Lose the red meat but not the flavor with this nutritious and delicious alternative—from the air fryer!
During the pandemic, I fell in love with my air fryer. Reheating French fries? Amazing! Crisping up some veggies? Delish! But I, for one, had not ventured into creative ways to create entire meals with it; it makes sense—combining a healthy way to prepare your dish with already better-for-you ingredients. Dishes such as this turkey burger will help you (and me) explore ways to maximize this underrated appliance.
It’s probably unsurprising that turkey burgers started to gain popularity during the 1990s, following the low-fat crazes of the 1980s. So much so that during the early part of the decade, many chain restaurants tried their hand at their own versions. Although they eventually fell off the mainstream menu, turkey burgers continue to give a leaner option to the beef burger and create an alternative for those who want or need a lower-fat option. Packed with protein and lower in price and calories, this burger may serve more than just a trend when you add it to your regular rotation.
The turkey burger will be familiar to those who already enjoy beef burgers—tender, juicy, and a blank canvas for many of your favorite ingredients. You’ll enjoy the crisp on the outside that the air fryer provides, and the inside will keep that moisture for a perfect bite. Maintaining its juiciness, you can add all the traditional toppings, from onion, ketchup, and mustard, to your burger to customize to your liking at a lower cost than beef. For these reasons, you might end up asking yourself why you didn’t try this low-fat option before now!
Why The Air Fryer?
You might be surprised to know that using your air fryer to cook the turkey isn’t just trendy—but ingenious. The air fryer method will build a crust on your burger keeping the moisture inside but also creating a nice bite to the outside layer of your burger. The air fryer also works well to cook the burger evenly without drying out the poultry. By quickly bringing the burgers up to the ideal temperature, you won’t need to worry about excess grease from traditional cooking such as pan frying. Likewise, by batch preparing your burgers, you can efficiently cook your turkey burgers to perfection.
To ensure the best results, you will want to preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit prior to cooking. Preheating your air fryer helps prep the basket for even cooking and allows for even heat distribution. By spraying your basket, you can help prevent your turkey burgers from sticking together or to the sides as well. By flipping your burgers halfway through, you can ensure that both sides of the burger are golden brown and delicious. Your air fryer is ready to do more than just side dishes now—you’ll be happy you let your burgers take center stage.
How to Make Ahead and Store?
You can prepare your burgers ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to three days or the freezer for up to three months prior to air frying. Once ready to eat, you can adjust the cooking time by adding a few additional minutes on each side if placed in the basket from frozen. You’ll know the burger is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do I Need to Flip?
Although it is tempting not to do so, flipping will allow for an even crunchy crust on your turkey burger. You will want to flip the burgers about halfway through (or about 6-7 minutes) per side. You can add cheese during the last couple minutes of air frying as well if desired—an extra incentive to keep an eye on the patties for flipping!
Serving Suggestions
Just like their beef counterparts, turkey burgers can be served atop of a nice brioche or white bun alongside ketchup, onion, mustard, cheese—you name it! Keeping the healthy going? Try adding a side of Baked Fries to your turkey burger or our veggie-packed Pasta Salad and it’ll feel like a healthy cookout at home.
Looking to keep it low-carb? You can take your turkey burger and serve it atop a nice mixed salad. By selecting a mix of power greens such as kale, spinach, and arugula, you’ll have a well-balanced dinner, guilt-free but sure to satisfy your burger craving. Perhaps you can try a nice Wedge Salad with your newfound favorite burger? Enjoy!
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Form the mixture into four equal-sized patties, about 1/2 inch thick.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place the patties in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch each other for better air circulation.
- Cook for 7 minutes, then flip the patties and cook for an additional 7-8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove the patties from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
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