In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, minced garlic, low-sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, Kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix until just combined; be careful not to overwork the meat.
Divide the beef mixture into four equal portions and shape each portion into a patty. Make a slight indentation in the center of each patty to help them cook evenly and prevent puffing up during cooking.
Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (182°C) for about 5 minutes. Preheating ensures that the burgers start cooking at the right temperature, giving you that perfect sear.
Carefully place the patties in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. The burgers are done when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
In the last minute of cooking, place a slice of American cheese on each patty. Close the air fryer to let the cheese melt, creating that gooey, delicious topping.
If you like your buns toasted, you can quickly place them in the air fryer for the last 2 minutes of the burger cooking time. This will give them a delightful crunch.
Spread Thousand Island dressing on the bottom half of each bun. Top with lettuce, a cheesy patty, sliced tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion. Finish with the top bun and serve with crispy French fries on the side.
