Air-fryer smash burgers with cheese & bacon

Enjoy the perfect cheeseburger with these quick and easy versions – they come out cooked to perfection. Don’t forget to smother the buns in your favourite condiment, too

  • Prep:10 mins
    Cook:20 mins
  • Serves 4
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 718
  • fat 40g
  • saturates 17g
  • carbs 44g
  • sugars 0g
  • fibre 3g
  • protein 44g
  • salt 3.39g

Ingredients

  • 8 rashers of streaky smoked bacon
  • 500g 15% fat beef mince
  • 8 cheese slices
  • 4 seeded brioche buns
  • curly leaf or butterhead lettuce leaves
  • 2 tomatoes , sliced
  • pickled gherkins , sliced
  • crispy onions
  • mustard, ketchup and/or burger sauce

Method

  1. Heat the air-fryer to 200C. Cook the bacon for 8-9 mins, turning once, until crisp and browned, then transfer to kitchen paper.

  2. Season the mince with salt and pepper then quickly shape into 4 even-sized balls, taking care not to over-handle the meat. Place a ball on a sheet of baking parchment, then using a flat meat mallet or a potato masher, flatten the balls into a 1cm-thick patty – they need to be wider than the bun you’re serving them on as they will shrink a little during cooking. Repeat to make 4 burgers.

  3. Air-fry the burgers for 8-10 mins, turning once until browned and completely cooked through. Lay a slice of cheese on each burger then top with the crispy bacon. Return to the air-fryer for 1 min until the cheese has melted.

  4. Split open the buns and arrange the lettuce and tomatoes on the bases. Top with the smash burgers and garnish with sliced gherkins, a sprinkle of crispy onions and your choice of sauce.

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