Air-Fried Chicken Patty Perfection: Quick, Easy, Delicious

Chicken patties are a quick and easy meal to make in an air fryer, and can be served in a variety of ways. You can use store-bought frozen chicken patties, or make your own from scratch. To make them from scratch, you'll need ground chicken, breadcrumbs, eggs, olive oil, and spices. You can also add onion, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce for extra flavour. Form the mixture into patties, brush with oil, and air fry for around 10-12 minutes. Frozen chicken patties can be cooked from frozen in the air fryer, and will be ready in around 10-12 minutes. You can serve chicken patties in a bun with your favourite toppings, or with a side of vegetables or fries.

Chicken patty ingredients and substitutions

Chicken patties are a versatile dish that can be made from scratch or using frozen, store-bought patties. Here's a list of ingredients and substitutions you can use to make delicious chicken patties in your air fryer:

Ingredients:

• Ground chicken or turkey: You can use either ground chicken or turkey as the base for your patties. Avoid using super lean mince as it may make the patties dry.
• Egg: One whole egg helps bind the ingredients and hold the patties together.
• Breadcrumbs: Plain or Panko breadcrumbs add texture and crunch to the patties. If using seasoned breadcrumbs, reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
• Onion: Finely grated or chopped onion adds flavour and moisture to the patties. You can skip it if you prefer.
• Salt and spices: Salt, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper are commonly used to season the patties. You can also add dried spices of your choice.
• Olive oil: A small amount of olive oil or neutral cooking oil improves the texture of the patties and creates a nice crust.

Substitutions:

• Gluten-free: To make gluten-free chicken patties, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce (if using).
• Flour: You can use all-purpose flour or substitute it with almond flour, oat flour, whole wheat flour, or gluten-free flour.
• Breadcrumbs: While Panko breadcrumbs are recommended for the crispiest results, regular Italian breadcrumbs can also be used.
• Chicken brine: Brining the chicken in pickle juice, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar helps lock in moisture and adds flavour.
• Confectioner's sugar: Powdered sugar adds a slight sweetness to the chicken and blends better with the flour than granulated sugar.
• Spices: You can use a variety of spices like onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning to suit your taste preferences.

How to make chicken patties from scratch

Ingredients

• Ground chicken
• Breadcrumbs
• Egg
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Black pepper
• Dried basil or parsley
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Utensils

• Large bowl
• Cutting board or baking pan
• Wax paper
• Air fryer
• Meat thermometer

Method

• In a large bowl, add ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and any other dried spices. Mix everything well with a fork until the mixture is consistent.
• Line a large cutting board or a baking pan with wax paper. Divide the meat mix into 6-7 parts and form into balls. Place each ball on the parchment paper and flatten into a patty shape, around 1 inch thick. Brush each patty with a little olive oil.
• Preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes.
• Place the chicken patties in the air fryer basket, making sure they have space and are not touching.
• Air fry at 390°F for 7 minutes. Flip them over and air fry for another 4-5 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Serve with your choice of sides and sauces.

Tips:

• If the mixture sticks to your hands while forming the patties, dip your hands in water or use gloves.
• Adding some olive oil to the meat mix will make the patties juicier and more tender.
• The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the patties and the type of air fryer.
• You can also coat the patties in breadcrumbs before cooking for extra crunch.
• If you want to make the patties gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and skip the Worcestershire sauce or use a gluten-free alternative.

How to make chicken patties in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Ground chicken or ground turkey
• Breadcrumbs (plain or panko)
• Egg
• Olive oil or neutral cooking oil
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Black pepper
• Dried basil or parsley
• Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Spices of your choice (optional)

Method

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Mixture

Add the ground chicken or turkey to a large bowl, along with the breadcrumbs, egg, olive oil or cooking oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dried basil or parsley, and Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice (if using). Mix everything well with a fork until the mixture is consistent.

Step 2: Form the Patties

Line a large cutting board or baking pan with wax paper. Divide the meat mixture into 6-7 parts and form into balls. Place each ball on the parchment paper and flatten them into patties about 1 inch thick, as they will plump up during cooking. Brush each patty with a little olive oil.

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to between 360°F and 400°F for about 5 minutes.

Step 4: Cook the Patties

Place the chicken patties in the air fryer basket, making sure they have space and are not touching. Air fry for 7-12 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Tips:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the patties in batches if needed.
• For extra crispy patties, coat them in breadcrumbs before cooking.
• You can freeze any leftover patties for up to 3 months and reheat them in the air fryer.

How to make frozen chicken patties in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Frozen chicken patties
• Burger buns
• Cheese (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F. It's important to preheat the air fryer so that the patties cook evenly.
• Place the frozen chicken patties in the air fryer in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping.
• Cook the chicken patties for 7-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The patties are ready when they are golden brown and have an internal temperature of 165°F.
• If you want to add cheese to your patties, turn off the air fryer and place a slice of cheese on each patty. Close the air fryer and let the residual heat melt the cheese (this should take around 30-60 seconds).
• If desired, you can also place the buns inside the air fryer and cook for 1-2 minutes until they are crisped to your liking.
• Remove the patties from the air fryer and assemble your burgers. Enjoy!

Reheating:

If you have any leftover chicken patties, you can easily reheat them in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F and place the patties inside for 3-5 minutes, or until they are warmed through.

Chicken patty toppings and sides

Toppings

• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Cheese (American, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, Cheddar, Mozzarella, or Pepper Jack)
• Ketchup
• Mustard (or honey mustard)
• Mayonnaise
• Pesto
• Guacamole
• Buffalo sauce
• Hot honey
• Tartar sauce
• Pickles
• Scallions
• Potato chips
• Jalapeños
• BBQ sauce
• Peach sauce
• Papalo (a herb similar to arugula, cilantro, and mint)
• Maple butter
• Emping chips (a Southeast Asian snack)

Sides

• Chips
• Salad
• Rice or potatoes
• Steamed vegetables
• Sweet potato fries
• Bread

Frequently asked questions