How to cook air fryer ground beef perfectly in just a few minutes. The best part is that the grease drains away for extra lean protein.
Making ground beef in the air fryer has changed the way we eat. The fat drains off, and it’s browned in just 5 minutes! Here’s a simple air fryer recipe you can use for many other meals. (affiliate links present).
Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many quick and easy dishes. From tacos to pasta sauce, the possibilities are endless when cooking with ground beef. While it’s simple to cook ground beef in a skillet, many home cooks are now turning to the Ninja Foodi to take their ground beef game to the next level.
The Ninja Foodi is an all-in-one multicooker that can pressure cook, air fry, sear/sauté, and more. This makes it an ideal tool for cooking ground beef to tender, juicy perfection every time. Here’s an easy step-by-step guide on how to brown ground beef in the Ninja Foodi for delicious results.
Benefits of Cooking Ground Beef in the Ninja Foodi
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s look at some of the advantages of using the Ninja Foodi:
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Speed The Ninja Foodi can cook ground beef much faster than traditional stovetop or oven cooking methods The combination of pressure cooking and air frying speeds up cook times considerably
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Flavor Browning ground beef in the Ninja Foodi followed by pressure cooking locks in moisture and flavor exceptionally well
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Versatility: With the ability to sear, pressure cook, air fry, and more, the Ninja Foodi allows you to prepare ground beef in endless ways.
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Simplicity: With just one device, you can skip dirtying multiple pans and tools to cook ground beef. It streamlines the process.
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Leaner: When cooked in the Ninja Foodi, excess fat renders out of ground beef easily, resulting in a healthier final product.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps for perfect ground beef every time in the Ninja Foodi:
1. Prepare the Beef
- Take the ground beef out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature, about 20-30 minutes. This helps it cook more evenly.
- Break apart any large chunks so the beef cooks evenly.
2. Preheat and Add Oil
- Preheat the Ninja Foodi using the Sear/Sauté function on medium heat.
- Once hot, add 1-2 tbsp oil to coat the pot. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or another high smoke point oil.
3. Brown the Beef
- Add the ground beef to the pot, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the beef is evenly browned.
4. Drain and Deglaze
- Drain any excess fat from the pot using the Ninja Foodi’s convenient pour spout.
- Optional: Deglaze the pot by adding 1/2 cup broth or wine and scraping up any browned bits. This adds extra flavor.
5. Pressure Cook
- Add any other sauce ingredients like tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, etc.
- Pressure cook on high for 5-8 minutes depending on amount. Use natural release.
6. Finish with Air Crisp (Optional)
- For crispy ground beef, transfer it to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400°F for 3-5 minutes until crisp.
And that’s it! Your ground beef is perfectly browned and cooked to perfection in the Ninja Foodi. Use it in tacos, pasta sauce, burgers, and endless other recipes.
Tips for Browning Ground Beef in the Ninja Foodi
Follow these tips for the best possible results:
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Don’t overcrowd the pot. Cook ground beef in batches if needed.
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Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat so it browns evenly.
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Add seasonings after browning so they don’t burn.
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For a smoky flavor, add a dash of smoked paprika when browning.
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For rich flavor, use ghee or butter instead of oil to brown the beef.
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Deglaze the pot after browning to get all that flavorful fond.
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Pressure cook on high just long enough to cook through, 5-8 minutes usually.
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For crispy beef crumbles, finish in the air fryer basket briefly.
Helpful Substitutions
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Ground turkey can be used instead of ground beef for a leaner option. Follow the same steps.
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For a vegetarian version, substitute crumbled extra firm tofu or mushrooms instead of ground beef.
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For a Mexican twist, use ground pork or turkey seasoned with chili powder, cumin, etc.
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Instead of ground beef, use sausage meat removed from casings.
Delicious Ground Beef Recipes for the Ninja Foodi
Browned ground beef is the start of so many amazing recipes. Here are a few must-try options:
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Cheeseburger Casserole – A comfort food classic.
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Sausage Ragu Pasta – Rich, meaty, and flavorful.
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Beef and Broccoli – A takeout fakeout.
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Meatballs – To enjoy as an appetizer or entree.
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Bibimbap – A Korean rice bowl with veggies.
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Shepherd’s Pie – Cozy and hearty.
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Beef Enchiladas – Cheesy, saucy perfection.
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Soft Beef Tacos – Top with all your favorites.
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Beef Chili – Protein-packed comfort food.
The possibilities are infinite when cooking with ground beef in the Ninja Foodi. Try out new favorite recipes and enjoy the speed, convenience, and delicious results.
Frequency of Entities in Content:
Ninja Foodi: 13
ground beef: 20
brown: 5
air fry: 4
pressure cook: 3
Ground Beef Air Fryer Recipe
We buy half a cow every year. With that said we make a lot of easy ground beef recipes year round. You too can buy meat in bulk online. It saves money and trips to the store, I love it. With all the different cuts we get, we cook this the most often by far. There are so many recipes for it we love.
At least once a week, I make this. Sometimes I add taco seasoning and use it in our tasty Instant Pot spaghetti recipe. What I love about it is that the fat and grease drain away on their own, and it browns quickly and well. You could use this same technique with ground turkey, chicken or even ground sausage.
If you love easy air fryer recipes too, here are some resources to start with:
- Here is a free air fryer cooking time chart that you can print out and put on your fridge. It has temp. and when to make the best frozen foods for an air fryer
- Then like our Facebook page below to share your thoughts and get more great ideas.
Ground Beef Air Fryer
Here are a few questions you may have before you get going;
Yes, it’s that simple. It only takes 5 minutes, and the fat just drips off the meat. NO more sizzling in a pan inside the grease. This is a great way to keep your hamburger meat very lean. You can use your Ninja Foodi machine to do this too.
Yes, this is how to cook frozen hamburgers in an air fryer. I would not suggest cooking an entire pound of ground beef in it though. The outside will get way more overdone by the time the middle defrosted.
You can easily air fry hamburgers until they’re soft and tasty if the meat has been defrosted and shaped into patties. 8 minutes at 375 degrees F.
That depends on a lot of factors, the main one being the fat content in it. What’s best for you is something that has very little fat and is cooked so that the fat drains off the meat.
First you’re going to break up the meat. You don’t want it to overlap if possible so each piece gets done at the same time. It doesn’t have to be super teeny tiny, you can see here how I did mine.
This air fryer beef recipe is quick and easy to make this perfectly. A spoon or spatula to break up the meat and diced onions, if you want to add them, are all you need.
To make taco meat, I put the taco seasoning and some water or broth in a bowl and mixed them together. Alternatively you can just season with salt and pepper.
When I cook in my Cosori or large air fryer, I like to use wooden tools. It depends on how many people I’m cooking for.
How to Brown Ground Beef
FAQ
How to brown meat in Ninja Foodi?
How do you sear beef in Ninja Foodi?