• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

In the Kitch

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Mother's Day
  • Recipe Index
  • Guides
  • Tutorials
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Mother's Day
    • Recipe Index
    • Guides
    • Tutorials
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    In the Kitch » Recipes » Grilling & BBQ

    Updated: Apr 6, 2024 · Published: Jul 21, 2021 by Joss Dyckson · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    How to Grill Frozen Burgers

    Jump to Recipe
    Grilled burgers on cast iron dish with text overlay that says 'how to grill burgers from frozen'.
    Burger patty on the grill with text overlay that says 'how to grill frozen burgers'.

    Check out how to grill frozen burgers without thawing them first and still have that same juicy, flavorful patty in a short time!

    Cooked burger patties on a cast iron pan, on wooden table.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Technique
    • How Long Does it Take To Grill Frozen Burgers?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Tips
    • Frozen Burger Grilling FAQs
    • More Amazing Grilling Recipes
    • 📋Recipe

    Why You Will Love This Technique

    • Easy and quick. Burgers on the grill have an amazing, savory taste with a subtle smoky flavor that is just what we crave for summer outings or social gatherings. But if you are in a pinch and you only have frozen burgers, you can grill them straight from frozen on gas or charcoal without adding a ton of extra cook time.
    • Delicious crust. I have found that grilling the frozen burgers vs. frying burgers in a skillet results in a more delicious, caramelized crust.
    • Convenient. Frozen burgers are convenient and great to have on hand when you are craving a last minute BBQ dinner.
    • Versatile. I like to use this method for not only beef burgers but all types like salmon, chicken, veggie, turkey, bison burgers, etc.
    • Can make them from scratch and freeze them. You can easily buy your favorite ground meat, mix in some spices, shape them into patties and freeze them yourself. To get a little more adventurous, you can go as far as grinding the meat yourself.

    How Long Does it Take To Grill Frozen Burgers?

    As for how long to grill frozen burgers, I usually do about 15 minutes while flipping them every five minutes. However, burger cooking times will vary, depending on your grill, burger thickness and how well done you like them.

    For this recipe, since you are cooking the beef burgers from frozen, you are going to want to cook them to an internal temperature of 160°F for food safety reasons. However, if you are cooking frozen seafood, chicken or turkey burgers, the recommended temperature is 165°F.

    Frozen Beef, Lamb & Pork Burgers = 160°F

    Frozen Seafood, Chicken and Turkey Burgers = 165°F

    Store-bought ground beef tends to contain a lot of bacteria from the work area. This is why some people choose to grind their own cuts of meat at home in order to enjoy a medium-rare burger.

    Ingredients

    Raw frozen burger patties on cast iron dish.
    • frozen burger patties - There is no need to thaw them first. We are grilling them straight from frozen.
    • hamburger buns - My favorite buns for hamburgers are brioche or sesame seed.
    • toppings and condiments - Pick your favorite. I love onions, lettuce and this burger sauce.

    Instructions

    Raw frozen burger patties in a package.

    Step 1. Preheat grill. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove burger patties from the freezer.

    Raw frozen burger patties in a package with paper separators.

    Step 2. Separate patties. Separate the burger patties and remove the papers.

    Burger patties on the grill.

    Step 3. Grill the burgers. Place the frozen patties on the grill and cook for about 15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes (or until the burgers are cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F).

    Burger patties on the charcoal grill.

    Step 4. Add cheese (optional). If you are adding cheese slices, add them during the last minute or two.

    Chef's Note: If they were not seasoned, you can season them with some salt and pepper once they start to thaw on the grill. This is completely optional.

    Cooked burger patties on a cast iron pan.

    Step 5. Remove the patties and serve. Remove the burgers from the grill and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Toast the buns lightly, if desired. It should take only 1 to 2 minutes. Add the patties to the hamburger buns with toppings and condiments of your choice. Serve!

    These grilled onions and grilled peppers go great with burgers!

    Tips

    • No need to smash. Fight the urge to smash them against the grid of the gas grill for a small fire show. They will lose their round shape, the juices will spill out, and the juices may get into the heat and catch your burgers on fire.
    • Flare ups. Keep an eye on the burgers for flare ups. If they are flaring up too much, move them so they aren't over direct flame and/or close the lid.
    • Hot spots. Be aware that some parts of the grill are hotter than others, so move the burgers around depending on their doneness.
    • First flip. Flip the patty for the first time when you start to see the juices bubble up to the surface.
    • Lid open or closed. If it's a windy day or the grill doesn't seem to be cooking the burgers fast enough, you can close the lid to retain more heat but keep an eye on them. This works well especially if the burgers are on the thicker side (over ¾ inch). However, I find that my burgers cook just fine with the lid open.

    Frozen Burger Grilling FAQs

    How do you separate frozen burgers?

    If they don't separate easily by hand, I like to place the frozen burgers on a cutting board on their side and carefully wedge a butter knife in between the patties where there is a groove. Then I gently tap in a downward motion towards the cutting board. They should come apart quite easily and quickly this way.

    Do they need seasoning?

    You shouldn't have to season frozen burgers as they are typically already seasoned and good to go. If they aren't seasoned, however, you can sprinkle them with some salt and pepper after they have thawed for a few minutes or while they are cooking.
    Raw burger patties getting seasoned.

    What is the recommended grill temperature?

    When it comes to grilling them, I recommend keeping the grill temperature at medium-high or lower. If it is too high, it will cook the outside of the burger quicker but leave the inside raw.

    How long are frozen burgers good for?

    They can last up to 4 to 5 months in the freezer, depending on how well you package them. If you were to thaw them in the refrigerator, they should be cooked within 1 to 2 days. Cooked burgers will last up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge, covered.

    Grilled burgers stacked on cast iron dish.

