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Thick, juicy, and so delicious, this is the best frozen burger recipe you’ll ever make! Perfectly seasoned with simple ingredients like garlic, onion powder, egg, breadcrumbs and Worcestershire sauce, these frozen burger patties are made with lean beef for a healthy meal prep recipe that couldn’t be easier to make. Whether you cook your patties on the grill or in a skillet, they’re ready in 20 minutes and are totally mouthwatering every time! {Gluten-free-friendly}
Frozen Burger RecipeLike it? Save for later!
Frozen Burger Patties – Thick & Juicy!
Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or looking for an easy meal for the family, you can never go wrong with a juicy burger on the grill! However, when the hunger strikes, sometimes it can be difficult to have the patience to form the patties and wait for them to cook.
Luckily, this make-ahead frozen burger recipe saves the day! You might notice that the ingredients list contains a little more than just lean beef. However, don’t let this turn you off.
The combination of ground beef, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs makes for the juiciest, most flavourful frozen burger patties you’ll ever taste. You’ll swear they came from a gourmet restaurant, but they don’t cost a fortune to eat!
We love to have a batch on hand at all times. They’re a lifesaver when it comes to last-minute dinners on a busy weeknight, impromptu barbecues, and everything in between.
Serve them up on a bun and load them up with all the works for a crowd-pleasing main course that’s guaranteed to be the star of the show.
For more juicy and delicious burgers, check out theseChicken Parmesan BurgersandZucchini Turkey Burgers!
Why We Love This Frozen Burger Recipe
- Lean: Unlike the burger patties you’ll get from fast food restaurants that are made with cheap beef, these burgers come together with a lean cut that provides all the flavour and half the fat.
- Quick: Combine the ingredients for this burger patty recipe in a matter of minutes. Then, when you’re ready to put them on the grill or BBQ, you don’t even have to wait for them to thaw first! They’ll be sizzling hot and dripping with flavour in just 20 minutes.
- Protein-Packed: More than your average frozen burgers, these ground beef patties are loaded with extra protein thanks to the addition of eggs and milk for a super filling and satiating meal.
Ingredient Notes
Key Ingredients for Juicy Burgers
- Beef: For a lower fat option, use lean ground beef. You can also sub in ground chuck if you can find it at the grocery store.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: These are the secret to helping this burger patty recipe keep its shape. If you need a gluten-free option, swap them out for your favourite gluten-free bread crumbs instead.
- Egg: Crucial to binding the ingredients and locking in a little extra moisture.
- Worcestershire Sauce: The umami flavours of this savoury ingredient take the average frozen burger patty from good to great.
- Milk: This locks in moisture to keep the burgers extra juicy while adding a bit of protein.
How to Season Frozen Burgers
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper provide an extra boost of flavour. Be sure to mix your seasonings evenly into the beef mixture before forming the patties.
- Mustard: Spread a thin layer of mustard over your frozen burger patties just before cooking to keep them moist and create a tangy crust.
- Olive Oil: For best results, when you’re ready to put your frozen burgers on the grill, brush it with olive oil to prevent the patties from sticking and losing flavour.
How to Cook Frozen Burgers
If you’re looking for the best way to cook frozen burgers, my preferred method is cooking them up on the grill but you can also use the stove, oven, air-fryer or George foreman grill too.
Further down in the post, we’ll be covering how to grill frozen burgers, but if you want to use the other cooking methods, you can also use the following instructions:
Stove Top: Cook in a skillet over medium heat for 20 minutes or until no longer pink, flipping occasionally.
To Bake in the Oven: Preheat the oven to 425º Fahrenheit. Place the patties on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Air fryer burgers: Preheat the air fryer to 370º Fahrenheit. Place the patties in the air fryer basket, making sure they are spaced out evenly. Cook for 10-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
On George Foreman Grill: Place your frozen burger patties on the grill, and cook for 13-25 minutes depending on their thickness. You’ll know they’re done when they reach an internal temperature of 160º Fahrenheit.
