Frozen Burgers in Air Fryer

Frozen burgers are one of the easiest dinners to make when you forgot to thaw anything. You can cook frozen burgers in the air fryer straight from the freezer, so there is no need to wait for them to defrost first. For related planning, see 10 Easy Family Dinners for Busy Nights.

For most frozen beef burger patties, 375°F for about 12 to 20 minutes is a good starting range. Flip the burgers halfway through cooking and check the center with a meat thermometer. Ground beef burgers should reach 160°F internally before serving.

The exact cooking time depends on the thickness and size of your patties, so treat the time as a starting point rather than a guarantee.

Quick Facts

Temperature: 375°F
Cooking time: About 12 to 20 minutes
Thinner patties: Usually finish sooner
Thicker patties: May need more time
Thawing: Not required
Flip: Halfway through
Ground beef doneness: 160°F in the center
Basket setup: Single layer
Cheese: Add during the final 1 to 2 minutes

Raw burger patties, buns, and fresh toppings on a kitchen counter — A selection of burger patties, buns, and toppings arranged on a kitchen counter.

How Long to Cook Frozen Burgers in an Air Fryer

For a standard frozen beef burger, start with 375°F for 12 to 20 minutes.

Some thinner quarter-pound patties may finish closer to the lower end, while thicker patties can need the longer end of the range. Current recipes and cooking guides show this variation, which is why checking the internal temperature is more reliable than following one exact number.

Frozen Burger Cooking Time Chart

Frozen Burger Type	Temperature	Starting Time
Thin beef patty	375°F	10 to 14 minutes
Standard 1/4-lb patty	375°F	12 to 16 minutes
Thicker 1/3-lb patty	375°F	14 to 18 minutes
Very thick patty	375°F	16 to 20+ minutes

These are starting ranges. Your air fryer and the actual thickness of the patties can change the cooking time.

Do You Need to Thaw Frozen Burgers First?

No, you do not need to thaw frozen burgers before air frying them.

That is one of the biggest advantages of this method. Take the patties from the freezer, remove their packaging, and place them directly into the air fryer basket.

Cooking from frozen does mean the center needs more time to heat through, so thicker patties can take considerably longer than thin ones.

How to Cook Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer

Preheat to 375°F if your air fryer benefits from preheating.

A short preheat can help the burgers start cooking immediately, but different air fryers handle preheating differently.

If you want more guidance, see our how to preheat an air fryer.

2. Place the frozen patties in the basket

Remove the burgers from their packaging and arrange them in a single layer.

Leave some space between the patties so hot air can circulate around them.

Do not stack the burgers.

3. Air fry at 375°F

Start with about 12 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the patties.

For thinner burgers, start checking earlier.

4. Flip halfway through

Flip the burgers around the halfway point.

This helps both sides cook and brown more evenly.

5. Check the center

Use an instant-read food thermometer to check the thickest part of each burger.

For ground beef, the center should reach 160°F before serving.

Don’t rely only on the outside color. A burger can look browned on the outside before the center is fully cooked.

6. Add cheese at the end

If you want cheeseburgers, add the cheese during the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking.

This gives it enough time to melt without leaving it in the air fryer for the entire cooking period.

7. Build your burgers

Place the cooked patties on toasted buns and add your favorite toppings.

Try lettuce, tomato, pickles, sliced onion, ketchup, mustard, or your favorite burger sauce.

For another burger idea, see our Smoky Chipotle Burger Patties.

Do You Need Oil for Frozen Burgers?

Usually, no extra oil is necessary.

Frozen beef patties already contain fat, and adding a lot of oil can create unnecessary smoke and grease.

If your particular patties are very lean, a light coating can help with browning, but it is not normally required.

Should You Season Frozen Burgers?

This depends on the patties.

Some frozen burgers are already seasoned, while others are not.

Because the surface is frozen, seasoning may not stick particularly well at the beginning. You can season the surface once it has warmed slightly during cooking, then continue air frying.

Always check the package directions if you’re using a specific branded frozen patty.

A cheeseburger sliced in half on a plate with a thermometer. — This cheeseburger showcases a perfectly cooked patty and melted cheese.

Why Are My Frozen Burgers Raw in the Middle?

The most common reason is patty thickness.

A thick frozen burger takes longer for the center to heat through than a thin patty.

Other factors include:

Your air fryer runs cooler than its displayed temperature.
The patties are larger than average.
Several patties are packed too closely together.
The basket is overcrowded.
The burgers need additional cooking time.

The simplest solution is to check the center with a food thermometer and continue cooking until the beef reaches 160°F.

Why Are My Frozen Burgers Dry?

Overcooking is usually the biggest problem.

