When you are in need of a simple dinner in a hurry, this straight-from-the-freezer burger recipe is all you’ll need to save the day! Cooking frozen burgers in the oven is a great way to get your family to the table and serve up a filling (and tasty!) dinner.
With a family and a full-time job, there are really days when you don’t have enough energy and time to cook anything! When this happens, a handful of frozen hamburgers can be a cost-effective, time-saver. You get a delicious, healthy meal on the table with minimal effort.
So, if you are looking for an easy, healthy meal that your family will enjoy, it’s time to learn how to cook frozen hamburger patties in the oven.
Ingredients
Believe it or not, this delicious hamburger recipe only requires four ingredients. That’s right, just four! What’s even better is that it’s a quick and easy option for any busy weeknight. To cook frozen burger patties in the oven, all you need are frozen burgers (of course!), seasoning, cheese, and some buns.
Frozen Beef Patties
The meat is the most important part of making a good burger. Frozen Angus beef burgers are the most famous for their hamburger patties. This is because these patties are renowned for their high level of marbling. The more marbling there is, the juicier, tenderer, and more flavorsome the beef.
Another trick to finding a great frozen patty is to not make it too thick, but also not too thin. For the perfect patty, use ground beef that’s ⅓ to ¼ pounds.
Cheese
A good way to pump up the flavor and yumminess of burgers is to add cheese. Of course, you can use whatever cheese you want (Swiss, Blue, Gouda, etc).
But one of the most popular cheeseburger toppings is American cheese. It melts easily with a creamy, salty flavor and a medium-firm consistency.
Seasoning
Your burger deserves some spices—a pinch of salt and pepper will do the trick. But feel free to experiment with different flavor combinations, such as garlic and onion seasoning or cayenne and paprika.
To give you a guide, these seasonings—parsley, basil, thyme, oregano, marjoram, garlic, and chili flakes or powder—are good compliments to beef burgers.
Buns
Brioche makes a fine burger bun; some say even the best! Brioche buns offer more flavor than other buns because they have a higher egg and butter content. But if you’re looking for something a little more creative, you have plenty of options. For a tangy mustard taste with your burger, try pretzel buns.
Meanwhile, sesame buns have a subtle earthy taste and a mild nutty flavor. They complement juicy hamburger meat. If you prefer eating a healthier diet, whole wheat or gluten-free burger bun is a great choice for you.
Instructions
This recipe cooks in less than 30 minutes. To make things even easier, you’ll have super simple instructions on how to cook a frozen burger in the oven. Even new cooks will conquer this with ease!
Prepare a baking sheet or pan and oven.
Preheat the oven to 425 Fahrenheit degrees (218 Celsius). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush lightly with cooking oil.
Season your patties.
Remove patties from plastic packaging. Sprinkle them with salt, pepper, and other spices of your choice. Place 6 frozen burgers on the lined baking sheet. To avoid crowding, and to allow for even cooking, leave about 1/4″ (1 cm) between the patties.
Cook the frozen burger patties in the oven.
Place the baking sheet with patties in the middle of the oven. Bake in a preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time at around 15 minutes. Cook an additional 5 to 10 minutes according to doneness.
Add cheese and toast the buns.
Top each burger with cheese, if desired, then place under the broiler until cheese is melted. If you want to toast the buns, place them on a lower oven rack while melting the cheese.
Assemble your burger and serve.
When the burgers are done, assemble them together. Serve them at the table with your favorite toppings and condiments.
Tips
- Check the burger patties if they are still good. Before cooking your frozen burger patties in the oven, examine if they are still good for consumption. Freezer burnt beef has dry spots on it that look grayish or brown which are caused by air coming in contact with the surface of the meat. While the meat is still safe to eat, it will be dry and flavorless after cooking.
- Make it a keto burger. Take a juicy burger, wrap it in lettuce, and you’ve got yourself a delicious low-carb keto burger. Adding lettuce to a burger instead of a bun can save you calories, but never at the expense of flavor.
