Can you air fry turkey burgers? Yes! Learn my tips to make air fryer turkey burgers moist and juicy, with no breadcrumbs and no oil. You’ll also find out how to make turkey burgers that don’t fall apart, how long to cook turkey burgers in the air fryer, and more! These healthy turkey patties are an easy and low-calorie weeknight dinner idea that’s also low carb and keto friendly!
Some consider turkey burgers to be a dry, bland diet food. I hope to change your mind with this recipe.
It’s true that turkey patties tend to dry out much faster than cooking with ground beef burgers. Because of this, you should add something to turkey burgers for extra moisture. These turkey zucchini burgers are one of the best ways I’ve found to make a moist turkey burger without oil.
It is important not to skip the zucchini in this recipe, even if you aren't into "healthy recipes." The zucchini is there to eliminate the dryness of the turkey burger, improving the overall mouthfeel. Sure, cramming more veg into your meals is generally a health move, but that's really secondary to zucchini's main purpose here.
If you don’t like seeing green in your burger, peel the zucchini before mixing with the ground turkey. You can also chop the summer squash up more finely after shredding it, decreasing its detectability.
As far as air fryer ground turkey recipes go, this one is my new favorite in terms of ease and tastiness. I hope it becomes a family favorite in your household too!
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📋 Calories, Net Carbs, Protein
One air fryer turkey burger patty has 269 calories, 2.2 grams net carbs, and 19.9 grams protein. This nutrition information includes the sriracha mayo but does not include other toppings or a burger bun.
⭐ Benefits
Why try making air fryer turkey burgers? Here are a few reasons I’m loving these:
- Low-calorie and low-carb meal option: If you are looking to lose weight by focusing on lowering calories and/or lowering carbs, these turkey burgers are a great choice. Skip the bun for a keto air fryer turkey burger.
- Packed with high-quality, filling protein: These big burgers are a high-protein entrée that should provide lasting satiety (a feeling of fullness between meals). As a result, you may be less inclined to have a snack a short time later. This may (hopefully) make it a little easier to reach or maintain a healthy weight.
- Vehicle for veggies: We've packed a ton of zucchini into these burgers. If you're looking to increase your vegetable intake, this air fryer turkey burger recipe will help you get there!
- Family-friendly meal that is easy to customize: The whole family is likely to love this recipe because it is burgers! Plus, you can easily modify this recipe to fit different taste preferences. For example, swap the sriracha mayo for ketchup if you have a child or other family member who dislikes spicy foods.
- Fast and tasty: These turkey burgers air fry in about 18 minutes. That might be less time than it would take to drive to and order fast food!
🥘 Ingredients
To make the basic air fried turkey burgers, you only need four simple ingredients:
- Ground turkey (thawed if previously frozen)
- Grated zucchini
- Chili powder
- Cooking oil spray (non-aerosol)
I prefer ground turkey thighs for this recipe, rather than ground turkey breast. The additional fat in turkey thighs allows the burgers to brown better than they do with leaner turkey. Additionally, the small amount of extra fat makes for a juicier burger. (I get dark meat ground turkey here.)
For the sriracha mayo, you'll need a couple more things:
- Mayonnaise
- Sriracha
I've been using True Made Foods Veracha (Vegetable Sriracha) as my preferred sriracha brand. I love the veggie-packed, no added sugar ingredients list:
- Tomato Puree
- Jalapeno Puree
- Butternut Squash
- Carrots
- Garlic Powder
- Distilled Vinegar
- Spinach
- Onion Powder
- Salt
- Cayenne Pepper
I could probably figure out how to combine those ingredients to create my own sriracha at home. However, IMHO they have created an excellent product, and I'm happy to let them do the work for me. If you want to add no added sugar condiments to your kitchen, they are a great brand check out.
🍽 Equipment
Here are the main pieces of kitchen equipment that you need for this recipe:
- Air fryer
- Peeler
- Grater
- Meat thermometer
The peeler and grater are for the zucchini. I use a large Kalorik Digital Air Fryer Oven to create my recipes. It has two trays instead of an air fryer basket.