Once the center reaches the safe temperature, there is generally no benefit to leaving the burger in the air fryer for much longer.

Start checking thicker burgers toward the lower end of the expected range rather than automatically adding extra time.

For more general air fryer timing guidance, see our air fryer cooking times guide.

Can You Cook Multiple Frozen Burgers at Once?

Yes, as long as they fit in a single layer without overcrowding.

The number you can cook depends on the size of your air fryer basket and the size of the patties.

If the burgers are touching heavily or stacked on top of each other, cook them in batches instead.

Good airflow is important for even cooking.

Can You Cook Frozen Burgers at 400°F?

Yes, some recipes use 400°F, but I would use 375°F as the primary starting temperature for this guide.

Current recipes use both 375°F and 400°F, with the higher temperature generally shortening the cooking time.

The tradeoff is that the outside can brown faster while a thick frozen patty still needs more time in the center.

If you use 400°F, start checking earlier and rely on the internal temperature rather than appearance alone.

How to Make Frozen Burgers Better

A few simple habits make a noticeable difference:

Leave space around each patty

Air needs room to circulate. Avoid squeezing too many burgers into a small basket.

Flip halfway

Flipping gives both sides better exposure to the circulating heat.

Check temperature, not just color

This is especially important with thick frozen patties.

Add cheese at the end

Cheese only needs a short time to melt.

Toast the buns separately

A lightly toasted bun gives the burger more texture without requiring you to cook the patties longer.

Frozen beef patties arranged in an air fryer basket. — Frozen beef patties ready to be cooked in an air fryer.

Frozen Burgers vs. Fresh Burgers

Frozen burgers are more convenient because they require no advance planning.

Fresh patties generally cook faster because they do not have to heat through from a frozen state.

For either option, thickness matters.

If you regularly make fresh burgers too, our hamburgers in the air fryer guide covers fresh patties and broader burger cooking guidance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overcrowding the basket: This can interfere with airflow and even cooking.

Using one exact time for every patty: A thin burger and a thick burger will not necessarily finish together.

Skipping the temperature check: Color alone cannot reliably tell you when a ground beef burger is done.

Adding cheese too early: It can melt before the burger is ready.

Cooking much longer than necessary: Once the center reaches the safe temperature, continuing to cook can make the burger drier.

Serving Ideas

Once your frozen burgers are cooked, keep the toppings simple or build a full burger-night spread.

Try:

Classic cheeseburger with pickles and ketchup
Burger with lettuce, tomato, and onion
Bacon cheeseburger
Mushroom and Swiss-style burger
Spicy burger with jalapeños
Burger with caramelized onions
Simple burger with mustard and pickles

Serve with air-fried fries, potato wedges, or another favorite side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook frozen burgers in an air fryer?

Yes. Frozen beef burgers can be cooked directly from the freezer in an air fryer without thawing first. A good starting point is 375°F for about 12 to 20 minutes, depending on patty thickness. Flip halfway through and check the center with a food thermometer. Ground beef should reach 160°F before serving.

How long do frozen burgers take in an air fryer?

Frozen burgers usually take about 12 to 20 minutes at 375°F, although thinner patties may finish sooner and very thick patties may need longer. Flip the burgers halfway through cooking and begin checking the center toward the lower end of the range. The final cooking time depends on patty thickness and your particular air fryer.

What temperature should frozen burgers be cooked to?

Ground beef burgers should reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Check the thickest part of the patty with a food thermometer rather than relying only on the outside color. This is especially important for frozen burgers because the outside can brown while the center still needs additional cooking time.

Do you have to flip frozen burgers in an air fryer?

Flipping is recommended because it helps the burgers cook and brown more evenly. For most frozen burgers, flip them around the halfway point. If your air fryer circulates heat very effectively, the burgers may still cook without flipping, but flipping provides a more consistent result.

Can you put cheese on frozen burgers in the air fryer?

Yes. Cook the frozen burger until it is fully cooked first, then add cheese during the final 1 to 2 minutes. This gives the cheese enough time to melt without making it the first thing exposed to the circulating heat. Check the burger’s internal temperature before adding cheese.

Do frozen burgers need oil in the air fryer?

Usually, no. Most frozen beef burger patties contain enough fat that additional oil is unnecessary. If the patties are particularly lean, a very light coating can help with browning, but avoid using excessive oil. Always check the package instructions for the specific frozen burgers you are cooking.

Why is my frozen burger still raw in the middle?

A frozen burger can remain undercooked in the center if the patty is thick, the basket is overcrowded, or the air fryer cooks cooler than expected. Continue cooking and check the thickest part with a food thermometer. Ground beef should reach 160°F before serving.