You can find this recipe for air fryer Christmas Burger on page 70 of The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook: 15 Minute Feasts. This book is about simple and delicious air-fryer meals that are ready in a flash.
Who doesn’t love a burger? And when it comes to festive flavours, this one will absolutely blow your socks off! Over the past few years, my son and I have started our own little Christmas tradition. We don’t always sit down to a full roast on the big day – sometimes we’re craving something a bit more fun, a bit more relaxed, and a lot more us. That’s how our Ultimate Christmas Burger was born.
It started as a playful experiment one December afternoon and quickly became a tradition we now look forward to just as much as pulling crackers or opening stockings. We wanted a burger that captured everything we adore about Christmas dinner, but without the hours spent roasting, basting and juggling oven trays. Instead, we turned to our trusty air-fryer – and honestly, it was a game-changer.
This recipe brings together all the best bits of the festive season into one irresistible, air-fried bite. Imagine juicy turkey patties seasoned to perfection, paired with savoury, herby stuffing that adds that unmistakable Christmas aroma. Then comes the sweetness – a dollop of cranberry sauce that cuts through the richness beautifully. And because Christmas is all about little indulgences, we often slip in a cheeky slice of melty Brie for that creamy, luxurious finish. All of this is stacked inside a soft, golden bun that holds everything together like a festive hug.
It’s fun, easy, and it feels celebratory without being complicated. What’s not to love?
PREP 10 minutes
COOK 12-15 minutes
MAKES 2 people
KIT you will need an air fryer, mixing bowl and racks
Ingredients for Air Fryer Christmas Burger
50g stuffing mix
100ml hot water
250g turkey mince
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried rosemary
6 pigs in blankets (cook extra for dipping in the gravy, if you choose)
olive oil spray
2 brioche buns, sliced in half
2 tbsp cranberry sauce
50g Brie, sliced
150ml hot gravy
sea salt and ground black pepper
For the Slaw:
80g Brussels sprouts, finely sliced
½ carrot, grated
½ apple, grated
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
2 tbsp mayonnaise
sea salt and ground black pepper
Method
Start by preparing your stuffing, as this needs a few minutes to cool before you shape it. Add the stuffing mix to a medium bowl and pour over the hot water. Give it a good stir, making sure all the mix is fully moistened and there are no dry patches. The mixture will thicken quite quickly, so leave it to sit for about 5 minutes, or until it’s cool enough to comfortably handle. Once cooled, use your hands to shape the stuffing into four even balls. They don’t need to be perfect, a bit of texture actually helps them crisp up in the air-fryer.
While the stuffing is resting, move on to the turkey patties. Place the turkey mince into a separate bowl and sprinkle over the garlic powder and dried rosemary. Season generously with salt and pepper, then use your hands to work the seasoning evenly through the meat. Divide the mixture into two portions and shape each one into a patty, pressing firmly so they hold together well. Set them aside.
Next, arrange the pigs in blankets in the air fryer basket along with the stuffing balls. Give the stuffing balls a light spray of oil to help them brown. If your air fryer has racks, slot them into place above the basket and lay your turkey patties on top. Spray the patties with a little oil too. Air fry everything at 200°C for 12–15 minutes, turning all the components halfway to ensure even cooking.
While everything cooks, quickly make the slaw by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl. Season and set aside.
Toast your brioche buns, spread the base with cranberry sauce, then layer up: pigs in blankets, crumbled stuffing, turkey patties and Brie. Serve with hot gravy for dipping and slaw on the side.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Christmas Burger
Don’t rush the stuffing balls
Letting the stuffing cool before shaping helps them firm up, so they hold together better in the air-fryer. If the mixture still feels too soft, pop it in the fridge for 5–10 minutes to firm up more.
Keep the patties compact
Turkey mince can be softer than beef, so really press the mixture together when forming your patties. Compact patties hold their shape better and cook more evenly. If yours feel too loose, chill them for 10 minutes before air-frying.
Use racks for best results
If your air-fryer comes with racks, definitely use them. Cooking the patties on the upper rack while the pigs in blankets and stuffing balls go underneath allows the hot air to circulate evenly. It also means you can cook the entire burger components in one go — no faffing with batches.
Don’t forget to flip
Turning every element halfway through cooking helps everything brown evenly. Stuffing balls especially like to crisp on all sides, so give them a gentle turn with tongs.
Level up the cranberry layer
If you want a little extra festive flair, mix a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard into your cranberry sauce before spreading it on the buns. It gives a lovely tang that cuts through the richness of the Brie and turkey.
Swap the cheese if you like
Brie is wonderfully melty, but if you prefer something stronger, Camembert, Stilton or even a mature Cheddar all work brilliantly. Just pop the cheese on top of the patties while they’re still warm so it softens into all the nooks and crannies.
Keep the gravy hot
Serve your gravy piping hot so you get that perfect contrast between melty burger and warm, savoury dip. If it cools too quickly, stick it in the microwave for 20–30 seconds before serving.
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