Air Fryer Curry Cilantro Turkey Burgers

This Air Fryer Turkey Burger recipe is made with ground turkey, spiced with Indian curry powder, and freshly chopped cilantro. These tasty burgers are perfect for busy weeknights because they cook in under 15 minutes!

We love easy weeknight ideas just like these delicious turkey burgers! For more easy recipes, check out this Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast, made with pickle brine and homemade breading. Make these Air Fryer Pork Chops without breading, made with a rosemary garlic butter. Marinated Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer is always an amazing dinner idea.

Air Fryer Burgers

These juicy turkey burgers are loaded with flavor and is a simple recipe to make. You’ll be able to enjoy these grilled burgers all year long even whether the weather is bad or it’s cold outside. No need to start the grill when you can make these right in the air fryer in the comfort of your kitchen.

I know the flavors of curry mixed with cilantro may seem a little unusual, but trust me when I say the combination is out of this world tasty. This is one of my family’s favorite recipes! If you have extra time, make your own soft hamburger buns.

These healthy turkey burgers are also keto, paleo (leave out salt), and gluten free as long as you don’t serve it with a bread bun. A great alternative to using a real bun is to use lettuce instead or bake up thick slices of sweet potato and use two slices as a bun.

The raw burgers usually have a lot of moisture in them and with no bread crumbs to help absorb some of the liquid it can be hard for them to keep their shape. We remedy this by putting them in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes to firm up a bit before cooking in the air fryer.

With a cook time of just 10-12 minutes, these tasty burgers may just become a new family favorite in your home, too.

If you love breakfast on your burger, try out this Brooklyn burger that is topped with eggs and bacon!

PRO TIP! The best way to make a juicy burger is to use 85% or 93% lean ground turkey. It will give you a more moist turkey burger due to the higher fat percentage. This is the percentage I typically use when making this recipe.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Simple Ingredients. This recipe only has a handful of ingredients, all very easy to find if you don’t already have them.
• Quick Cooking Time. I am all for any meal that is done in 15 minutes or less!
• Family Favorite Recipe. This is really a favorite around my house, I get begged to make them. I hope it’s a new favorite for you.
• Another Excuse to Use the Air Fryer. Just in case you needed one, here is another excuse to make more air fryer recipes.

Is a Turkey Burger Healthier than a Hamburger?

Turkey burgers are actually a tiny bit healthier than traditional burgers (white meats typically are), but not by much. Ground turkey is typically lower in saturated fat but a little higher in calories and sodium. Whereas ground beef is higher in protein and iron.

Can I use Ground Beef Instead of Turkey?

Yes, of course. You can definitely substitute in ground chuck (80/20) for the ground turkey. Just make it the same way following the directions below. The flavors added won’t be as pronounced if you use beef because the beef is already really flavorful on its own, but will still be good.

If you like cooking with ground turkey, try it on this pizza.

What is a Turkey Burger made of?

This particular turkey burger recipe isn’t one of those basic recipes that’s just made with some worcestershire sauce, onion powder or garlic powder thrown in. Nope, it doesn’t have any of those ingredients. This recipe is seasoned with rich Indian curry and fresh cilantro. It’s got a delicious flavor profile.

Recipe Ingredients

Here are the basic ingredients needed to make air fried turkey burgers. For full ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

• Ground Turkey: I like to use 85% lean ground turkey to get a juicer burger.
• Egg: One large egg will also help with moisture.
• Salt: I like using kosher salt or sea salt.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground pepper will give the best results.
• Curry Powder: You want to make sure to use Indian curry powder and not Thai curry.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is a necessity. I don’t recommend substituting in dried cilantro (or dry coriander), it will not give the punch of flavor in this recipe. You will want it finely minced.
• Burger Buns: To hold in all that turkey goodness. Use your favorite buns such as potato buns or whole wheat buns.
• Favorite toppings: Check out the list below for some favorite burger toppings.

Optional Toppings

• Lettuce
• Tomato Slices
• Fresh Onion Slices
• Avocado
• Guacamole
• Picked Red Onion
• Cheese Slices
• Pork Bacon or Turkey Bacon
• Pickles

Optional Sauces

• Barbecue Sauce
• Chipotle Mayo
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Mayonaise
• Magical Aioli
• Sriracha

How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Burger Patties

Here are the simple steps to make this air fryer burger recipe. For the full instructions check out the recipe card.

