How to Grill Frozen Burgers: From Frozen Patties to Flame Grilled in Under 30 Minutes

Did you know that you can make a frozen burger taste great? They’re also a huge time saver and a convenient dinner when life gets too busy to make them from scratch. 

Growing up, we used to make these all the time, and I still love them today.

If you follow my method, no one will be able to tell you used frozen burgers.

Pair them with your favorite toppings and you have an easy and tasty dinner that the whole family will love. 

What brand of frozen burgers should I buy? 

The exact burger you use doesn’t really matter. Bubba Burger, Kirkland Signature, and Trader Joe’s all have good options.

You could always grind your own patties and freeze them for later.

For this recipe, I chose to use Bubba Burgers. They are readily available and made from 100% beef chuck and contain no fillers or artificial ingredients. 

But why are Bubba burgers shaped so weirdly? Here’s what they had to say on their website:

“These indentations help to distribute heat evenly, help juices flow, and ultimately result in a more delicious burger for you!” 

I can’t argue with that!

Do I need to thaw frozen burgers?

You don’t need to thaw frozen burgers. In fact, on the packaging, it tells you not to.

From personal experience, frozen burgers stay together much better if they are placed directly on the grill and not thawed.

If you thaw the burgers and then grill them, it can lead to a mess as they can fall apart. 

How do I season frozen burgers?

Don’t season the burgers when frozen and straight out of the package. The seasoning will not stick.

The best thing to do is get the burgers straight onto your grill and season after you flip the first time.

Once you flip, the side directly on the heat should be much softer and take in the seasoning. Then flip again after a few minutes and season the other side.  

Frozen vs. fresh

Frozen burgers can be just as delicious as fresh, and these were no exception. They are made from 100% beef chuck, and I thought they tasted great.

Advantages of frozen burgers:

• They are more convenient, as you can store them in the freezer until needed.
• They avoid waste, as fresh burgers need to be used before the meat goes bad.

Advantages of fresh burgers:

• Can get a better char.
• Can cook medium rare.
• You can smash them if you want to make smash burgers

The big one for me is convenience. The fact I can have burgers whenever I feel like it, and they still come out really good and and juicy when cooked properly.

How to grill frozen burgers

1. Pre-heat the grill

I used my Weber Genesis propane grill for this cook with the burners set to medium-high.

After about 15 minutes, it’s always a good idea to make sure the grill grates are clean by scraping them with a grill brush.

Take the frozen burger and place them directly on the grates to cook for about 5 minutes before flipping.

2. Season the burger

After flipping the burgers go ahead and season them.

I used Smoke Kitchen Beef Rub, but you can use whatever rub you have on hand, or simply go with salt and pepper.

After a few minutes, flip again and season the other side.

Don’t be afraid to flip your burgers a few times to ensure even cooking but don’t over-flip, or they can fall apart.

Continue to cook the burger until the internal temp reaches 160°F.

3. Add the cheese

If you are adding cheese, turn the heat down to low on your grill and then go ahead and add the cheese to your burger.

I used American cheese because I love it on burgers, and it melts really well. 

4. Toast the buns

While the cheese is melting, you want to toast your buns.

Just place them on your grates for a few minutes and let them get nice and toasted. 

5. Assemble the burger

Assemble the burger with whatever toppings you like. It’s your burger, your rules.

I kept it simple and added a little mayo to the buns, some shredded lettuce, a slice of tomato, and the cheeseburger. My kids loaded theirs with ketchup. 

Wrapping up

Frozen burgers offer a convenient and cost-effective option for those who love the taste of grilled burgers but don’t have the time or energy to make them from scratch.

This recipe shows that you can grill frozen burgers at home, and they can be just as delicious and satisfying as fresh ones.  

Whatever brand or kind you choose, there’s a frozen burger out there for everyone.

Try these recipes if you’ve got time for fresh burgers

• Grilled bison burgers
• Reverse seared smoked hamburger
• Big Mac copycat smash burger
• Mediterranean lamb burgers