These Air Fryer Chicken Burgers are juicy, flavorful, and so easy to make with perfectly seasoned homemade chicken patties. A 10 minute air fryer meal idea!
If you are looking for more tasty ways to use ground chicken, try my smashed chicken tacos recipe or the chicken zucchini burger, also cooked in the air fryer!
Why you’ll love these air fryer chicken burgers?
These air fryer chicken burgers are a lighter, healthier alternative to traditional burgers, made with lean ground chicken. To keep the chicken moist and juicy, I mix shredded mozzarella into the patties, which adds moisture and helps prevent them from drying out. I also toast the burger buns right in the air fryer, so the entire meal comes together in one appliance. And the sriracha mayo adds a creamy texture with just the right hint of heat.
If you are looking for more easy chicken dinner ideas to make in your air fryer, then check out our collection of air fryer chicken recipes.
- maria doss
★★★★★
"These were the BEST chicken Burgers I've ever made or eaten!! I even made the Sriracha mayo!! Absolutely incredible and a definite keeper! Thank you!"
-KRIS
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Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Ground Chicken: I use 1 pound of ground chicken, which is the perfect amount to form four evenly sized patties—Just like in our other ground chicken recipes, ground turkey can be used as a substitute with similar results.
- Panko breadcrumbs: It help give the patties structure and prevent them from falling apart by absorbing excess moisture.
- Egg: It acts as a binder, helping all the ingredients hold together during air frying. Without it, the patties may be too crumbly, especially with lean meat like chicken.
- Cheese: I like using shredded mozzarella for its mild flavor and melty texture, but a Mexican cheese blend works well too. The cheese is the secret ingredient that helps keep the chicken patties moist and juicy. I’ve also used grated vegetables in my baked chicken burger patties, which is a great option for picky eaters.
Tips for Moist and Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Burger
Keep your air fried chicken burgers tender and flavorful with these easy tips:
- Avoid Overcooking: Cook just until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C)—usually around 8 to 10 minutes in the air fryer. Overcooking leads to a dry, chewy patty.
- Add Cheese for Moisture: Mixing a melting cheese like mozzarella into the ground chicken mixture helps keep the patties juicy as it melts during air frying—no dry burgers here!
- Don’t Overmix: Gently combine the ingredients just until mixed.
- Use an Egg for Binding: An egg not only helps hold the patties together but also adds a bit of moisture to the mix.
- Shape Patties Loosely: Avoid packing the patty too tightly, which can make them dry and rubbery.
Tips for Success
- Adjust hot sauce based on your spice level. As in baked shrimp rolls, Sriracha will also make a great substitute. However, I like to stir in fresh lemon juice along with Sriracha sauce to balance the spiciness.
- Cheese - Shredded mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey jack, pepper jack or Mexican blend are all great options. Check out this chicken veggie meatballs using cheese as well.
- Use ground turkey instead of chicken. If you're interested in trying a pork option, you might want to give these pork burgers a try.
More Air Fryer Chicken Dinners
Air Fryer Chicken Burger
Equipment
Ingredients
For the chicken patties
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or any other melting cheese
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the sauce
- ¾ cup mayonnaise, more for toasting buns
- 2 tablespoons Franks RedHot sauce more or less depending on your taste
- 1 or 2 garlic cloves finely grated
For the rest
- 4 burger buns
- lettuce leaves as needed
- tomato slices as needed
- onion, sliced as needed
Instructions
Make the chicken patty
- Mix. Place all ingredients listed under "For the chicken patties" in a large bowl and mix well until evenly combined.
- Shape. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape each one into a 4–5-inch patty, about the same size as your burger bun.
- Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 365°F. Once hot, place the chicken patties in the basket in a single layer, making sure they don’t overlap. Cook for 8–10 minutes, or until cooked through—you don’t need to flip them.👉 Check for doneness: Gently press the center of a patty; it should feel firm and spring back. For the most accurate check, use a meat thermometer—the internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
Assemble burgers
- Make sauce. Add the ¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoon Frank’s RedHot sauce, and 1–2 grated garlic cloves to a small bowl. Mix well, then taste and add salt or more hot sauce if needed.
- Toast buns. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise or softened butter over the cut sides of the buns. Preheat the air fryer to 340°F, then place the buns mayo-side up in the basket. Air fry for 3–4 minutes, or until lightly golden and toasted.
- Assemble burgers. Spread some sauce over the toasted sides of the buns. Top each with a cooked chicken patty, sliced tomatoes, red onion, and lettuce. Close the burgers and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
FAQ'S
Toasting hamburger buns in the air fryer is quick and gives them a lightly crisp, golden finish:
1. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise or softened butter on the cut sides of the buns.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 340°F.
3. Place the buns cut-side up in the basket, making sure they don’t overlap.
4. Air fry for 3–4 minutes, or until golden and lightly crisp.
Remove and set aside, then repeat with any remaining buns.
Adding cheese to ground chicken burgers helps keep them moist and juicy while adding extra flavor. Ground chicken, especially lean chicken breast, is naturally low in fat and can dry out quickly during cooking. Mixing cheese directly into the meat adds moisture and richness, while creating delicious little pockets of gooey, melty cheese in every bite.
Chicken burger patties should ideally be about ¾ inch thick (approximately 2 cm) when raw. Ground chicken tends to shrink and round out as it cooks, so this thickness helps the patties cook through without drying out. For the best fit, shape them about ½ inch wider than your burger buns to allow for shrinkage.
Try to keep the edges the same thickness as the center so the patties cook evenly. If they’re too thin (under ½ inch), they can quickly overcook and become dry or rubbery. If they’re too thick (over 1 inch), the outside may overcook before the center reaches 165°F.
No. These chicken patties do not need to be flipped. I cook them at 365°F for 8–10 minutes in a preheated air fryer, and they cook evenly without flipping.
This also ensures they develop some browning on the top side.
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How to make chicken burger in air fryer?
You can find the full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
- Place ground chicken, egg, panko breadcrumbs, minced onion, garlic, salt, pepper and shredded mozzarella cheese in a large bowl.
- Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Divide the mixture into four equal portions.
- Shape each portion into patties about 4 to 5 inches in diameter.
5 & 6. Pre heat air fryer to 365°F. When hot, place the shaped chicken patties in the basket and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until cooked through. You don't have to flip them!
Assemble chicken burgers
Spread the sauce on the toasted side of each halve, top with one cooked patty, sliced tomatoes, red onion and lettuce. If you're in the mood for a more traditional chicken sandwich, you might love these adorable chicken minis!
Looking for more easy air fryer chciken recipes? Try my air fryer whole chicken!
More ground chicken recipes to try
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Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Kris Marie
These were the BEST chicken Burgers I've ever made or eaten!! I even made the siriacha mayo!! Absolutely incredible burger and a definite keeper! Thank you!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it – Maria ♡
Kris Marie
We just love this dinner! This time I used ground turkey, these were absolutely delicious but I think I love the ground chicken burgers better! Made the sauce too and air fryed the buns too!
Maria Doss
Love to hear that - Maria ❤️