• In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, egg, salt, pepper, curry powder, chopped cilantro, and paprika. Combine only until just mixed.
• Wet your hands to more easily form the mixture into four 1/2 inch thick patties.
• Place the patties on a plate and put into the fridge for 15 minutes to firm up.
• Preheat the air fryer.
• Place the patties in the air fryer basket.
• Cook burgers in the air fryer, flipping over half way through cooking time.

How to Make them on the Stove

No air fryer, no problem! This recipe is easily made on the stove, also. Follow the instructions to make the burgers.

When you are ready to cook your burgers, just add a little olive oil to a large sauté pan, put over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot add in your burgers. Cook each side for about 5 minutes each until the internal temperature is 165 deg f.

What if my Turkey Burgers are Frozen

If you freeze these turkey burgers, it is easy to cook them straight from frozen in the air fryer. To cook frozen turkey burgers from uncooked, just preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for 18 minutes, flip over halfway through cook time. Make sure to use a digital thermometer to ensure the center of the turkey burger has reached 165 deg Fahrenheit. 

What Sides Go with Turkey Burgers?

Here are some favorite recipes to serve with turkey burgers.

• Air fryer roasted broccoli parmesan
• Cut up fruit
• A great big salad.
• Air fryer frozen fries
• Air fryer squash and zucchini
• Roasted parmesan asparagus
• Brussels sprouts with bacon

Can These Turkey Burgers be Made in Advance?

Yes, these burgers actually benefit from being made ahead of time because they are able to firm up a bit in the refrigerator.

Since, the uncooked patties need to sit in the fridge for at least 15-30 minutes before cooking, making them in advance will save you that time and you can just throw them right into the preheated air fryer.

I don’t recommend making them more than 2 days in advance.

Recipe Tips

• Single layer. Keep the turkey burger patties in a single layer and try not to have them touch or overlap for best outcome.
• Check on burgers. Open the air fryer at any time to check on turkey patties to make sure they are not over cooking.
• Different air fryers. Since all air fryers cook differently, your burgers may need a little more or less cooking time. I use a Cosori air fryer 5.8 quart basket style.
• To add cheese. If you would like to add cheese to burgers, just lay a slice on each patty once they have done cooking. Turn off the air fryer and let sit in there for a minute or two to melt.

Recipe Variations

• Ground chicken. Use ground chicken instead of ground turkey, keep in mind that the flavor will be different. The chicken burgers may come out drier than the turkey because it is leaner meat.
• Ground beef. Using ground beef will taste completely different (even more than ground chicken), but can be substituted.
• Gluten free turkey burgers. Keep it gluten free by switching out the bun for lettuce, gluten free bread, or slices of cooked sweet potato.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I air fry turkey burger? Yep, you can definitely air fry turkey burgers. Just follow the recipe card to learn how.

How to know that turkey burgers are done? Before removing patties from the air fryer check the internal temperature with a digital meat thermometer. You want to cook turkey burgers to at least 165 degrees f.

Are turkey burgers healthy? Since turkey burger is has a little less saturated fat than ground beef they are considered a little healthier.

Are these turkey burgers keto? Yes, since there are no bread crumbs in this turkey burger recipe it is keto friendly. Just replace the bun for a bed of crisp lettuce or eat the turkey patty all on its own. Perfect keto dinner.

How long do you cook turkey burgers in air fryer? Turkey burgers typically need to cook for about 12 minutes.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

How to refrigerate turkey burgers? Let the turkey patties cool and put in an airtight container. They should last about 3-4 days in the fridge.

How do you reheat turkey burgers? Pre-heat the air fryer to 350° F. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Keep a close eye on it so that it doesn’t burn.

Can I Freeze this Recipe?

How to freeze uncooked turkey burgers? Form patties, then freeze on a baking sheet until firm about 30 minutes. Place them into a freezer bag or in an airtight container. Make sure to label with the recipe and the date. Freeze up to 2 months.

How to cook frozen turkey burgers? Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Cook for 18 minutes, flip over halfway through cook time. Make sure to use a digital thermometer to ensure the center of the turkey burger has reached 165°F. 

Try these other air fryer dinner recipes!

• London Broil in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Sun-dried Tomato Spinach Stuffed Pork Chops
• Frozen Naked Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer
• Best Damn Air Fryer Smokey Pork Chops
• Cornish Hen in Air Fryer

If you’ve tried this air fried turkey burgers recipe, don’t forget to give me a star rating and leave me a comment below in the comment section. I love to hear from people who have made my recipes!

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