Sliders are proof that a burger is a ratio, not a size. Small patties cook through in eight minutes in an air fryer and stay juicy because the fat has nowhere to run off to. Grated onion worked into the mince is the one trick worth stealing: it seasons and steams the patties from the inside.
Everything you need
- 500 g beef mince (ground beef), 15 to 20% fat
- ½ small onion, finely grated
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp fine salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 4 cheese slices, halved
- 8 slider or small brioche buns
- burger sauce, pickles, lettuce, to build
Single layer, always. Crowding the basket steams food instead of crisping it. Tap any ingredient to open its converter.
Method
0 of 6 done-
Mix the mince with the grated onion, worcestershire, garlic powder, salt and pepper, handling it as little as possible. Overworked mince makes bouncy burgers.
For this step
- 500 g beef mince (ground beef)
- ½ small onion
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp fine salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- burger sauce
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Divide into 8 balls and press into thin patties slightly wider than your buns, with a dimple in the centre of each. They shrink and puff as they cook, and the dimple keeps them flat.
For this step
- 8 slider or small brioche buns
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Preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 400°F for 3 minutes.
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Lay the patties in a single layer and air fry for 6 minutes. No flipping needed at this thickness.
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Lay a half slice of cheese on each and cook 1 more minute until melted.
For this step
- 4 cheese slices
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Warm the buns in the basket for 30 seconds while the patties rest, then build with sauce, pickles and lettuce.
For this step
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 8 slider or small brioche buns
- burger sauce
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Air fryer notes
- Cook at 200°C / 400°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
Cook's tips
- The dimple matters more at slider size than on big burgers. Skip it and you get meatballs in buns.
- Cook in two rounds rather than overlapping patties. The second round takes a minute less in the hot basket.
Make it your own
- Push a small cube of cheese into the centre of each patty before shaping for a molten core.
- Swap beef for a 50 50 beef and pork mix for softer, richer sliders.
Storing & reheating
Cooked patties keep 3 days in the fridge and reheat at 180°C for 3 minutes. Build the buns fresh, always.
Frequently asked
How long do burgers take in an air fryer?
Thin slider patties take 6 to 7 minutes at 200°C / 400°F with no flip. Full-size 2 cm patties need 10 to 12 minutes, flipped once.
Why grate onion into burger mince?
Grated onion releases its juice into the meat, seasoning it and keeping small patties moist through the cook. Chopped onion just falls out.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
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A note on cooking safely. Recipes are provided for informational purposes only and are not medical or nutritional advice. Cooking times, temperatures and quantities are suggestions: use your own judgement, and check that meat, poultry, fish and eggs are properly cooked before serving.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements.