Air Fryer Cheeseburger Sliders
Juicy party-size burgers, eight at a time, cheese melted in place.
Kit that makes this foolproof
A few inexpensive bits that get you crispier results with less mess.
A roomy air fryer
A larger basket means fewer batches and crispier results.
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Perforated liners
Less sticking and mess, without blocking the airflow.
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Silicone tongs
Turn and lift without scratching the non-stick basket.
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Before You Start
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.
Instructions
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1
Mix the mince with the grated onion, worcestershire, garlic powder, salt and pepper, handling it as little as possible. Overworked mince makes bouncy burgers.
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2
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.
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3
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 400°F for 3 minutes.
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4
Lay the patties in a single layer and air fry for 6 minutes. No flipping needed at this thickness.
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5
Lay a half slice of cheese on each and cook 1 more minute until melted.
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6
Warm the buns in the basket for 30 seconds while the patties rest, then build with sauce, pickles and lettuce.
♨️ 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.