Supplies Required for Grilling
- Charcoal (if using charcoal grill)
- Brush
- Spatula
- Meat thermometer
Step by Step Instructions
How to Make Burger Patty Recipe
- Add the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
- Mix by hand until the ingredients are well distributed, but stop once the mixture looks even to prevent over mixing.
- Press down the mixture into an even disc. Use a knife to divide it into 8 even sections. Or, measure into 1/4 pound patties using a kitchen scale if you prefer.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil. Using your hands, firmly shape each portion of the beef mixture into a patty. Be sure to shape them larger than the buns you plan to use because they’ll shrink as they cook.
- Place the patties on a cookie sheet. Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to press a dent in the centre of each patty so they don’t puff up as they cook.
- Freeze the patties on the baking sheet until they’re frozen solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag where they’ll keep for up to 3 months.
Cooking Frozen Burgers on Grill
- Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat (approximately 350-400º Fahrenheit). Brush the grate with oil to prevent the patties from sticking.
- Place the patties on the grill, and brush them with 1 1/2 teaspoons of mustard on the uncooked side.
- Grill the frozen burger patties over direct heat for 15-20 minutes, flipping 2-3 times (about every 3-5 minutes) until they are cooked through or have reached an internal temperature of 160° Fahrenheit.
- If using cheese, add it to the patties during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Allow the burgers to rest for 5 minutes, place the hot patties on your favourite buns, and dig in!
Keep scrolling for the full printable burger patty recipe!
Tips for the Best Frozen Burgers
- If you need to stack the patties when freezing them solid, separate them with a sheet of parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
- For uniform burgers: If you want your frozen burger patties to be really uniform in size, you can also use a burger mold or lid to form the beef patties. This helps ensure that they cook more evenly.
- To prevent the burger patties from sticking to the grill: You’ll want to preheat it for at least 10 minutes or until it reaches 350 degrees F and brush some oil along the grill grates, making it easier to flip them.
- If your patties end up in a flare up: Move them to a different area to prevent them from getting scorched since this can impact the taste of the burger. Move the burgers around the grill periodically as they are cooking to help prevent flare ups and hot spots that can impact how the burgers cook.
- Check your burgers with a meat thermometer to make sure they’re cooked thoroughly before serving. It’s best to remove the burger patty from the grill temporarily to test the temperature as doing it on the grill can result in an inaccurate temperature reading.
- Cook to safe temperature: Once they reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees, you can remove the patties from the grill and get them ready to be served.
- Be sure not to overcook the burgers. It can be easy to do when cooking a frozen patty. As long as moisture/juices are still being released from the burger, it’s most likely not overcooked. If you notice the patty goes dull or doesn’t seem to be releasing juices, it’s recommended that you remove the patty from the grill and check it before it winds up dry and overcooked.
Storage Guidelines
Freeze the patties in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring them to an airtight container or large resealable bag.
To prevent your frozen burger patties from sticking together, separate them with a piece of parchment paper. Once frozen, they can be stored for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
Can you cook burgers from frozen?
Yes! The best thing about this frozen hamburger patty recipe is that once they’re made, all the waiting is done. Just pull out a few patties whenever you’re ready to eat, and toss them on the grill.
What temperature do you grill frozen burgers?
You’ll want to grill your frozen patties over medium-high heat. The temperature of the grill should be somewhere between 350 and 400º Fahrenheit.
How long to grill frozen burgers?
On average, you’ll want to keep your frozen burgers on the grill between 15 and 20 minutes, flipping every few minutes. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your burgers and your grill.
Can frozen burgers be pink in the middle?
Frozen burgers are safe to eat once their internal temperature has reached 160º Fahrenheit. Typically, this means the centre is no longer pink.
How long do frozen burgers last?
Stored in an airtight container or sealable bag, this frozen burger recipe will last up to 3 months in the freezer. Beyond that point, they may start to get freezer burn, compromising the overall taste and texture of the burgers.
Serving Suggestions
Once cooked, load your burgers onto hamburger buns with all your favourite toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, slice of cheese, ketchup, mayo, mustard, and more! Then, pair them with some tasty sides for a complete meal.