You can use the Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Philips, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Cosori, Nuwave, Power Air Fryer, etc. for this recipe. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the cooking times slightly or cook the burgers in multiple batches if you’re using a different air fryer than I am. Check on the food frequently whenever you try a new air fryer recipe.
🔪 How to Make
Let’s learn how to make air fryer turkey burgers! I like to rest the ground turkey for an hour at room temp so it cooks faster. Peel and shred the zucchini using the coarse side of a box grater.
I like to chop the zucchini a little finer after shredding. We don’t like to see big zucchini pieces in the burgers.
Put the zucchini on some paper towels or a clean piece of cheesecloth. Thoroughly squeeze all of the moisture out of the zucchini over the sink. (Some zucchinis are far waterier than others; this step helps our recipe results stay consistent.)
Next, put the dry zucchini, ground turkey, and chili powder in a large bowl. Mix this turkey and zucchini combination together with clean hands. It's a messy endeavor! Wetting or oiling your hands can help if the burger is sticking to them.
After the ingredients have been thoroughly combined, shape the mix into four burgers. The burgers should be about 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) in diameter. Don’t make bigger burgers; they may dry out before they finish cooking through.
If your turkey burgers usually bulge in the middle when they cook, try pushing a divot in the middle of each burger with your thumb. (This trick works with beef burgers too!)
⏲️ Cooking Time and Temperature
How long to air fry turkey burgers? Air fry for a total of 18-20 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190C).
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 375F (190C). Mist a hot air fryer tray with cooking spray and gently place the burgers on the tray. I was able to fit all four burgers on one tray in a single layer.
Place the tray in the top position in your air fryer oven and air fry for 10 minutes at 375F (190C). Then gently flip each burger and air fry on the top rack for 8-10 more minutes at 375F (190C).
Check that your turkey burgers are done with a meat thermometer. The safe minimum internal temperature for poultry is 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74C). Give them a little extra air frying time if they need it.
After air frying, let your burgers rest for 5-10 minutes. Now all you have to do is top them and serve!
🧀 Turkey Burger Toppings
While the turkey burgers air fry, you are going to want to prepare your burger toppings. For the sriracha mayo, simply whisk together two parts mayo to one part sriracha. I also used green leaf lettuce plus a few slices of tomato and red onion to top the burgers.
For bunless burgers, choose large lettuce leaves that you can use as a burger wrap. Alternatively, you can always eat the burger with a fork.
If you don’t like the toppings I chose, there are many other ways to top a turkey burger. Here’s a list you can mix and match from:
- Cheddar cheese, Pepper jack cheese, Swiss, Gruyere
- Cooked bacon (try Air Fryer Turkey Bacon)
- Sauteed mushrooms
- Caramelized onions
- Ketchup
- Homemade Mustard (Tip: Every tablespoon of mayo that you replace with mustard will save you around 100 calories!)
- No Cook Refrigerator Pickles
- Chipotle Lime Mayo
- BBQ sauce
- Bacon jam
- Coleslaw
- Pickled jalapenos
- Green chiles
- Blue cheese
- Ranch dressing
- Guacamole
- Pico de Gallo (or another salsa)
- Sunny-side up egg
🌡️ Leftovers
Cooked leftover turkey burger patties can be refrigerated (wrapped or in an airtight container) for 3-4 days, or you can freeze them.
Freeze them in a single layer on a baking tray lined with freezer paper. Then wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer bag with the air pressed out. This process ensures they won’t stick together when freezing.
You can reheat them in a microwave, air fryer, or on the stovetop. Leftover crumbled burger is great in chili, sloppy joes, tacos and burritos, or as a salad topping.
🧂 Turkey Burger Seasoning
Wondering how to season turkey burgers? I used chili powder here, but there are many seasonings and sauces you can mix with turkey burgers. Here are some other things to try:
- Salt and pepper
- Steak seasoning
- BBQ seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Basil
- Oregano
- Tajin
- Worcestershire sauce
- Red wine vinegar
- Liquid smoke
- Sriracha
- Teriyaki sauce
- Italian seasoning
- Taco seasoning
- Creole seasoning
- Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes (for spicy burgers!)
