When we’re making burgers at home, we aim to make rich beef patties that are seared on the outside and juicy on the inside without leaving the kitchen smelling like a roadhouse diner. Enter air-fryer cheeseburgers.
Among all the burger recipes we like to prepare, this recipe is exceptionally easy, low on grease and simple to cook year-round. The patties are paired with a sweet-and-tangy fry sauce, and you can add plenty of creative toppings to make ’em just how you like ’em.
Ingredients for Air-Fryer Cheeseburgers
- Ground beef: The best ground beef for burgers usually has a slightly higher fat content, such as 80/20 or 70/30. We suggest buying high-quality beef, even if it means a special trip to the butcher shop, because the flavor will really shine.
- Seasonings: This recipe starts building flavor right in the beef patty with seasonings like garlic, seasoned salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. You can sub dried garlic for a shortcut.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: While any kind of cheddar tastes good on a burger, we like sharp cheddar for the extra tang. If you’re looking to make this a kid-friendly dinner, you might want to reach for a milder cheese. You can use most types of cheese, but go for one that melts nicely, such as spicy pepper jack or a mild Swiss.
- Special sauce: Sure, you can top a burger with plain ketchup, but this recipe goes bigger with a sweet-and-tangy special sauce. A simple mix of mayonnaise, ketchup, cider vinegar and honey yields more than the sum of its parts.
- Buns: Pick your favorite kind of hamburger buns. We like to toast them before adding the burgers. Toasting dries out the bun a bit, better allowing it to absorb the juices of the beef and sauce.
- Bacon: Dial up the umami flavor with strips of bacon. Use your favorite bacon brand, cooking it ahead of time to keep dinner prep simple. We like baking bacon for the least grease. You can also skip the bacon if you like—it’s tasty but not necessary.
- French-fried onions: The only thing this burger needs is some crunch. French-fried onions do the trick. These are a yummy bonus, but not vital. Use up any leftovers with one of our favorite ways to use french-fried onions.
Directions
Step 1: Prep the patties
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the Worcestershire sauce, garlic, seasoned salt and pepper. Add the beef, and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape evenly into four 1/2-inch-thick burger patties.
Step 2: Cook
In batches, place the patties in a single layer on the tray in an air-fryer basket. Cook until a thermometer reads 160°, 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through cooking.
Step 3: Add cheese
Remove the burgers from the basket. Top with cheese, and cover until the cheese is melted, one to two minutes.
Step 4: Make the sauce
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar and honey.
Step 5: Assemble the burgers
Spread the sauce over the cut sides of the buns. Top the bun bottoms with bacon, burgers, french-fried onions and, if desired, lettuce and tomato. Replace tops.
Toppings for Air-Fryer Cheeseburgers
Our favorite burger toppings range from the regular to the rare. Here are a few delicious ideas:
- Vegetables: Get fancier than lettuce and tomato! Caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, apple slaw and sauteed mushrooms are all delicious options.
- Pickles: While dill pickles are classic, other vinegary pickles add zest to the burgers. Think pickled red onions, sweet-and-spicy candied jalapenos or pickled sweet peppers.
- Cheese: There’s no need to use only cheddar. Goat cheese, feta and blue cheese are rich, flavorful alternatives.
- Special sauces: We love the mayo-based sauce in this recipe, but there’s plenty of room to play. Garlicky pesto, barbecue sauce or spinach dip (like you’ll find on spinach tomato burgers) are easy crowd-pleasers.
How to Store Air-Fryer Cheeseburgers
Leftover cheeseburgers taste great the next day! Store the beef patties, sauce and buns separately (the buns will get soggy if kept with the other ingredients). Wrap the buns in storage wrap, and store on the counter for up to four days. Put the burger patties and sauce in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to three days.
To reheat cheeseburgers in an air fryer, preheat the fryer to 350°. Place the patties in a basket, and cook until heated through, two to four minutes.
Air-Fryer Cheeseburger Tips
How long does it take to cook cheeseburgers in an air-fryer?
Cheeseburgers cook quickly in the direct heat of an air fryer, usually in about 10 minutes or less. We suggest using a thermometer to take the temperature of the beef. Our guide to how to grill burgers details the temperatures for different levels of doneness: For medium-rare (a warm, red center), cook to 130 to 135°; for medium (a warm, pink center), go to 140 to 145°; medium-well (a hot, slightly pink center) ranges from 150 to 155°; and well done (brown all the way through) falls between 160 to 165°.
How do you make cheeseburgers on a gas or charcoal grill?
You can make these yummy burgers on the grill, too! Simply prepare the recipe as directed, and then cook on the grill over medium heat until the internal temperature reaches 160°, which takes about five to seven minutes per side.
What can you serve with air-fryer cheeseburgers?
Air-fryer french fries are a natural pairing, of course, but many of our favorite burger sides think outside the box. In summer, a Caprese salad is a refreshing match, while in winter, smoked mac and cheese is a cozy side. Grilled corn, sauteed zucchini, roasted potatoes and other simple vegetable sides would be great, too.
