Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer (Hamburgers in 15 Minutes!)

Name: Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 454 g beef patties ((£3.50))

Did you know you can cook a frozen burger in the air fryer? This easy cooking method creates a perfectly tender, juicy hamburger to satisfy the strongest of cravings. And it’s ready so fast, it’s perfect for any day of the week.

4 frozen burgers laid on a pale blue background.

Table of Contents

Why you’ll love Cooking Frozen Burgers in Air Fryer

Super Fast – Cooking burgers from frozen only takes around 15 minutes in the air fryer.

Satisfying – If you follow this recipe, they will come out perfectly tender and juicy every time.

Minimal Cleanup – because you are using the air fryer, you don’t have to worry about grease splatter from frying the patties in a skillet.

Here are some tasty sides to serve with your burgers ; The Crispiest Halloumi Fries, Easy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Recipe and Frozen Jacket Potato in Air Fryer

A frozen burger in a zip lock plastic bag over an airfryer.

Getting the desired doneness from air fryer frozen hamburgers

Thick vs thin patties
Frozen hamburgers may be thick or thin patties depending on who made them. Store bought patties are normally pretty thin, measuring at about 0.65 cm (¼ inch). However, if you made and froze your own hamburger patties, those patties may be a bit thicker.

All this means is that the cooking time may vary slightly and the best way to know how long to cook your burger is to know how you would like your burger cooked.

How long to cook for rare, medium rare, medium, medium well, and well done
When cooking raw, frozen hamburger patties in the air fryer, knowing how you like your burger will help you know how long to cook the frozen patties.

Rare – 120-125℉ (49-52℃ approximately 10-13 minutes

Medium Rare – 130-135℉ (54-57℃) approximately 13-15 minutes

Medium – 140-145℉ (60-63℃ ) approximately 15-17 minutes

Medium Well – 150-155℉ (66-68℃ ) approximately 16-18 minutes

Well Done – (160℉) 71℃ approximately 17-20 minutes

Using an instant read meat thermometer will help you know exactly when your burgers are done.

How many burger patties can be cooked at once?

How many burger patties you can cook will depend on how large your air fryer is. I can fit 4 burger patties in my Corsi Air Fryer

Keep in mind, the more burgers you add to the air fryer, the more time it may take to cook the burgers.

How to keep air fryer from smoking when cooking burger patties

Whenever you cook something that has a higher fat content, like hamburgers, there is a risk of your air fryer smoking. This is due to the grease from the burgers dripping onto the hot drip pan at the bottom of the fry basket. Here are some ways you can stop your air fryer from smoking.

Turn the heat down on your air fryer
Line the drip pan with foil or parchment paper
Line with slices of bread to absorb the drippings

4 cooked, dark browned burgers on a blue plate.

Need some easy and quick side dishes to go with your burger? Try these recipes : Airfryer Frozen Fries, Airfryer Hash Browns and Frozen Roast Potatoes

Ingredients for Air fryer burgers

Frozen burger patties – Any type of frozen burger patty will do. Whether store bought or homemade.

Seasoning – I like to use a simple salt and pepper combo, but there are loads of seasonings you can use to amp up flavor on your burgers.

Nice Buns – I like sesame seed buns so I feel like I am eating a fast food burger. And a great way to take the bun up a notch is to warm it in the air fryer on the cut side with a little butter.

Optional toppings – What burger is complete without the toppings? My favorite is a slice of American cheese melted to perfection.

Variations/ Adaptations

Any type of frozen burger patty can be made in the air fryer, even Chicken patties, veggie patties, and turkey burgers. Just always make sure they are cooked to 74C/165F internal temperature because unlike beef patties, you don’t want to undercook them.

Another way to add variation to air fried burgers is to change up the seasoning. Cajun seasoning would add some nice spice, or you can make your own blend. One of my favorites is salt, pepper, onion powder and paprika.

And if you like a burger that is over the top, just add more toppings! Jalapenos, bacon, hot sauce, onions, and more can be added to make your burger just the way you like it.

Try some other recipes cooked from frozen in the airfryer : Cooking Frozen Sausages in an Air Fryer, How To Air Fry Thick Cut Back Bacon and How to cook frozen chicken breast in the air fryer .

How to Air Fry Frozen Burgers

Start by preheating your airfryer at 390°F (200°C) for 3-4 minutes.

Distribute the 4 patties across the airfryer, ensuring there is space between them to prevent steaming (Image 1).
Pop in the airfryer for 10 minutes at 390°F (200°C) (Image 2).

2 step by step photos, the first with 4 frozen burgers in an airfryer tray and the second with the burgers partly cooked in the tray.

3. Flip the patties and season with salt and pepper (Image 3).

4. Then depending on how you like your burgers cooked, cook at 390°F (200°C) for a further 3 minutes for rare, 5 minutes for medium and 8 minutes for well done (Image 4).

2 step by step photos, the first with 4 burgers cooked in an airfryer tray and the second with the burgers fulled browned and cooked in the tray.

Tips for the best results

No stacking or overlapping
Make sure there is space between the frozen beef patties in air fryer for circulation
Thicker burgers will need more time than thinner burger patties
Be sure to flip them half way through the cooking time
Melt the cheese on your burgers after the air fryer has been turned off by placing them back in the powered off air fryer.

Try these other delicious soup recipes to have as a starter ; Creamy Parsnip Soup, Courgette Soup and Tomato & Lentil Soup

4 cooked, dark browned burgers on a blue plate with some pepper seasoning.

Serving suggestions

My favorite side for a hamburger is of course chips! Which you can also make in the air fryer! But when you need something a little more healthy, try a salad or creamy broccoli and cauliflower soup.

Leftover Storage and Reheating

In my house, there are never leftovers! But if you want to make a few additional burgers so you have leftovers, I recommend storing them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an air tight container.

To reheat them, pop them in the microwave and cook in 10 second bursts until heated through or you can even place them back in the air fryer on 350℉ (177℃) for 2-3 minutes.

FAQs

Can you cook frozen burgers in the air fryer?

You most definitely can air fry frozen hamburgers. The method is quick and simple, cooking the burgers in around 15 minutes if you like them medium.

How long do you cook frozen burgers in the air fry

Depending on how you like your burgers cooked, the time to cook frozen hamburgers in the air fryer can range anywhere from 10-20 minutes.

Do you need to flip burgers in the air fryer?

I recommend flipping burgers in the airfryer to get an even cook on both sides.

Are burgers better in the skillet or air fryer?

Tastewise, the skillet and air fryer produce similar results. However the air fryer produces cooked burgers faster from frozen and there is less cleanup.

Satisfy sweet cravings with these yummy desserts: Rocky Road, Rice Krispie Treats and Soft Flapjack Recipe (Gooey and Chewy!)