🥗 Side Dishes
What goes with air fryer turkey burgers? Wonder no more if you’ve been trying to figure out what to serve with turkey burgers. Some side dishes that go with turkey burgers include fresh garden salads and roasted vegetables of all sorts.
Here are some recipes for sides that go well with air fried turkey burgers:
- Smoked Mac and Cheese
- Air Fryer Squash with Brown Butter and Sage
- Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
- Kale Apple Slaw
- Air Fryer Jicama Fries
- Air Fryer Radish (a keto substitute for potatoes)
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). The nutrition information for this meal includes the turkey burger and mayo topping only. I photographed this burger with a brioche bun for aesthetics. If you want a low-calorie meal, I recommend choosing a turkey burger without the bun.
Using these turkey burgers as a protein base, you can easily modify side dishes to meet the needs of different family members. This can be helpful if you’re using a low carb diet for weight loss but also feeding teens with higher energy needs. For example:
- For those who need more energy (i.e., higher calories): add in energy-dense whole grains and starchy vegetables. You can also add more healthy fats (avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil, etc.).
- For those with lower energy (i.e., lower calorie) needs: cut back on added fats and add more non-starchy veggies. It is not extremely difficult to cover the B vitamins in grains with meat. Eating fewer grains can be an easy way to create a lower-calorie diet without having to count anything.
A bunless turkey burger with sriracha mayo and a side salad (with low oil) will get you a filling, low-calorie meal. For a higher energy dish, you can do as I did and add more starch to your plate.
I enjoyed a side salad but also included a hamburger bun with nearly as many calories as the turkey burger. This meal worked for me as an active person who is currently in weight maintenance mode. There’s no one “right” way to eat that will fit everyone perfectly.
FAQs
You can air fry frozen turkey burgers, including Bubba turkey burgers and Butterball turkey burgers, without thawing! Cook them in a preheated air fryer at 375F (190C) for 15 minutes, flipping after 8 minutes.
Yes, lean beef can be substituted for ground turkey in most recipes.
Yes, flipping the burgers helps them brown and cook evenly on both sides. Don’t skip it!
Keep turkey patties from falling apart by using binders and making smaller burgers. Eggs, breadcrumbs, oats, and flour are binders to add to burgers to help them stick together better. With these tips, your turkey burgers should stick together in the air fryer, grill, or oven.
Undercooked turkey burgers (and other meats) may contain harmful germs that can cause food poisoning. Eating undercooked poultry, including turkey, will put you at a higher risk of Salmonella infection.
The minimum safe internal temperature to cook turkey burgers and other ground meats is 165F/74C. The best way to know whether your turkey burger is done is to use a food thermometer. Don’t try to judge doneness by the color of the cooked burger.
I love my Kalorik Air Fryer Oven. It’s an inexpensive air fryer and gets good reviews. With two baking trays, it has plenty of room to cook entrees without having to cook multiple batches. If you are feeding a family, I recommend getting a large capacity air fryer oven.
👩🏻🍳 Other Ground Turkey Recipes
Do you love burger recipes but want more ideas for recipes using ground turkey? Don't miss these after you air fry turkey burgers:
- Turkey Meatballs (with Zucchini Noodles and Sauce)
- Ground Turkey Jerky Recipe (No food dehydrator needed!)
Also, this Turkey Salad without Mayo is a super way to use up leftover turkey breast.
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey (454 grams; I use this dark meat ground turkey)
- 8 ounces zucchini (227 grams)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- cooking oil spray
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (choose one with no added sugar)
- lettuce, tomato slices, red onion slices, burger buns (optional)
Instructions
- I prefer to let the ground turkey rest at room temperature at one hour so it cooks faster. Peel 8 ounces (227 grams) of zucchini. Grate the zucchini. Chop the shredded zucchini a little smaller if you wish.
- Put the zucchini on some paper towels or a clean piece of cheesecloth. Thoroughly squeeze all of the moisture out of the zucchini over the sink. (This is important for consistent recipe results!)
