Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Patties. These five words may not solve all the world’s problems, but it can be the solution to what’s for dinner for the rest of the week. Frozen turkey patties are a simple and open-ended way to approach meal time. All it takes is one ingredient and a healthy cooking method called air frying.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Patty Recipe
The most desirable thing about a meal often seems to be how easy it is to make. I am amazed at how easy it is to sacrifice nutrition and even flavor (Notice I put flavor above nutrition) in order to have a meal more quickly and easily. In a world where fast food isn’t just fast, it gets delivered to your door, ease is so essential in helping you to avoid bad habits. With air fryer recipes like this one, you can have a satisfying meal with minimal fuss. And you don’t have to wait nearly the amount of time it takes for your order to be picked up and brought to your door (without napkins!)
One thing that contributes to the ease of this air fryer recipe is the ingredients. There is just one. It takes minimal seasoning, if you want to call salt and pepper an ingredient, it’s still an extremely simple recipe that requires no additional shopping items in most cases. I love any recipe that amounts to sort of grab-n-go. For this, it’s just tossing in the patties and setting the timer, then sprinkle on just enough salt to bring out the natural savory flavor of the turkey and maybe some pepper to perk up your tastebuds.
Almost unnecessary in light of such ease is the added health benefit of frying turkey patties this way. Turkey is already lean meat that is healthier for you than other options, but when you use the air fryer as your cooking method, it makes the meal even better for you by eliminating excess grease. This keeps a healthy option healthy by not compromising it with a less health-conscious cooking method like pan-frying.
What to Serve with Turkey Patties
Turkey patties are most obviously used for burgers. But that is far and away from the only use for this tasty protein. You can enjoy them bunless with a savory or sweet sauce, or you can chop them up for use in pasta dishes like stroganoff or spaghetti and meat sauce. You can even slice the patties thin and make gyros or tacos. There are numerous practical uses for air-fried frozen turkey patties. Because of that, the number of sides you can serve with these is virtually limitless. Veggies are a good start. You can steam them or air fry them with some Slap Ya Mama for seasoning. Other good sides to serve with turkey patties are air-fried french fries or steamed rice.
Topping Ideas
If you go the burger route, you can use any bun you choose, and top them with the usual accouterments such as cheddar and (turkey) bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, swiss and mushrooms, Monterey jack and avocado, etc. Sauce it up with a choice of homemade aioli, barbecue sauce, teriyaki, or just good old fashioned ketchup and mustard.
You may decide to have the patties without a bun. You can enjoy them dry, but a good sauce or gravy would make it better. If you have the patties with mashed potatoes for instance you can gravy the whole plate. These patties also taste delicious with cranberry sauce which adds a bit of a Thanksgiving spin.
Tips and Variations
As with any recipe, there is a fair amount of wiggle room, but even more here because the recipe is so simple. Here are some ideas for embellishments that you might like.
Tips
Make sure you allow the air fryer to preheat before you take the frozen turkey patties out of the freezer. Don’t have them thawing before it’s time for them to cook the way you typically would.
You can use any oil spray to grease your basket, just don’t overdo it so you can enjoy the maximum health benefits of the air fryer. The oil is just to ensure that the patties don’t stick when you go in to flip them over.
You can cook the frozen turkey patties to temp without flipping them, but flipping the patties gives them a more even char which helps make it more consistently enjoyable.
Variations
Other types of patties you can air fry are frozen salmon patties, frozen beef patties and frozen plant-based patties
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to thaw frozen patties before air frying?
No. You should put them in frozen to guarantee the best results. If you thaw the patties beforehand you will need to adjust your cook time.
Are frozen turkey burgers healthy?
Frozen turkey burgers have a variety of health benefits because they are made with lean turkey meat which is a good alternative to beef or pork. Generally speaking, it’s always a good idea to read the label to make sure that the other ingredients used in the patties are not unhealthy. Typically, in terms of added chemical ingredients, turkey is a healthier alternative than patties made from plant-based proteins.
Do you need to flip burgers in the air fryer?
You should flip them to get the right texture throughout. However, the air fryer will cook the whole patty without flipping.
What is the best way to cook frozen turkey burgers?
The best way is to lightly air fry the buns before you cook the turkey patties. This gives them a little bit of crunch and ensures that the buns are ready while the turkey patties remain hot. While the patties are frying, you can assemble the rest of the burger toppings as you like.
If you add cheese to your turkey patties, add the cheese to the top of the patties after you flip them. This can get messy, but it’s worth it.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Turkey Patties
If you make up a lot of turkey patties you may have plans for how you want to use them. Make sure you have plenty of containers for the job and slice them or chop them however you want for future meals. If you don’t meal plan, just keep the patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for future use within the next 3-5 days.
Frozen Turkey Patties in Air Fryer Ingredients
- 32 ounce box Butterball® frozen turkey patties
How to Cook Frozen Turkey Patties in the Air Fryer
Step 1 – Prep
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees for 2 minutes. Line or spray the air fryer basket with a non-stick cooking spray (like grapeseed oil cooking spray).
Step 2 – Air Fry the Patties
Place desired number of frozen patties into basket, air fry for 16 minutes, flipping over halfway through, making sure not to overcrowd the basket. Carefully remove patties from the air fryer basket and enjoy.
Try This Easy Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Patty Recipe Today
It would be so easy to stop at the store and pick up a bag of turkey patties on the way home. This is a great meal solution that will even fit into many pre-made plans. There is no prep required for this so try it today and see how many meals you can make with this one simple ingredient!
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Air Fryer Cheese Pigs in a Blanket – A hot and crispy crescent roll filled with a cream cheese mixture and a little smokie. The perfect appetizer recipe you are going to love.
Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs – An easy air fryer recipe made with tender chunks of chicken, pineapple, two types of bell peppers, seasoned and teriyaki sauce.
Frozen Steak Fingers in Air Fryer – These delicious air fried steak fingers are crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside and served with country gravy. So easy and delicious.
And, here are some delicious Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings, from Great Grub, Delicious Treats, you will enjoy as well.
Frozen Turkey Patties in Air Fryer Recipe
Ingredients
- 32 ounce box Butterball frozen turkey patties (has 6 frozen patties)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees for 2 minutes.
- Line or spray air fryer basket with a non-stick cooking spray (like grapeseed oil).
- Place desired number of frozen patties into basket, air fry at 380° for 16 minutes, flipping over halfway through, making sure not to overcrowd the basket.
- Carefully remove patties from air fryer basket and enjoy.
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