Some of my top recipe picks include:
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Healthy Potato Salad Recipe
- Roasted Garlic Potatoes
- Broccoli Salad without Bacon
- Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Tossed Green Salad
- Kale Blueberry Salad
- Or a side of french fries, onion rings, or potato chips for more classic sides!
Recipe Variations
- Lower sodium: If you prefer, you can leave out the salt and pepper when preparing the patties and simply season both sides of each patty once they have started to thaw/cook on the grill. Don’t season when the burgers are still frozen, otherwise the seasoning won’t stick. You can also leave the salt out altogether if desired.
- Use a different meat: Try ground sirloin, ground chicken or ground turkey instead of ground beef.
- To make gluten-free: Use gluten-free Panko bread crumbs.
More Healthy Burger Recipes
- Worcestershire Sauce Burgers
- Spicy Vegan Black Bean Burgers
- Chicken Feta Burgers
- Burger Salad Bowl
- Chicken Burger with Avocado
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Course dinner, lunch
Best Frozen Burger Patty Recipe {+ Grilling Instructions}
By: Elysia
Servings 8 burgers
Thick, juicy, and so delicious, this is the best frozen burger recipe you'll ever make! Perfectly seasoned with simple ingredients like garlic, onion powder, egg, breadcrumbs and Worcestershire sauce, these frozen burger patties are made with lean beef for a healthy meal prep recipe that couldn't be easier to make. Whether you cook your patties on grill or in a skillet, they're ready in 20 minutes and are totally mouthwatering every time! {Gluten-free-friendly}
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Ingredients
For the burger patty recipe
- 2 pounds lean ground beef or ground chuck
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
For grilling
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
Instructions
Add the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Mix by hand until the ingredients are evenly distributed, but stop once the mixture looks even to avoid over mixing.
Press the meat down in the bowl to form an even disk-like shape. Use a knife to divide the hamburger mixture into 8 – 1/4 pound patties. You can also use a kitchen scale if preferred.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Using your hands, gather the burger mixture one at a time and press firmly into evenly shaped patties. Be sure to shape them just slightly larger than the buns you plan to use since they will shrink slightly during cooking.
Place the patties on the baking sheet. Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to press a dent in the centre of each patty so they don't puff up as they cook.
Freeze patties in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid and then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. They will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to cook frozen burgers:
Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat (approximately 350-400 degrees F). Brush with a little oil to prevent sticking. Remove the hamburger patties from the freezer.
Place the burgers on the oiled grill and spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard on the uncooked side of each patty.
Grill the frozen patties for about 15-20 minutes, flipping 2-3 times (about every 5 minutes), or until cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F. If you’re adding cheese slices, add them during the last few minutes.
Allow the burgers to rest for about 5 minutes. Place the hot patties on hamburgers buns, and top with desired toppings. Serve warm.
Notes
- If you need to stack the patties when freezing them solid, separate them with a sheet of parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
- For uniform burgers: If you want your frozen burger patties to be really uniform in size, you can also use a burger mold or lid to form the beef patties. This helps ensure that they cook more evenly.
- To prevent the burger patties from sticking to the grill: You’ll want to preheat it for at least 10 minutes or until it reaches 350 degrees F and brush some oil along the grill grates, making it easier to flip them.
- If your patties end up in a flare up: Move them to a different area to prevent them from getting scorched since this can impact the taste of the burger. Move the burgers around the grill periodically as they are cooking to help prevent flare ups and hot spots that can impact how the burgers cook.
- Check your burgers with a meat thermometer to make sure they’re cooked thoroughly before serving. It’s best to remove the burger patty from the grill temporarily to test the temperature as doing it on the grill can result in an inaccurate temperature reading.
- Cook to safe temperature: Once they reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees, you can remove the patties from the grill and get them ready to be served.
- Be sure not to overcook the burgers. It can be easy to do when cooking a frozen patty. As long as moisture/juices are still being released from the burger, it’s most likely not overcooked. If you notice the patty goes dull or doesn’t seem to be releasing juices, it’s recommended that you remove the patty from the grill and check it before it winds up dry and overcooked
Nutrition
Calories: 181kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 26gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 430mgPotassium: 447mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 45IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 3mg
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