite bun!
Generally, burgers should be cooked on Medium-High (approximately 375 degrees) to High (400 degrees). Most gas grills have a built in thermometer to monitor the heat but you can buy a grill thermometer for charcoal grills too. What is this?
“We found that small changes, like tweaking our process to get hotter, meltier cheese and adjusting our grill settings for a better sear, added up to a big difference in making our burgers more flavorful than ever,” said chef Chad Schafer, senior director of culinary innovation of McDonald's USA, in a statement Monday.
Instead of tightly packing the meat together, gently shape it into patties that are four inches around and half an inch thick. If the patties are too thin or too fat, you'll end up with a dry burger either way — too thin and it'll lose moisture, too fat and the outside will overcook faster than the inside.
Can you cook burgers straight from frozen? Yes, in fact you do not want the burgers to thaw. Bake them straight from the freezer. How do you season frozen hamburger patties?
These burgers tend to be thin, not like a thick juicy ribeye, so you can easily go from an internal temperature of frozen to overcooked. Watching the burgers doneness is key. You can see it on the side. Once, the cooked browness starts to come up from the bottom and up the side of the burger, you are ready to flip.
Keeping the water running can be wasteful, so placing frozen ground beef in a bowl of cold water is effective. Change the water about every 30 minutes and most products will be thawed in just a few hours. Never use warm water to thaw meat, as it provides a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
Thawing in cold water, 40 degrees or below, is safe and much faster — water transfers heat far more efficiently than air — but it can still take hours.
Set patties into the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Air-fry patties for 7 minutes, flipping halfway through, for medium doneness.For well done, air-fry for an additional 2 minutes.
Since air fryers cook at a consistent temperature and pressure, your air-fried burgers will turn out the same every time. While they won't get the richness or smokiness of pan-frying and grilling, air-fried burgers will get a bit of crispness around the sides.
Thick and juicy air fryer burgers are a quick and easy way to get a supper ready in no time. Simply wrap your patties in foil and you've got air fryer cheeseburgers in 10 minutes with minimal clean up. In the Air Fryer, juicy hamburgers, cheeseburgers, or beef sliders mean less struggle and more flavor.
Yes, it is possible to cook burgers and fries in an air fryer at the same time, although it may require a bit of planning and timing to ensure that both the burgers and fries cook evenly. Here's how you can do it: Preheat your air fryer to the temperature required for cooking your burgers and fries.
By most measures, air frying is healthier than frying in oil. It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has a lot less fat. This cooking method might also cut down on some of the other harmful effects of oil frying.
Yes, you can make popcorn in your air fryer and with a little patience, this simple recipe will be your favorite go-to small batch popcorn recipe. Popcorn lovers are going to love popping popcorn in an air fryer! Super easy and a great way to make a flavorful healthy snack any time.
Lining your air fryer with parchment paper is the best way to keep your appliance clean and your food delicious. Nothing beats cooking with an air fryer to get you crispy, tender food with a fraction of the oil.
Next, heat grill to medium high heat (about 350-400°F). Place burger patties on the hot grill and close lid. Sear for 2-3 minutes or until you see browning and grill marks. Gently flip the burgers and grill an additional 2-3 minutes for rare, 4-5 minutes for medium-rare or 6-7 minutes for medium well.
Pan-frying is a great method for cooking burgers using minimal time while achieving maximum flavor. A super hot, dry skillet allows the burger to quickly develop a flavorful outer crust without overcooking the interior, keeping the center juicy.
If cooking beef burgers, your air fryer may smoke. You can add a little water to the basket of your air fryer to prevent smoking. Always make sure to clean your air fryer well between uses, especially when cooking protein with a higher fat content.
The FDA Food Code says that restaurants should cook ground beef to 155°F for 15 seconds. But CDC and USDA say that consumers should cook ground beef to 160°F. The guidance for consumers is different because it is simpler to meet one standard (temperature) than two (temperature and time).
How Long to Cook Burgers in the Air Fryer. I recommend cooking air fryer burgers at 360°F for 7 minutes on each side. This will give you a medium-rare burger. For burgers that are more cooked-through, add a couple of minutes to the cooking time on each side.
How to Air Fry Frozen Burgers. Place frozen burgers in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer. Air fry frozen burgers at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, flipping the burgers halfway through cook time. If desired, add the cheese during the last minute of cooking time.
Can you cook air fryer frozen burgers or hamburger patties? Yes you definitely can and the results are amazing! The hot circulating air of the air fryer cooks hamburger patties from frozen. The burger patties are fantastic, simple and quick.
No need to adjust your cooking times, just pile as many hamburgers on the rack as needed. You can also make frozen hamburgers in the air fryer! Depending on your basket, you may be limited to one or two patties at a time. Set the air fryer to 375°F and bake for around 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Cook the hamburgers until they reach a safe internal temperature of 160°F on an instant-read meat thermometer. For standard frozen hamburgers, this will take about 15 to 20 minutes total, but the exact timing will depend on the thickness of the meat. Thicker burgers will take a couple of minutes more to cook.
Frozen burgers need to be cooked at 425°F for about 20-25 minutes. Cook time, of course, will depend on your oven and the exact thickness of your burger patties. Just make sure burgers reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
We do recommend letting the patty cook for at least 3 to 4 minutes before giving it a first flip, to give the meat time to sear. Otherwise, the patty may start to fall apart. After that, however, you can flip it once and be done, or flip it as often as you like, trying to get both sides to cook and brown evenly.
When grilling burgers, you want the grill temperature to be around medium-high to high heat, which is around 375 to 400 degrees F. Many gas grills have built in thermometers, but often they tend to be not super reliable.
Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 °F as measured with a food thermometer. The color of cooked ground beef can be quite variable. At 160 °F, a safely cooked patty may look brown, pink, or some variation of brown or pink.
Well, for one thing, they'll cook a lot faster. A frozen burger may take up to twice as long to cook as a defrosted patty. For another, it's tricky to get an icy beef puck to cook through evenly.
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Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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