I stand by our best-ever burger recipe, but I have to say—this air fryer cheeseburger version is a pretty close second. Thanks to the quick cook time, these burgers stay perfectly juicy and basically beg for a melty slice of cheese. Load it up with your favorite toppings and feel like the burger master you are (without all the smoke in your face). This is the easiest way to make a weeknight burger that comes out perfectly every time, we promise. And don’t forget to make yourself this classic coleslaw as a side dish while you’re at it!
How To Make Air Fryer Cheeseburger
INGREDIENTS
- Ground Beef: We recommend using an 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio because this is the ideal ratio for burgers that are juicy and tender but still hold firm in their structure.
- Garlic: Garlic adds an extra bite and a little more flavor to this burger that we think really brings it over the top.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: Even though it may sound odd, soy sauce adds umami to these burgers that brings out the meaty flavor and makes them extra delicious.
- Salt & Pepper: Don’t forget to season your burgers! Salt and pepper will make sure that the patties don’t lack flavor.
- American Cheese: Who doesn’t love American cheese on their burger!? We certainly do.
- Hamburger Buns: When it comes to burger buns, we always recommend brioche or a potato roll, but definitely use your preferred bun!
- Mayonnaise: We love spreading mayo on our burger buns to add extra fat and flavor! You can skip this ingredient if it’s not your thing.
- Lettuce, Tomatoes, & Red Onion: All the fixin’s are a must! We like a burger with everything on it, but feel free to top your burger with whatever you choose.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Mix the beef, garlic, and soy sauce in a large bowl until everything is combined, and then split into four equal portions. Flatten each portion into a 4” circular patty and then season on both sides with salt and pepper.
Cook two patties at a time in a 375º air fryer for 4 minutes per side for a medium cook. Remove and immediately top with cheese so that the cheese can get nice and melted. Repeat with the other two patties.
Assemble burgers with buns, mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, and serve right away!
The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.
Substitutions
- For Filipino flavors, you can add banana ketchup, too!
- If you can’t find American cheese, your favorite local, melty cheese is great on this burger. Just slice them thinly and add enough slices to cover the burger patty.
- Amp up these burgers with the addition of crispy bacon, caramelized onions, pickles, or jalapeños for extra flavor.
- If you’re watching your health, a healthier and budget-friendlier swap for ground beef is ground chicken or ground pork.
- Another Filipino twist to this recipe is using pandesal instead of the usual burger buns. If using regular sized pandesal, make the burger patties smaller to fit inside the pandesal. Larger pandesal pieces may be used, too. Just adjust the burger patty size accordingly.
Make Ahead Cheeseburger Patties
You can shape the patties ahead of time and keep them refrigerated and tightly covered for up to 2 days in advance. That way, you can just pop them in the air fryer when you are ready to cook. Season them up with just salt and pepper, or sprinkle Cajun or Greek seasoning on for some extra flavor.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days and reheat them in the air fryer when you need them.
Additional text by Ceia Ylagan.