- Explore other burger patties aside from beef. If you have another type of frozen patty on hand, this recipe works well with those too! Try turkey burgers, veggie burgers, or plant-based meat alternatives like Beyond Meat.
- Use a baking rack instead of a baking sheet or pan. A baking rack can be used if you prefer that the grease drain down away from the burger. To use, lightly coat a baking rack with nonstick spray.
- Got an air fryer? Use it. Air fryers are also great for cooking frozen hamburgers! You may be limited to one or two patties at a time, depending on the size of your basket. After you set the air fryer to 375°F, bake for around 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Store leftovers for future use. Hamburgers should be wrapped in tinfoil and stored in an airtight container–placing them in the refrigerator will keep them fresh for up to three days. It’s not recommended to refreeze previously frozen hamburgers.
Serving suggestions
To make the perfect burger, serve it up with a side that complements its juicy flavor, and you’ve got yourself a meal worth savoring over.
Topping burgers with your favorite fixings is a great way to ensure you’re satisfied with your meal. Traditional fixings include lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and pickles. Try adding avocado, bacon or jalapeno peppers for extra flavor.
You can also serve them with potato fries but instead of potato, use a low-carb keto potato substitute. Other great ideas include crunchy onion rings, some creamy coleslaw, or fresh salads. You can also pair burgers with veggies like a low-carb green bean casserole.
FAQs
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about cooking frozen burgers in the oven. If you don’t see your question answered below, don’t be afraid to let us know in the comments!
Yes! Simply, prepare the oven. Place as many frozen burgers on top without overlapping. Season the burgers with spices. Bake on the middle oven rack for about 25 minutes (timing will vary with thickness and how well done you want them). Open the oven and flip each one over so they are on the other side. Assemble and enjoy!
Cooking time will vary by burger thickness, oven temperature, and desired cooking level. It generally takes about 20 to 25 minutes for well-done burgers. The recipe above suggests cooking frozen burgers in the oven for 25 minutes at 425°F (218°C – flipping halfway through).
A higher temp is recommended but you can cook them at 350°F for about 30 to 35 minutes or until doneness is reached. Use a meat thermometer to see if the burgers are thoroughly cooked. They must be cooked to 160°F (71°C) or more.
When cooking in the oven, preheat it to 230°C before putting the burger inside. For air fryers, flip them occasionally as they won’t get burned and make sure there’s space between the patties so they can cook properly.
Another way to cook frozen hamburgers is to put them in a flat pan and heat it on medium-high for about five minutes before placing the patties on the heated surface. When using a grill, make sure you have the temperature set to about 325 degrees. Flip them every 3-5 minutes to cook them through.
Frozen ground-beef patties, since they are made of meat like beef, pork, and lamb, do not last as long as other foods. Raw beef burgers kept frozen at 0 degrees or lower can be eaten up to 4 months after the day they were originally frozen.
Mark the date on the container so you’ll know how long it’s been frozen. If you notice dry spots or discoloration on the frozen raw beef burgers, freezer burn has begun to set in. The burger patties will not become unsafe to eat, but they will not taste good.
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Cooking Frozen Patties In Oven
Ingredients
- 6 patties frozen hamburgers 1/3 to 1/4 pounds each
- 6 slices American cheese
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 dash pepper
- cooking oil optional
- additional seasonings optional
- ketchup optional
- buns optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 Fahrenheit degrees (218 Celsius). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush lightly with cooking oil if desired.
- Sprinkle patties with salt, pepper, and other spices of your choice. Place 6 frozen burgers on the lined baking sheet. To avoid crowding, and to allow for even cooking, leave about 1/4" (1 cm) between the patties.
- Place the baking sheet with patties in the middle of the oven. Bake in a preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time at around 15 minutes. Cook an additional 5 to 10 minutes according to doneness.
- Top each burger with cheese, if desired, then place under the broiler until cheese is melted. If you want to toast the buns, place them on a lower oven rack while melting the cheese.
- When the burgers are done, assemble them together. Serve them at the table with your favorite toppings and condiments.