These air fryer chicken burgers are juicy, high-protein patties made with ground chicken, onion, and spinach. No eggs or breadcrumbs, so they are gluten-free and keto. They air fry at 360°F in 11 to 13 minutes, with 21g of protein per patty.
Air Fryer Chicken Burgers At A Glance
- ✅ Recipe Name: Air Fryer Chicken Burgers (No Breadcrumbs, No Egg)
- 🕒 Ready In: ~15 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 4 patties
- 🍽 Calories: ~176 per patty
- 💪 Protein: ~21g per patty
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Ground chicken (93% lean), yellow onion, baby spinach, Dijon mustard, garlic, paprika, dried parsley
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, keto, low-carb, dairy-free, no eggs, no breadcrumbs
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Shredded onion and chopped spinach bind the patties without eggs or breadcrumbs, so they stay juicy instead of dry and crumbly.
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Juiciest Air Fried Chicken Burgers
Ground chicken is lean, which is exactly why most chicken burgers turn out dry. The standard fix is an egg and a scoop of breadcrumbs to hold the patty together, but that adds gluten and carbs and does nothing for moisture. I wanted a version I could eat on repeat without either one.
The trick turned out to be shredded yellow onion. Shredding it instead of dicing releases liquid straight into the meat, so it binds the patty and keeps it juicy at the same time. It's the same thing I do in my air fryer turkey burgers and my juicy bison burgers. Finely chopped baby spinach does double duty here too, adding moisture along with iron and vitamin A.
Two things matter if you want them to hold: use 93% lean ground chicken, not 99%, and keep the patties about a half inch thick. At 99% lean, there isn't enough fat to hold structure, and thicker patties need longer in the basket, which is where they dry out.
Serve them with my crispy air fryer sweet potato wedges or this creamy, easy grilled corn and avocado salad.
Jump to:
- Air Fryer Chicken Burgers At A Glance
- Juiciest Air Fried Chicken Burgers
- Why You'll Love These Chicken Patties
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Burgers (Step-by-Step)
- Video Tutorial (Step-by-Step)
- My Tips for Juicy Chicken Burgers
- How Long to Cook Chicken Burgers in the Air Fryer?
- What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Burgers
- How to Store, Freeze, and Make Ahead
- Air Fryer Chicken Burgers FAQs
- More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love These Chicken Patties
- No eggs or breadcrumbs: The shredded onion binds the patties instead, which keeps them gluten-free, keto, and dairy-free.
- 21 grams of protein per patty: With 2 grams of net carbs and 176 calories, without cheese or a bun.
- Ready in about 15 minutes: 3 minutes to mix and shape, 11 to 13 minutes in the air fryer.
- Six ingredients plus seasonings: Ground chicken, onion, spinach, Dijon, garlic, and spices you already have.
- They hold up for meal prep: Four to five days in the fridge, and they reheat without going rubbery.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I found this recipe while looking for a gluten-free ground chicken burger to make in my air fryer. I never expected it to be so delicious!!! I can't wait to make it again. Thank you!!!!
- Andrea
Ingredients You'll Need
You need six ingredients plus a few seasonings. Here's what each one does and what you can swap.
- Ground Chicken: I use 93% lean so there's enough fat to hold the patty together and keep it juicy; it's the same cut I use for my air fryer chicken meatballs. At 99% lean, the mixture gets crumbly and dries out before it hits 165°F.
- Yellow Onion: Shred it on the large holes of a box grater rather than dicing. The liquid it releases is what binds these patties without an egg. White or sweet onion works if that's what you have.
- Baby Spinach: Optional, but finely chopped spinach adds moisture along with iron and vitamin A. You cannot taste it, I promise.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a tangy background flavor. You will not taste mustard in the finished burger.
- Garlic: Freshly minced is best here. Substitute 1 teaspoon garlic powder if that's what you have.
- Spices: Dried parsley, paprika, salt, black pepper, and crushed red chili flakes if you want heat.
