Air-Fryer Hamburger Sliders: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a convenient and quick way to make juicy and delicious hamburger sliders. They are perfect for game-day parties, family dinners, or even a fun cooking session. Using an air fryer, you can make a variety of sliders, including classic beef, chicken or turkey, or vegetarian options like black bean or falafel. The key to making great sliders in an air fryer is to ensure they are evenly cooked, with a juicy interior and a crispy exterior. This can be achieved by preheating the air fryer, cooking the sliders in batches to avoid overcrowding, and flipping them halfway through the cooking process.

Choosing the right ground beef

When it comes to choosing the right ground beef for your hamburger sliders, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, opt for ground beef with a higher fat content, such as an 80/20 or 90/10 blend. The extra fat will ensure your sliders remain moist and juicy, enhancing the overall taste.

While leaner options like 93/7 are also suitable, they may require additional steps to prevent the meat from drying out. For instance, you could add ingredients like mashed avocado or mustard to introduce more moisture to the mix.

It's also worth noting that the fat content will impact the cooking process. Leaner meats are more prone to drying out, so keep a close eye on them during cooking and consider using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. For beef, the safe internal temperature is 160°F when fully cooked.

When forming the patties, try to make them slightly larger than your slider buns as they will shrink during cooking. This will help ensure your burgers are the right size when they're done.

Lastly, when it comes to seasoning, keep it simple. A combination of salt and pepper with a dash of onion and garlic powder will do the trick. Fresh onion and garlic may not cook through properly, so it's best to use powders.

Preparing the ingredients

• Ground beef – for the perfect juicy burger, opt for an 80/20 blend, which has the right amount of fat. You can also use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
• Seasonings – add salt and pepper to taste. You can also include onion powder and garlic powder, or fresh onion and garlic (although these will need more time to cook). Other seasoning options include Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and liquid smoke.
• Cheese – this is optional, but you can add slices of cheddar, mozzarella, blue cheese, or American cheese to your sliders.
• Buns – choose soft and slightly sweet slider buns, such as King's Hawaiian Rolls, to complement the savoury beef patty.
• Toppings and sauces – get creative with your toppings! Classic options include cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and sauces like ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, or mayonnaise. You can also experiment with ingredients like avocado, bacon, fried onions, or special sauces like "In N Out Burger" sauce, or a simple combination of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, garlic salt, and chili powder.

Forming the patties

Forming the perfect patty is an essential step in making delicious hamburger sliders in your air fryer. Here's a detailed guide to help you master the art of patty-making:

Start with the right type of meat. For juicy and flavourful sliders, opt for ground beef with a higher fat content, such as an 80/20 blend. This ratio ensures your patties stay moist and tasty. If you prefer a leaner option, go for 90/10, but be aware that it may result in drier patties.

Prepare your meat mixture by combining the ground beef with other ingredients like dried minced onion, salt, black pepper, egg, breadcrumbs, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well, but avoid over-mixing to keep your patties tender. You can also add seasonings like garlic powder and onion powder for extra flavour.

Now it's time to form the patties! Divide the meat mixture into small portions, each about the size of a golf ball. To get the perfect size, aim for portions that are slightly larger than your slider buns, as the meat will shrink during cooking. Gently flatten each portion into a patty using your hands or a spatula. Remember to handle the meat as little as possible to prevent the patties from becoming tough.

A pro tip for even cooking is to make a small indentation in the centre of each patty with your thumb. This prevents the patties from swelling during cooking, ensuring they cook evenly.

If you're making cheeseburgers, create a well in the centre of each patty and fill it with your favourite cheese. This way, you'll get a delicious burst of cheese with every bite!

Once you've formed your patties, place them on a tray or plate, and cover them. Let the raw patties rest in the refrigerator for about an hour before cooking. This helps the patties hold their shape better during cooking.

Finally, bring the patties to room temperature about 30 minutes before cooking. This ensures they cook evenly in the air fryer.

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating delicious and perfectly formed patties for your air-fried hamburger sliders!

Cooking the sliders

Now for the fun part: cooking the sliders!

First, you'll want to preheat your air fryer. Set the temperature to between 350°F and 380°F (some sources recommend 360°F) and heat it for about 5 minutes.

While the air fryer is preheating, form your beef mixture into small, evenly-sized balls, and then flatten them into patties. They should be slightly larger than your slider buns, as they will shrink a little during cooking.

Once your air fryer is preheated, it's time to cook the patties. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't touch and aren't overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.

Cook the sliders for about 8-10 minutes at your desired temperature, flipping them halfway through. If you're making cheeseburgers, add a slice of cheese to each patty during the last minute of cooking so it can melt.

Once the sliders are cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest for a couple of minutes. This helps the juices redistribute and results in a juicier slider.

While the sliders are resting, you can toast the slider buns if desired. Then, assemble your sliders by placing each patty on a bun and adding your favourite toppings.

And that's it! You now have a batch of delicious, juicy, and perfectly cooked air-fried sliders to enjoy.

Serving suggestions

Sliders are a great appetiser for a game-day party or a quick lunch or dinner. You can serve them with a variety of toppings and sauces, and they go well with a side of fries or onion rings.

If you're serving them as appetisers, you can forgo the bun and opt for lettuce wraps instead. This makes them keto-friendly and reduces the calories from the starchy bun.

For a simple DIY burger bar, arrange lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and pickles on a serving platter so everyone can help themselves. You can also get creative with toppings like avocado, bacon, or unique sauces.

For a fun and engaging experience, especially if you have kids, you can make the process of assembling the sliders interactive by laying out various toppings and sauces and letting everyone customise their own sliders.

If you're cooking for a larger group, you can cook multiple slider patties at once if you have a large enough air fryer. This makes it easy to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.

For a well-rounded meal, you can pair the sliders with a side salad, roasted vegetables, or a cup of soup. For drinks, milkshakes, fruit juices, or iced tea would complement the sliders well.

For dessert, something sweet and indulgent like cookies, brownies, or a sundae bar would be a nice finish to the meal.

Remember, the beauty of sliders lies in their versatility, so feel free to get creative with your serving suggestions and customisations!

Frequently asked questions