    More Amazing Grilling Recipes

    • Grilled bread on outdoor grill with tongs.
      How to Grill Bread
    • Pizza on a grill.
      How to Grill Pizza
    • Grilled corn on wooden board.
      How to Grill Corn on the Cob
    • Grilled jalapeño poppers on black serving board.
      How to Grill Jalapeño Poppers

    If you tried this recipe technique for 🍔 how to grill frozen burgers or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!

    📋Recipe

    Grilled burgers on metal flipper, grill grates in the background.

    How to Grill Frozen Burgers

    Joss Dyckson
    Check out how to grill frozen burgers without thawing them first and still have that same juicy, flavorful patty in a short time.
    5 from 5 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, German
    Servings 4
    Calories 231 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 frozen hamburger patties
    • 4 hamburger buns
    • desired toppings
    • salt and pepper - optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove burger patties from the freezer.
      Raw burger patties in a package.
    • Separate the patties and remove the papers.
      Raw burger patties in a package with paper separators.
    • Place the frozen patties on the grill and cook for about 15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes (or until the burgers are cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F). If they were not seasoned, you can season them with some salt and pepper once they start to thaw on the grill. If you are adding cheese slices, add them during the last minute or two.
      Burger patties on the charcoal grill.
    • Remove the burgers from the grill and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Toast the buns lightly, if desired. It should take only 1 to 2 minutes. Add the patties to the hamburger buns with toppings and condiments of your choice. Serve!
      Cooked burger patties on a cast iron pan, on wooden table.

    Equipment

    • Outdoor grill

    Notes

    • Nutrition info. The nutrition information is for 1 standard burger patty, so keep in mind that this will vary.
    • Flare ups. Keep an eye on the burgers for flare ups. If they are flaring up too much, move them so they aren't over direct flame and/or close the lid.
    • Hot spots. Be aware that some parts of the grill are hotter than others, so move the burgers around depending on their doneness.
    • Lid closed or open. If it's a windy day or the grill doesn't seem to be cooking the burgers fast enough, you can close the lid to retain more heat but keep an eye on them. This works well especially if the burgers are on the thicker side (over ¾ inch). However, I find that my burgers cook just fine with the lid open.
    • Separating the burgers tip. If they don't separate easily by hand, I like to place the frozen burgers on a cutting board on their side and carefully wedge a butter knife in between the patties where there is a groove. Then I gently tap in a downward motion towards the cutting board. They should come apart quite easily and quickly this way.
    • Seasoning. You shouldn't have to season frozen burgers as they are typically already seasoned and good to go. If they aren't seasoned, however, you can sprinkle them with some salt and pepper after they have thawed for a few minutes or while they are cooking.
    • Storage. Frozen burger patties can last up to 4 to 5 months in the freezer, depending on how well you package them. If you were to thaw them in the refrigerator, they should be cooked within 1 to 2 days. Cooked burgers will last up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge, covered.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 231kcalProtein: 17gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 84mgPotassium: 304mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 2mg

    Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

    Want to see our recipes in action?Subscribe to our channel on Youtube!

    More Awesome Grilling & BBQ Recipes

    • White BBQ sauce dripping from spoon.
      White BBQ Sauce
    • Grilled PBJ sandwiches cut in half in serving dish.
      Grilled PBJ Sandwiches
    • Grilled pineapple juice in stemless wine glass with grilled pineapple wedge garnish.
      Grilled Pineapple Juice
    • Grilled bison ribeye steak sliced on cutting board with spices on the side.
      Grilled Bison Ribeye Steaks
    56 shares
    • Share47
    • Tweet
    • Email
    • Bluesky
    • Reddit

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. OrbitKitchen says

      December 01, 2023 at 10:02 am

      Great tips on maximizing the longevity of frozen burgers and ensuring a quick and delicious meal.

      Reply
    2. Jim says

      April 08, 2023 at 2:04 pm

      This is just what I was looking for. Turned out great. Thank you

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        April 09, 2023 at 8:20 am

        Thanks Jim!

        Reply
    3. Marlo says

      April 26, 2022 at 11:00 am

      Great ingredients checklist! Simple and easy to keep track of step by step. Delicious!

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        April 26, 2022 at 11:03 am

        Thanks Marlo!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Joss D author image.

    Hi, I'm Joss!

    I am the creator and editor of In the Kitch. I am inviting you on this food journey with me to learn, grow and bring out that inner chef in you. I hope to inspire you to get creative in your own kitchen!

    More about me →

    Mother's Day Recipes

    • Spring white wine sangria in wine glass.
      Spring White Wine Sangria

    • Strawberry shortcake ice cream in martini glasses with syrup pouring out of spoon.
      Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

    • Lemon basil pasta with chicken and Parmesan cheese on plate.
      Lemon Basil Pasta (with Chicken)

    • Roasted white asparagus with capers and fresh dill.
      Roasted White Asparagus

    • Strawberry liqueur in jar with fresh strawberries on the side.
      Strawberry Liqueur

    • Iced lemon mousse in small jars.
      Iced Lemon Mousse

    Popular

    • Peanut butter soup in a speckled bowl.
      Peanut Butter Soup

    • Cake pop frosting in bowl with spatula.
      Cake Pop Frosting & Coating

    • Cake mix cake pops in small pails with sprinkles on top.
      How to Make Cake Pops with Cake Mix

    • Hamburger scrambled eggs in cast iron pan.
      Hamburger Scrambled Eggs

    • Electric skillet fried chicken in a dish.
      Electric Skillet Fried Chicken

    • Electric skillet pot roast with vegetables on serving tray.
      Electric Skillet Pot Roast

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    In the Kitch

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Statement

    About

    • About
    • The Team

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 In the Kitch

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.