Grilling Frozen Burgers: Should You Do It?

Grilling frozen burgers isn’t the gold standard—but let’s be real, sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan. Maybe you forgot to thaw the beef, or maybe you just want a fast, satisfying meal without the prep. Whatever the reason, those frozen patties in your freezer can still deliver a delicious burger when handled right.

The good news? Grilling burgers straight from frozen is not only safe, it’s also pretty simple when you follow the right method. With a few smart techniques, you can go from freezer to flame and still end up with juicy, flavorful results.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to grill frozen burgers like a pro—whether you’re firing up a gas grill, charcoal, or even using a griddle. Let’s dive in.

A Quick Note On Thawing/Defrosting

While grilling frozen burgers is a convenient option, defrosting them beforehand can enhance flavor and reduce cooking time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approves cooking meat without thawing, but when time allows, defrosting is beneficial.

Partially thawed patties allow seasonings to adhere better, enhancing flavor. The USDA recommends three safe methods for defrosting beef:​

Refrigerator Thawing

This method requires planning but ensures safe, even thawing.​

• Timeframe: A pound of ground beef typically thaws within a day; larger quantities may take longer.​
• Procedure: Place the patties in the refrigerator, maintaining a temperature of 40°F or below.​
• Post-Thaw Storage: Once thawed, ground beef remains safe for 1 to 2 days before cooking. ​

Cold Water Thawing

Faster than refrigerator thawing but requires attention.​

• Preparation: Place patties in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent water absorption and potential bacterial contamination.​
• Procedure: Submerge the bag in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes to ensure it remains cold.
• Timeframe: Small packages may thaw in an hour or less; larger quantities will take longer.
• Immediate Cooking: Patties thawed using this method should be cooked immediately and not refrozen unless cooked first.

Microwave Thawing

This is definitely an option but can lead to uneven thawing.​

• Procedure: Use the microwave’s defrost setting, rotating and turning the patties to promote even thawing.
• Immediate Cooking: Cook the patties immediately after thawing, as some areas may begin to cook during microwaving.

Important Considerations

• Avoid Unsafe Thawing Methods: Never thaw meat on the counter, in hot water, or outdoors. These methods can leave food in the “Danger Zone” (40°F to 140°F), where bacteria multiply rapidly. 
• Refreezing: Meat thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, though quality may diminish. Meat thawed using cold water or microwave methods should be cooked before refreezing. ​

By following these USDA-recommended thawing methods, you can safely and effectively prepare your burger patties for grilling, leading to a more flavorful and enjoyable meal.

Grilling Frozen Burgers Without Thawing

The USDA also says that it’s 100% safe to grill beef from a frozen state.  As a rule of thumb, expect the cooking process to take about 50% longer than normal when grilling frozen burgers.  Here’s a step by step guide to grilling frozen burgers:

Prepare Your Burger Patties

Before your frozen patties ever hit the grill, proper prep can make or break the final result. While grilling straight from frozen is doable, it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to set yourself up for success.

Step 1: Remove from Packaging and Separate the Patties

Start by taking your frozen burger patties out of the packaging. If they’re individually wrapped or have paper dividers between them, gently peel those off. Many bulk packs of frozen patties are pressed together tightly, so this step can require a little patience.

If the patties are stuck together, resist the urge to force them apart while they’re rock solid. That’s a fast track to a cracked patty or worse, a bent spatula.

Instead, here’s what to do:

• Let them sit for 5-10 minutes at room temperature—just long enough to slightly soften the outer edges.
• Still stuck? Pop them into a leak-proof plastic bag and submerge them in cold water for a few minutes. This will gently loosen the patties without partially cooking them.
• Absolute rush? Microwave on your defrost setting for 30 seconds to 1 minute—just enough to get them to pull apart. But be careful not to overdo it, or you’ll end up with uneven texture when grilling.

Once they’re separated, lay the patties on a clean tray or plate, and you’re ready to season.

