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Air-Fryer Turkey Burgers

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on February 14, 2020

Time

35 minutes (12 minutes cook time)

Yield

Serves 2

Air-Fryer Turkey Burgers

Ingredients

½ slice hearty white sandwich bread, crust removed, torn into ½-inch pieces2 tablespoons plain yogurt Salt and pepper 8 ounces ground turkey 1 ounce Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (¼ cup)2 hamburger buns, toasted if desired½ tomato, sliced thin1 cup baby arugula

Before You Begin

Be sure to use ground turkey, not ground turkey breast (also labeled 99 percent fat-free), or the burgers will be tough. You can use your air fryer to toast the buns. Serve with your favorite burger toppings.

Instructions

  1. Mash bread, yogurt, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to paste in medium bowl using fork. Break up ground turkey into small pieces over bread mixture in bowl, add Monterey Jack, and lightly knead with hands until mixture forms cohesive mass.
  2. Divide turkey mixture into 2 lightly packed balls, then gently flatten each into 1-inch-thick patty. Press center of each patty with your fingertips to create ¼-inch-deep depression. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Arrange patties in air-fryer basket, spaced evenly apart. Place basket in air fryer and set temperature to 350 degrees. Cook until burgers are browned and register 160 degrees, 12 to 16 minutes, flipping and rotating burgers halfway through cooking.
  4. Transfer burgers to large plate, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve burgers on buns, topped with tomato and arugula.
Air-Fryer Turkey Burgers
Photography by Keller + Keller. Styling by Chantal Lambeth.

Air-Fryer Turkey Burgers

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

35 minutes (12 minutes cook time)

Yield

Serves 2

Ingredients

½ slice hearty white sandwich bread, crust removed, torn into ½-inch pieces
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
Salt and pepper
8 ounces ground turkey
1 ounce Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (¼ cup)
2 hamburger buns, toasted if desired
½ tomato, sliced thin
1 cup baby arugula

Ingredients

½ slice hearty white sandwich bread, crust removed, torn into ½-inch pieces
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
Salt and pepper
8 ounces ground turkey
1 ounce Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (¼ cup)
2 hamburger buns, toasted if desired
½ tomato, sliced thin
1 cup baby arugula

Ingredients

½ slice hearty white sandwich bread, crust removed, torn into ½-inch pieces
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
Salt and pepper
8 ounces ground turkey
1 ounce Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (¼ cup)
2 hamburger buns, toasted if desired
½ tomato, sliced thin
1 cup baby arugula

Why This Recipe Works

On its own, ground turkey cooks up dry and dense—the extra-lean meat can't hold on to its own moisture during cooking. We found that mixing in a bit of Monterey Jack cheese went a long way in keeping the burgers moist, and the cheese crisped around the burger's edges, creating a crust. But to really keep the meat juicy, we added a mixture of sandwich bread and yogurt known as a panade. Acting like a sponge, this helped the burgers retain moisture and kept them from becoming too dense. Pressing a slight dimple in the raw patties prevented them from puffing up too much when they cooked.

Before You Begin

Be sure to use ground turkey, not ground turkey breast (also labeled 99 percent fat-free), or the burgers will be tough. You can use your air fryer to toast the buns. Serve with your favorite burger toppings.

Instructions

  1. Mash bread, yogurt, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to paste in medium bowl using fork. Break up ground turkey into small pieces over bread mixture in bowl, add Monterey Jack, and lightly knead with hands until mixture forms cohesive mass.
  2. Divide turkey mixture into 2 lightly packed balls, then gently flatten each into 1-inch-thick patty. Press center of each patty with your fingertips to create ¼-inch-deep depression. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Arrange patties in air-fryer basket, spaced evenly apart. Place basket in air fryer and set temperature to 350 degrees. Cook until burgers are browned and register 160 degrees, 12 to 16 minutes, flipping and rotating burgers halfway through cooking.
  4. Transfer burgers to large plate, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve burgers on buns, topped with tomato and arugula.

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