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    How to Cook Frozen Hamburgers in an Air Fryer

    Published: Mar 16, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    air fryer cheeseburger and french fries on a white plate with plates of hamburgers and fries in background
    collage with cheeseburgers in air fryer and cheeseburger and fries on a white plate
    air fryer cheeseburger and french fries on a white plate with plates of hamburgers and fries in background
    air fryer frozen hamburger with french fries and dipping sauce in a parchment lined pan

    Frozen Hamburgers in the air fryer are juicy, flavorful burgers you can make in about 15 minutes. Serve with Copycat Big Mac sauce and Air Fryer Seasoned French Fries for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

    air fryer cheeseburger and french fries on a white plate with plates of hamburgers and fries in background

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    Jump to:
    • Why You're Going to Love This Recipe
    • More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
    • Ingredients
    • The Best Cheese for Burgers
    • Optional Seasonings
    • How to Make Frozen Burgers in an Air Fryer
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Easy Dinner Recipes
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    Did you know you can cook frozen hamburgers in your air fryer?

    Instead of running out for fast food, you can make a juicy burger right at home with those frozen patties in your freezer.

    Air fryer frozen hamburgers are a fast and easy meal you can throw together in minutes.

    There's no need to defrost them first, just throw them in the air fryer frozen!

    And clean up is a snap. The grease is contained to the air fryer basket -- no spatters all over your kitchen.

    Top air fryer burgers with melted cheese, Copycat Big Mac sauce or tangy Comeback Sauce, and all your favorite toppings and serve with Air Fryer French Fries or Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries and Tuna Macaroni Salad for a full meal deal.

    Why You're Going to Love This Recipe

    Easy way to cook frozen burger patties -- no defrosting!

    Delicious, easy air fryer recipe for busy weeknights

    Make up to 4 juicy air fryer hamburgers in about 15 minutes

    More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

    • Air Fryer Frozen Seasoned French Fries
    • Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

    Ingredients

    stack of frozen hamburger patties

    Beef burgers. I used ⅓ pound Angus ground chuck and ground beef patties and was able to easily fit 4 patties in the air fryer basket. Use whatever kind of frozen hamburger patty you like such as grass fed beef patties or ground sirloin patties. Quarter-pound frozen hamburger patties, they'll cook in less time.

    Buns and burger toppings for serving. Hamburger buns, cheese slices, tomato slices, and red onion slices.

    Big Mac sauce. This Copycat Big Mac sauce is the perfect burger sauce and fry dipping sauce with mayo, sweet pickle relish, mustard, and special seasonings. Get the recipe here.

    hamburger buns, cheese, tomato, and onion slices, and a small dish of Big Mac sauce

    The Best Cheese for Burgers

    A great way to make your juicy hamburger even more delicious is with a slice of cheese. But which one to choose? Here are five of the best cheese choices to top your frozen air fryer burger.

    American cheese. This classic is a hands-down favorite for meltiness, creaminess, and mild flavor.

    Cheddar. Mild or sharp cheddar are both great choices to add extra flavor to your air fryer burger

    Swiss. Swiss melts fabulously and adds nutty flavor. An obvious choice for mushroom burgers.

    Monterey Jack. Monterey Jack is a great melting cheese -- and its mild flavor pairs well with strong flavors.

    Blue cheese. For big flavor, try adding blue cheese. It doesn't melt as well as the others, but it makes up for it in flavor.

    Optional Seasonings

    Salt and black pepper are the only seasonings a good burger really needs. But feel free to sprinkle both sides of the frozen beef patties with your favorite seasonings like:

    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Montreal steak seasoning
    • Paprika
    • Cayenne pepper

    How to Make Frozen Burgers in an Air Fryer

    Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.

    Place the frozen burger patties in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer and sprinkle the tops with salt and pepper.

    A little overlap is okay -- they'll shrink as they cook. But you definitely don't want to crowd the basket. If necessary, cook them in batches.

    four frozen beef patties in an air fryer basket

    Air fry for 6 minutes. Flip the hamburger patties and salt and pepper the other side.

    Air fry for 6-9 more minutes or until they reach your preferred doneness. USDA guidelines recommend cooking ground meat to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

    Actual cooking time will vary by the model of your air fryer and the thickness of the burgers. Be sure to check for doneness throughout the cooking process to ensure they're cooked exactly to your liking.

    four beef patties in air fryer basket with a digital thermometer inserted into one patty

    If desired, add a slice of cheese to the tops of each burger. Air fry for 30-60 more seconds until melted.

    four beef patties topped with cheese slices in an air fryer basket

    Place cooked burgers on toasted or warm burger buns, and top with Big Mac sauce, sliced tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Serve with Air Fryer Seasoned French Fries.

    Store leftover burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    air fryer frozen hamburger with french fries and dipping sauce in a parchment lined pan

    Expert Tips

    Flip the frozen hamburgers in the air fryer once to ensure even cooking.

    Check for doneness before you reach the early side of the cooking time to ensure they do not overcook and become dry.

    The exact cooking time may be different depending on your specific air fryer and the thickness of your burger. Thinner patties will cook in less time than thicker ones.

    FAQs

    How long do you cook ⅓ pound frozen hamburgers in an air fryer?

    Cook ⅓ pound frozen beef hamburger patties in an air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees f or until they reach an internal temperature of 160.

    Can you stack frozen burgers in air fryer?

    No, you shouldn't stack frozen beef patties in the air fryer. The hot air in the air fryer needs to circulate around all sides of the patties to cook them. A little overlap is okay right at the beginning because they shrink as they cook.

    Should you flip frozen burger patties in the air fryer?

    Yes. Flip the frozen hamburger patties once at the halfway point during cooking to ensure they cook evenly.

    air fryer cheeseburger and french fries on a white plate with plates of hamburgers and fries in background

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    📖 Recipe

    air fryer cheeseburger and french fries on a white plate with plates of hamburgers and fries in background

    How to Cook Frozen Hamburgers in an Air Fryer

    Cara Lanz
    Frozen Hamburgers in the air fryer are juicy, flavorful burgers you can make in about 15 minutes. Serve with Copycat Big Mac sauce and Air Fryer Seasoned French Fries for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 506 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ⅓ pound frozen hamburger patties
    • 4 hamburger buns
    • 4 slices American cheese
    • Big Mac sauce, optional
    • Sliced tomatoes, onions, and pickles for serving, optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
    • Place the frozen patties in the basket of the air fryer. Sprinkle the tops with salt and pepper.
      Air fry for 6 minutes. Flip them over and salt and pepper the other side.
      Air fry for 6-9 more minutes or until they reach your preferred doneness.
      USDA guidelines recommend cooking ground meat to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
    • If desired, add cheese to the tops of the burgers. Air fry for 30-60 more seconds until melted.
    • Serve with toasted buns, Big Mac sauce, and sliced tomatoes, onions, and pickles.

    Notes

    Nutrition calculation is based on frozen burger patties, buns, and cheese. 
    Check for doneness before you reach the early side of the cooking time to ensure they do not overcook and become dry.
    The exact cooking time may be different depending on your specific air fryer and the thickness of your burger. Thinner patties will cook in less time than thicker ones.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 506kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 30gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 675mgPotassium: 486mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 199IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 292mgIron: 5mg
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    Hi, I'm Cara!

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