- Buns: Air-fried toasted brioche, potato or whole wheat buns, or a lettuce bun to keep them low-carb.
- Toppings: Cheese, red onion, lettuce, tomato, bacon, mustard, ketchup, relish, pickles, or mayo.
Scroll to the recipe card for quantities!
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Ground turkey: Swap in 93% or 94% lean ground turkey. Same method, same cook time.
- Cheeseburger: Add a slice of sharp cheddar during the last minute of air frying so it melts without sliding off.
- Mozzarella stuffed: Press a small chunk of mozzarella into the center of the patty and seal the chicken fully around it before air frying; just like my stuffed chicken parmesan burgers.
- Teriyaki style: Brush with homemade teriyaki sauce after cooking rather than before, so the sugars don't burn in the basket.
- Make them spicy: Increase the crushed red chili flakes to a full teaspoon, or add a pinch of cayenne to the spice mix. Or try my cilantro lime chili chicken burgers.
- On the grill: Similar to my juicy grilled keto turkey burgers, heat to 375°F to 400°F, grease the grates well, and cook 5 minutes per side to 165°F.
How to Make Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Burgers (Step-by-Step)
Here's how they come together, step by step. About 15 minutes total, with 11 to 13 minutes at 360°F in the air fryer.
- Step 1: Combine everything in one bowl. Add the ground chicken, shredded onion, chopped spinach, Dijon, garlic, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
- Step 2: Mix gently, do not overwork. Use your hands and stop as soon as it comes together. Overmixing makes the patties tough and dry.
- Step 3: Shape 4 patties and load the basket. Divide into patties about a half-inch thick, then place them in the preheated 360°F basket, evenly spaced and not touching.
- Step 4: Air fry 11 to 13 minutes, flipping halfway. Cook until the center reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Step 5: Add cheese in the last minute (optional). Lay a slice on each patty so it melts without sliding off.
- Step 6: Toast the buns at 300°F (optional). Lightly butter them, and air fry cut side up for 3 to 4 minutes until golden.
- Step 7: Build and serve. Top with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and your condiments while the patties are still hot.
Video Tutorial (Step-by-Step)
My Tips for Juicy Chicken Burgers
- Use 93% lean, not 99%: There needs to be enough fat to hold the patty together and carry moisture. At 99% lean, the mixture crumbles and dries out before it reaches 165°F.
- Shred the onion; do not dice it: Shredding on the large holes of a box grater releases liquid into the meat. That liquid is what binds these patties without an egg.
- Stop mixing as soon as it comes together: Working the meat past that point tightens it up, and you end up with a dense, dry burger.
- Keep the patties a half-inch thick: Thicker patties need longer in the basket, and the extra time is where the moisture goes.
- Do not crowd the basket: Patties that touch steam instead of browning. Cook in two batches if your air fryer is small.
- Pull them at 165°F: Use an instant-read thermometer at the thickest part. A minute or two past done is the difference between juicy and chalky.
How Long to Cook Chicken Burgers in the Air Fryer?
Chicken burgers take 11 to 13 minutes in the air fryer at 360°F, flipped halfway through, until the center reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. That's the range I've landed on across every batch I've made in my Cosori and Our Place Air Fryer, and it's the timing in the recipe card below.
Where you land in that range depends on a few things:
- Patty thickness: A half-inch is what this recipe is timed for. Thicker patties need a few extra minutes, and that extra time is where the moisture goes.
- How full the basket is: Patties that touch steam instead of browning. Give them space or cook in two batches.
- Your air fryer: Some run cooler than the dial says. If you are new to yours, check at 10 minutes.
Chicken has to hit 165°F, and a minute or two past that is the difference between juicy and chalky. Check early rather than adding blind time at the end.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Burgers
These are light enough that I usually pair them with something substantial on the side rather than another lean thing.
