Chicken Burgers in the Air Fryer
Chicken burgers are lean, so they can easily end up dry and pale in a frying pan or under the grill. An air fryer chicken burger cooks through evenly in about 15 minutes with only a little oil, and the patties stay juicy inside with a lightly golden outside. The recipe below covers homemade patties made from minced chicken, with timings for frozen burgers and a reheated chicken sandwich at the end.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 33min
- Prep
- 15min
- Servings
- 4
- Core temp
- 75°C
- Per serving
- 390kcal
Why the air fryer works for chicken burgers
An air fryer chicken burger cooks from every side at once, so the patty sets quickly and the outside takes on a light crust. In a pan, only the side touching the metal is hot, and lean minced chicken often dries out before the middle is cooked. The circulating air also lets any fat drain away, so there is no spitting and no greasy pan to wash.
Chicken burger in air fryer baskets is a sensible way to cook a few at a time, for lunch or a quick dinner. A 140 g patty is ready in about 15 minutes, which is faster than the oven and needs no preheating of a large cavity. If you are cooking from frozen, the same method works with slightly different timings, which are listed in the variants.
How to make chicken burgers in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Mix the patties Combine the minced chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, spring onions, paprika, garlic granules, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix with your hands for about a minute until the mixture holds together.
- Shape and chill Divide into 4 portions of about 140 g and shape each into a patty 2 cm thick, pressing a shallow dimple into the middle so it does not puff up. Chill for if you have time, as cold patties hold their shape better.
- Preheat and oil Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C for . Brush the patties lightly with the olive oil so they brown.
- Cook Place the patties in the basket without touching. Cook for , turning them over after .
- Check the temperature Minced poultry must be cooked all the way through. Push a meat thermometer into the middle of a patty – the Food Standards Agency says food is safe at 75 °C for 30 seconds, with no pink meat and clear juices. Rest the patties for .
- Toast and assemble Put the buns, cut side up, in the basket for the last of cooking if there is room, or toast them afterwards. Build each burger with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and a patty.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Chicken Burgers | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade chicken burgers, 2 cmTurn halfway | 180 °C | 14–15 min |
| Thin chicken patties, 1 cm | 180 °C | 10–12 min |
| Frozen breaded chicken burgersFollow the packet | 190 °C | 12–15 min |
| Chicken breast burgers, freshWhole breast, 3 cm thick | 180 °C | 16–18 min |
| Reheat a chicken burger pattySteaming hot, 75 °C | 160 °C | 4–5 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size of the food and the power of your air fryer. Cooked when the centre reaches 75 °C. See also cooking times and temperatures for all dishes.
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Tips
- Keep the mixture a little tacky. Wet hands make shaping easier, and a patty that holds together on the worktop will hold together in the basket.
- Do not overcrowd. Leave a small gap around each patty so hot air reaches the sides. Cook two batches rather than squeezing in six.
- Season the bun, not just the patty. A thin layer of mayonnaise or a squeeze of lemon on the bun stops the burger tasting dry.
Serving
Serve the burgers in toasted buns with salad, or with chips and coleslaw. For something lighter, skip the bun and serve with roasted peppers. If you prefer beef, the hamburger recipe uses the same method with different timings. A frozen chicken burger in air fryer baskets can be on the table in about the same time as the homemade ones.
Storing and reheating
Cooked patties keep for up to 2 days in a covered container in the fridge. Reheat them at 160 °C for 4–5 minutes until steaming hot all the way through (75 °C in the centre). Uncooked patties can be frozen on a tray, then bagged, for up to 3 months.
Variations
- Spicy burgers: Add 1 tsp chilli flakes and 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce to the mix.
- Herb and lemon: Replace the paprika with the zest of 1 lemon and 2 tbsp chopped parsley.
- Crispy chicken sandwich: Use a whole flattened breast, coat it in flour, egg and panko, and cook at 190 °C for 14–16 minutes until it reaches 75 °C.
Troubleshooting
- The burgers fall apart
- The mixture is too wet or the patties are too warm. Add a spoonful more breadcrumbs, shape them firmly and chill them for 10 minutes before cooking.
- The patties are dry
- Minced chicken has very little fat. Do not cook past 75 °C, and keep the breadcrumbs and egg in the mix because they hold in moisture.
- The burgers puff up in the middle
- Press a shallow dimple into the centre of each patty before cooking so they stay flat and cook evenly.
Frequently asked questions
How long do chicken burgers take in an air fryer?
Homemade patties 2 cm thick take 14–15 minutes at 180 °C, turned halfway. Thinner shop-bought patties of 1 cm need about 10–12 minutes.
How long should frozen chicken burgers go in the air fryer?
Breaded frozen chicken burgers usually take 12–15 minutes at 190–200 °C, turned halfway. Follow the packet, do not defrost them first, and check that the centre is steaming hot at 75 °C.
What temperature should a chicken burger reach?
75 °C in the centre. The Food Standards Agency says that is safe once held for 30 seconds, and minced meat should never be pink inside.
How do you reheat a chicken burger or chicken sandwich in the air fryer?
Take the patty out of the bun, reheat it at 160 °C for 4–5 minutes until steaming hot (75 °C), then toast the bun for 1 minute and rebuild the sandwich.
Can you use chicken breast instead of minced chicken?
Yes. Chop 500 g breast very finely or pulse it briefly in a food processor, then use the same recipe. Do not blend it to a paste or the burgers turn rubbery.
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