Cooking burgers straight from the freezer is an easy way to get dinner on the table without waiting for the patties to thaw. If you have a package of frozen burgers on hand, you can bake them in the oven for a simple meal with very little prep or cleanup.
This method is especially useful when you're short on time or forgot to thaw the burgers ahead of time. I'll show you how to cook frozen burgers in the oven, how long they take, how to get better browning, and how to tell when they're done. Whether you're cooking frozen hamburger patties for a quick weeknight dinner or simply looking for an easy way to use what you have in the freezer, this method keeps it simple.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Cook burgers straight from frozen. You forgot to thaw the burgers? No problem! There’s no need to thaw the burger patties ahead of time, making this a convenient option for a last-minute dinner.
- Simple oven method. Cooking frozen burgers in the oven requires minimal prep and doesn't require standing over a skillet or grill. Perfect for why my baby wants to be held 24/7 and I just don't have the time or ability to babysit the burger patties.
- Easy to cook for a crowd. The oven gives you a simple way to cook several frozen burger patties at once, depending on the size of your baking sheet. I usually can fit at least 6 onto a sheet pan (more if they're smaller patties).
- Easy to customize. Once the burgers are cooked, add your favorite cheese and toppings to make them your own.
How Long Do Frozen Burgers Take in the Oven?
Frozen burgers typically take 20–25 minutes at 425°F, but the exact cooking time depends on the size and thickness of the patties. I really like using store-bought frozen burger patties for this method as they are all very uniform in size and thickness, compared to homemade.
Because frozen burger patties can vary in thickness and size between brands (or just in general if homemade), use the cooking time as a guideline rather than the only way to determine when they're done.
The most reliable way to check is with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the burger!
Ingredients You'll Need
frozen burger patties — you can make your own burger patties and freeze them for when you need a quick meal or buy them frozen! I usually buy them as I stock up when frozen burgers go on sale.
oil — just a bit of olive oil to get the seasoning to stick. You can also use any neutral oil of your choice.
seasoning — I season the burgers with some salt and pepper. I like that it adds a little extra flavor to the store-bought burgers.
cheese — I love cheese, so it's a must for these burgers.
toppings — I serve the burgers up with some lettuce, tomatoes, and red onions with burger buns, but you can go with your family's favorites. I also offer up some of my homemade burger sauce and ketchup.
How To Cook Frozen Burgers in the Oven
- Place the frozen burger patties on a wire rack over a lined sheet pan.
- Brush the patties on both sides with oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Bake the frozen patties in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping at the halfway mark with a large spatula if you want to add more seasoning.
- Place a slice of cheese on top of each patty, if desired, and bake for an extra minute to melt the cheese.
- If desired, you can also toast the burger buns in the oven on another sheet pan for a minute or two.
- Serve with your desired toppings. I always start with burger sauce on my buns!
Why Use a Wire Rack?
A wire rack allows hot air to circulate around the burgers while they cook. It also keeps the patties from sitting directly in the fat that renders out during cooking.
For the best results, place the wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet and leave some space between the frozen burger patties. This helps the burgers cook more evenly and prevents them from steaming in their own juices.
If you choose the skip the wire rack, you will have to check on the burgers earlier as the grease that renders off the burgers will increase the speed of the burgers being cooked through! Start checking their internal temperature around 15 to 18 minutes.
Recipes Variations
- You don't have to stick with salt and pepper! You can use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, and more as some seasoning options! Make sure you sprinkle them over the burgers evenly since you can't mix it into the meat directly.
Tips for Juicy Burgers & How Do You Know Frozen Burgers Are Done?
- Bake the burgers straight from the freezer. Don't thaw them beforehand, as they can dry out. The steam you get from baking the burgers when they're frozen will help keep the patties moist and juicy. If you accidentally overcook the burgers and they become dry, I would suggest adding more cheese or sauce to the burgers to try to hide it.
- Avoid over-baking the frozen burgers in the oven. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C). Due to the varying thickness of burgers available, I highly recommend using a meat thermometer, as it might take an extra minute or two to cook through the patties in the oven if you have thick burgers.
Tips and Notes
- Due to the wire rack, the hot air from the oven is able to circulate and cook the burgers evenly without flipping. However, I like to flip them and add a bit more salt and pepper to the other side so that they are evenly seasoned. This isn't as big of a concern if your burgers are already seasoned before freezing.
- Got an air fryer? Try my air fryer alternative for cooking frozen burger patties.
- Try serving with my delicious burger sauce!
- If you have leftovers, you can store the cooked patties in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Got some bacon? You can bake them in the oven alongside the patties! Check out my guide here on how to bake bacon in the oven.
Recipe
How to Cook Frozen Burgers in the Oven
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 frozen burger patties
- 2 tablespoons oil, or more
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 4 burger buns
- toppings of your choice
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F.
- Place the frozen burger patties on a wire rack over a lined sheet pan.
- Brush the patties on both sides with oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Bake the frozen patties in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping at the halfway mark with a large spatula if you want to add more seasoning.
- Place a slice of cheese on top of each patty, if desired, and bake for an extra minute to melt the cheese.
- If desired, you can also toast the burger buns in the oven on another sheet pan for a minute or two.
- Serve with your desired toppings.
Nutrition
More Recipes You May Like
- Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Aloha Burger
- Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Burger
- Whole Baked Chicken Wings
More places to find me: @onepotonlyrecipes on Instagram and One Pot Only on Pinterest.
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