- Potatoes and fries: Air fryer sweet potato wedges are my go-to since they cook at a similar temp and I can run them right after the burgers come out. But these crispy oven-roasted potatoes are also delicious!
- Salads: A watermelon blueberry feta salad or orzo pesto salad both hold up next to a burger without competing with it.
- Vegetables: Try these air fryer blistered shishito peppers if you want to keep the whole plate low-carb, or these air fryer carrot fries.
How to Store, Freeze, and Make Ahead
Storing: Let the patties cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container. They keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
Freezing: Cooked patties freeze well for up to 3 months. Cool them completely, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a freezer bag so they do not stick together.
Reheating: Air fry at 250°F for 5 to 7 minutes, or microwave for 30 to 60 seconds. The air fryer keeps the outside from going soft, which the microwave does not.
Making ahead: You can mix and shape the patties up to a day early and keep them covered in the fridge. They firm up as they sit, which actually makes them easier to move into the basket.
Air Fryer Chicken Burgers FAQs
Yes. Both are made from ground chicken shaped into a patty. "Patty" usually refers to the meat itself and "burger" to the assembled sandwich, but people use them interchangeably.
Yes. Leave it out and add another 2 tablespoons of shredded onion so the patties still bind.
Yes. Use 93% or 94% lean ground turkey and keep the same time and temperature.
Lean ground chicken is naturally tacky. Wet your hands with cold water before shaping, or chill the mixture for 10 minutes. Do not add breadcrumbs to fix it, since that changes the texture.
Yes, if they are already cooked. Air fry at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes until heated through. I do not recommend air frying raw frozen patties, since the outside cooks well before the center reaches 165°F.
Yes. With no breadcrumbs and no bun, each patty has 2 grams of net carbs. Serve in a lettuce wrap or on a salad to keep it low-carb.
More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
If you loved these juicy air fryer chicken burgers, here are a few more air fryer recipes to try next:
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Burgers
Ingredients
Chicken Burgers:
- 1 lb ground chicken, 93% lean
- ⅓ cup yellow onion, shredded or minced
- 1 ½ cups baby spinach, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ - 1 teaspoon red chili flakes, optional for spice
Toppings:
- 4 slices cheese, I love sharp cheddar
- 4 brioche or burger buns, (toasted read step #7)
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Lettuce, I love bib or romaine
- Tomato slices
- Condiments: Ketchup, mayo, mustard, or relish
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer. Set it to 360°F and lightly grease the basket with non-stick spray.
- Mix the patty ingredients. In a large bowl, gently combine the ground chicken, shredded onion, spinach, Dijon, garlic, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add red chili flakes if you want heat. Stop mixing as soon as it comes together, or the patties will be tough.
- Shape 4 patties. Divide the mixture into four patties about ½ inch thick.
- Load the basket. Place the patties in the preheated basket, evenly spaced and not touching. Cook in two batches if your air fryer is small.
- Air fry 11 to 13 minutes, flipping halfway. Cook until the center reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. If adding cheese, lay a slice on each patty in the last minute.
- Toast the buns (optional). Lightly butter the cut sides and air fry at 300°F, cut side up, for 3 to 4 minutes until golden.
- Build and serve. Top with red onion, lettuce, tomato, and your condiments. Serve while hot.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe tested and developed by Tati Chermayeff, creator of Healthful Blondie. A former Division I rower, Ironman triathlete, and recipe developer based in Austin, TX, Tati creates high-protein, air fryer, and healthy recipes that actually taste like the real thing.
Andrea says
I found this recipe while looking for a gluten free ground chicken burger to make in my air fryer. I never expected it to be so delicious!!! I can’t wait to make it again. Thank you!!!!
Tati Chermayeff says
Andrea, this made my day! The gluten-free part is exactly why I developed them this way. Most chicken burger recipes lean on breadcrumbs to hold the patty together, so I wanted one that skips them entirely without ending up dry. So glad they worked out in your air fryer. Thank you for coming back to let me know!