Step 2: Season with Intention

A common mistake when grilling frozen burgers is forgetting that seasoning doesn’t stick well to icy surfaces. The solution? Be strategic.

• Lightly season just one side of each patty to start—usually with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. This is the side that should go face down on the grill first.
• As the burger cooks and begins to warm and brown on the underside, the top side will thaw and soften. That’s your window to season the second side.

This two-step seasoning method ensures better adherence and more consistent flavor throughout. You can also experiment with additional spices if you want to level things up—garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and even a pinch of brown sugar can add a little depth without overwhelming the beef.

Step 3: Optional—Indent the Center

Even when working with frozen patties, a small indentation in the center can help maintain shape during cooking. If your patties are soft enough to handle, gently press your thumb into the center of each patty, creating a shallow dimple.

This prevents the dreaded “burger puff,” where the patty domes up like a hockey puck as it cooks. A flatter patty equals more even cooking and better surface area for your toppings.

Heat Up The Grill

No matter which type of grill you’re using, you’ll want to get the heat up sooner vs later since grilling frozen burger patties takes longer.  Ideal temperature for burgers is around 375ºF.

Cook the Frozen Burgers

Now comes the fun part!  Honestly, the process itself for grilling frozen burgers is not all that different from grilling thawed burgers.  The big difference is the time to completion – plan on frozen burger patties taking about 50% longer than thawed ones.

Place your seasoned patties firmly on the grill.  Flip them after 5 minutes and continue to flip every 5 minutes until they are completely cooked.  You should see juice rise to the top of your patties – that’s a good thing!  If your burgers stop releasing juice, you might have cooked them too long.

I am a huge advocate for using a probe meat thermometer of some kind to measure internal food temperature – especially when your food starts out in a frozen state.  That’s the only way of truly knowing whether your food is cooked to a safe temperature or not.

Most beginners don’t realize that seasoned pit masters and professionals rely on probe thermometers quite a bit.  It’s the only way you can assure consistent results.  Also, when dealing with frozen food – undercooking the inside just isn’t something I want to mess around with.

The USDA recommends for burgers that you cook to an internal temperature of 160ºF.

Flare Ups

Unless you have an infrared grill that reduces flare ups, it’s quite possible that you’ll experience them while grilling frozen burgers.

When this happens, simply move your burgers to a different part of the grill and wait until the flare goes away.  Then, you can feel free to move the patties back.

The reason is, prolonged exposure to a grill flare up can lead to the outside of your burgers getting burnt to a crisp with an inside that’s not cooked completely.

Serve and Enjoy!

Now it’s time to enjoy your grilled creation!  Serve on a bun with your favorite toppings and condiments.

Grilling Frozen Burgers – FAQ

How Long to Grill Frozen Burgers?

We always recommend grilling until your food reaches a certain internal temperature.  For burgers, the USDA recommends an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, but you can cook to your own preference.

Generally speaking though, frozen burgers typically spend anywhere from 20-28 minutes on the grill.  Of course, that can vary depending on how thick (or thin) your frozen burger patties are – and how hot your grill is.

How Hot Should My Grill Be?

The most common practice for grilling burgers of any kind is to set your temperature to 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit.  That’s a nice temperature where your burgers will cook relatively quickly, but it’s also hot enough where you’ll get some caramelization and crusty properties on the outside of the patty.

Grilling Frozen Burgers – Wrap Up

I hope this article has given you everything you need to confidently grill burgers at home!  The process isn’t all that different from a regular burger and it’s perfectly safe according to the USDA.

Just remember, it’s going to take a little more time and you need to make sure the inside of each patty reaches a safe internal temperature.  Don’t be in a rush when grilling frozen burgers, and you’ll see incredible results!

Be sure to check out our guide on how to keep your burger patties from falling apart next.  We’ve also made a guide to grilling frozen steaks if you want to check out how to grill other types of beef from a frozen state.