How to Grill Frozen Burgers

Knowing how to grill frozen burgers is key to being king of the grill! Turn frozen burgers into gourmet delicious bites with little effort. From bacon swiss burgers to a New Jersey classic, knowing how to grill frozen burgers will have all your guests coming back for seconds.

Seriously...Frozen Burgers?

Whether you are hosting a party for the big game, having a summer BBQ, tailgating, or just going for an easy dinner, frozen burgers can be the perfect solution. There are several times when frozen burger patties can get a bad rap. We might have experienced grease fire engulfed smoking hockey pucks that were once frozen beef patties. We might have had taken a bite of a burger where the inside was still a meat ice cube. Whatever some of your experiences might have been, these tips and instructions will help you turn out perfect burgers every time.

What do I need to grill frozen burgers?

Take inventory of what you have on hand. Grilling burgers shouldn't require another trip to the grocery store. Take a look at what you have and come up with some great flavor combinations. Here I have some leftover bacon(which is weird, I didn't think this was even possible), swiss cheese, pickle slices, ketchup, and lettuce. We also have taylor ham(pork roll to some of you) egg, and cheese. We also have two basic hamburger buns and of course, two frozen beef patties. These simple ingredients can make some awesome "gourmet" burgers.

How to Grill Frozen Burgers

Here is a brief summary. Read on for detailed steps.

• Preheat the grill
• Place the frozen hamburgers onto the grill grate
• After about 3 minutes flip them
• Season the burgers with spices or rubs
• After they cook for another 90 seconds add your toppings
• Add cheese slices and close grill lid for 45 seconds
• Toast Bun for 30 seconds on the grill grate
• Assemble the entire burger.
• Enjoy!

Note on cook time. Total cook time will be about 5 minutes for ⅓ lb frozen burger patties over high heat for medium-rare doneness. Always use an instant-read meat thermometer if you are worried about the final internal temperature for consumption.

Instructions for Grilling Frozen Hamburger Patties

Step One: Fire up the grill. Get the grill hot before you put the frozen patties on. If the grill is hot, you will get a nice sear on the burgers and they will tend to stay in tact better than if you put them on a cold grill and it slowly warms up. You are going to keep the grill on high heat the entire time you are cooking.

Step Two: With frozen burgers, you are watching the side of the burger to be able to tell when to flip it. These burgers tend to be thin, not like a thick juicy ribeye, so you can easily go from an internal temperature of frozen to overcooked. Watching the burgers doneness is key. You can see it on the side. Once, the cooked browness starts to come up from the bottom and up the side of the burger, you are ready to flip. Juices will also start to form on the top and drip down the sides. As you flip be careful to avoid any flare-up from the dripping grease juice.

Important note:  If you are using frozen turkey patties, I would use an instant-read meat thermometer to check that the final internal temperature is 165°F degrees. For frozen ground beef patties, you can use 140°F for medium or higher if you want well done.

Step Three: At this point, you can season the hamburger patty. Hit it with some salt and pepper or you can use your favorite BBQ rub for added flavor. Adding it to the cooked greasy side absorbs more of the flavor than if you try to get it to adhere to the frozen burger. If you don't have a lot to add, try using garlic powder, or onion powder for a delicious taste to the burger.

Get your burger toppings ready

I decided to go with an NJ classic. Taylor ham, egg, and cheese make the perfect burger topping. Some in NJ will argue with me that it is pork roll, egg, and cheese. Either way, it is delicious. If you want to eat a hot meal, you have to get these toppings ready as the burger cooks. Another classic burger flavor is a bacon cheeseburger. I love swiss on my burger so that is what we did here. go for what topping you think will have the best taste. Get creative and have fun. Whatever topping you choose, have them ready to add when the burger is done.

Step Four: Build the burger! After flipping the burger, the other side will only take 90 seconds to cook. After 90 seconds, build the burger. Add your toppings, adding your cheese last. Why add the cheese last? The cheese is the glue that will hold the other topping in place. Whenever I am adding sauteed mushrooms or onions, the cheese is the key ingredient to keep them all in place. Once you put the cheese on, close the grill lid for 30 to 45 seconds so that the cheese melts well. If you leave it on too long, the cheese will melt and slide completely off your burger and make a mess of your grill.

What is the best grill for cooking frozen burgers?

You can use any grill that will get hot. If you are using a gas grill, just turn it on high heat, and you are set. If you are cooking over charcoal, make sure the coals are nice white-hot. You will have to closely monitor any direct heat grill because excess grease can easily create flare-ups and ruin your burger. If you find that may be a risk, place the charcoal on one side of the grill and cook the burger on the other side. Or if you have a hot spot on a certain burner, maybe avoid that one. The air in the grill will be plenty hot to cook the burger well. If you are using a Traeger grill or pellet grill, set it to 450°F to grill these frozen burgers.

Important Safety Note: It is important to regularly clean your grill and clean out the grease trap. Certain grilled foods have a tendency to create a grease more than others. Ground beef is one of them. It is important to make sure your grill is cleaned before you turn it on and I recommend cleaning it after it cools off, after cooking beef burgers. 

Step Five: Finish the burger and put it on the toasted bun. Toast the hamburger bun on the grill for about 30 seconds. If you are adding lettuce, make sure it is dry and place it on the bottom bun. This lettuce helps to create a moisture barrier and keep that bottom bun from getting over wet and falling apart. Place the burger onto the bun and marvel at your creation for a brief moment, then dive in and enjoy.

Can you grill frozen burgers? Do I need to thaw frozen burgers before grilling them?

One beautiful thing about frozen burgers is that you can put them right on the grill. They are typically individually frozen with small wax sheets between burgers that make it simple to only pull out of the freezer what you need to cook today. They will go right from the freezer to a hot grill. There is no need to thaw them. In fact, it is much easier if you do not thaw them.

Some of our favorite toppings When Grilling Frozen Burgers

• Lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles
• Bacon, mushroom, and swiss
• Onion rings, BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheddar
• Taylor ham, egg, and cheese
• Bacon and swiss