- Put the ground turkey in a big bowl. Add the chili powder and then the grated zucchini. Mix well with clean hands until thoroughly combined. (Messy!)
- Shape the turkey mixture into four burgers. They should be about 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) in diameter. Don’t make bigger burgers; they may dry out before they finish cooking through.
- You can make a depression in the middle of each patty prior to cooking. This may help prevent the burger from bulging in the middle as it cooks.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Mist a hot air fryer tray with cooking spray and gently place the burgers on the tray. I was able to fit all four burgers on one tray in a single layer.
- Place the tray in the top position in your air fryer oven and air fry for 10 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Then gently flip each burger and air fry on the top rack for 8-10 more minutes at 375°F (190°C).
- Check that your turkey burgers are done with a meat thermometer. The safe minimum internal temperature for poultry is 165°F (74°C). Give them a little extra air frying time if they need it.
- After air frying, let your burgers rest for 5-10 minutes.
- While the burgers rest, mix the mayo and sriracha together to make the sriracha mayo. Prepare any additional burger toppings.
- To serve: top each of the burgers with an equal amount of the sriracha mayo. I used a few lettuce leaves, a bit of thinly sliced red onion, and sliced tomatoes to top the burgers. Serve in lettuce wraps or burger buns. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). The nutrition information for this meal includes the turkey burger and mayo topping only. I photographed this burger with a brioche bun for aesthetics. If you want a low-calorie meal, I recommend choosing a turkey burger without the bun. Using these turkey burgers as a protein base, you can easily modify side dishes to meet the needs of different family members. This can be helpful if you’re using a low carb diet for weight loss but also feeding teens with higher energy needs. For example:
- For those who need more energy (i.e., higher calories): add in energy-dense whole grains and starchy vegetables. You can also add more healthy fats (avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil, etc.).
- For those with lower energy (i.e., lower calorie) needs: cut back on added fats and add more non-starchy veggies. It is not extremely difficult to cover the B vitamins in grains with meat. Eating fewer grains can be an easy way to create a lower-calorie diet without having to count anything.
Nutrition
This recipe has been updated from 2020 to include new photos, a new recipe video, and some slight recipe tweaks to make it foolproof. Enjoy!
Terrified Amateur says
Nice, Summer! Actually, in my book, turkey burgers are better than are their "standard" counterparts. Not surprising, as I'm a poultry fiend and all.
Anyway, adding the zucchini is a great idea, and one I most definitely will steal the next time I prepare some patties. Your suggested toppings sound great too (especially the sriracha mayo!), though my go-to lately has been a pineapple slice. Not only do I love pineapple but, as you know, the fruit has enzymes which are natural tenderizers. Double bonus.
Your garden still looks good and healthy. Unfortunately, a few frosts last week have hastened my plants' finale. They still produce, but they're looking ragged. Oh well - they had a legendary run this summer.
As it happens, that's a pretty good description of your creation(s) this entry, Summer - "legendary."
Summer Yule says
Thank you so much for your kind words 🙂 It sounds like you might enjoy the Aussie burger with the lot if you like pineapple on burgers! I feel like pineapple on burger might be a far less controversial thing than the whole pineapple on pizza thing. haha
That's too bad that you've had some frost already. I'm crossing my fingers that I get a few more weeks of my grape tomatoes. We've had snow in October before; sometimes the end of the season comes as a surprise!
Terrified Amateur says
True words, Summer! Oh, don't get me wrong, the plants still are alive and are producing, but Burpee's not likely to ask me to send their photos for the spring catalog. Unlike the previous five months, when the outdoors greenhouse-at-large resulted in some pretty striking specimens.
Hey, we may be friends and all, but don't you go after pineapple on pizza! In fact, you may recall the pizza I'm going to debut one of these years, or another. Pineapple will be well-represented. Still, enough other toppings to keep everyone happy (I hope).
Summer Yule says
Oh, I don't mind pineapple on pizza but I know some have strong feelings about it. You're posting a controversial recipe if you go that route! haha