Grilled Frozen Burgers on a Ninja Grill

Name: Grilled Frozen Burgers
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 frozen beef patties; 4 slices American cheese; 4 hamburger buns; burger condiments; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp coarse ground black pepper; 1/2 tsp granulated garlic; 1/4 tsp ground cumin

When you make grilled frozen burgers on a Ninja Grill, using our easy seasoning, you'll have amazing burgers with a great char.

4.56 from 9 votes

Recipe Subscribe

By Christie Vanover | Published August 31, 2022 | Last Updated March 23, 2023

Using frozen burger patties is an easy way to cook dinner in 20 minutes.

close up of grilled frozen hamburger on plate with fries.

Table of Contents

Why should I use frozen burgers?
Ingredients
How to grill frozen burgers
How to serve grilled burgers
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes

Why should I use frozen burgers?

I love burgers made with fresh ground beef, but sometimes life moves fast and you just need to be able to grab a frozen beef patty and get dinner ready quickly.

The good news is with a little seasoning and your favorite condiments, grilled frozen burgers are actually really good.

You can buy frozen burgers or grind up brisket trimmings to make your own ground beef. Shape that homemade grind into patties, separate them with patty paper and freeze them for later.

When using frozen patties, don’t thaw them. They’re meant to go straight from the freezer to the grill.

Ingredients

Frozen Beef Patties: Look for patties that are 1/3 pound. I prefer original Bubba Burgers made with USDA choice chuck beef, but there are many brands out there.
Kosher Salt: Be sure to use kosher salt. Its coarseness is important to create the best crust.
Black Pepper: Use coarse ground black pepper, if you can. I prefer 16-mesh.
Granulated Garlic: Granulated garlic helps create the best crust, but using garlic powder is another great option.
Ground Cumin: This adds that special earthiness that takes these burgers to the next level.
American Cheese: Those American singles wrapped in plastic are perfect on burgers, because they melt perfectly.
Hamburger Buns: Any type will do. Brioche buns are a little fancier and fluffier, but a good ole classic bun or potato roll works great too.
Condiments: These ingredients are up to you. Consider ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and/or onions.

Substitutions: Instead of combining the spices to make your own burger blend, you can also buy pre-made seasoning blends like Brisket Rub from Spiceology.

How to grill frozen burgers

STEP ONE: Combine the salt, pepper, garlic and cumin in a small bowl to make the best burger seasoning ever.

STEP TWO: Place the frozen patties on a baking sheet and sprinkle a pinch or so of burger seasoning on each patty.

STEP THREE: Heat your Ninja Grill to grill with a temperature of 375F degrees. If using the Woodfire Grill, set the temperature to medium. Set the time for 20 minutes.

If you have the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill, add smoke by pushing the Woodfire Flavor Technology button.

STEP FOUR: Place the patties on the preheated grill, seasoned side down. Then, sprinkle more dry rub on the tops. You’ll have some seasoning left over. Close the lid and grill for five minutes.

STEP FIVE: Flip them over and grill 5-6 more minutes with the hood closed.

4 patties on Ninja Grill, 2 with grill marks.

NINJA PRO TIP: By using this burger seasoning blend, your burgers will develop an amazing crust on the Ninja Grill. And unlike using a gas grill or charcoal grill, you won’t have any flare ups.

STEP SIX: After five more minutes, add a slice of cheese on each patty and cook for 30-60 seconds, until it’s melted.

4 burger patties on Ninja Grill with melted American Cheese.

STEP SEVEN: Remove the patties from the grill and build your burger.

How to serve grilled burgers

As your frozen burgers are grilling, start assembling your buns and condiments.

I prefer to place the patty straight on the bun and then top it with pickles. I smear ketchup, mayo and mustard on the top bun and sandwich it up.

Leave a comment below and let me know what favorite toppings you put on your perfect burgers.

overhead photo of four hamburgers with fries.

Don’t forget to whip up a batch of air fryer frozen garlic parmesan ranch fries to go along with your grilled frozen burgers.

Storage

These burgers are best eaten right away. If you try to save an assembled burger, the buns will get soggy.

If you want to make some burgers to do meal planning, save the cooked burgers in a single layer in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

When you’re ready to eat them, reheat the patties and then build your burger.

BUY THE NINJA WOODFIRE GRILL

READ MY FULL REVIEW

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grill frozen Bubba Burgers?

All frozen beef patties take about the same amount of cooking time, assuming they weigh 1/3 of a pound. When grilled at 375F or on medium-high, they’ll take 10-15 minutes, depending on how done you like them. I find 12 minutes is the sweet spot.

How do I know if my frozen burger is cooked through?

The best way to measure the safe internal temperature is with a meat thermometer. Look for a reading of 160F degrees. If you don’t have a thermometer, cooking it 5-6 minutes per side will get you there.

Should I thaw the burger before grilling it?

If you buy frozen hamburger patties, you should grill them from a frozen state. If you thaw them first, they could fall apart when you try to flip them.

Where can I buy frozen burger patties?

Look for them in your grocery store with the frozen meat. They come in many varieties, including turkey and veggie burgers. When cooking a patty that’s not beef, be sure to read the box directions in case the recommended cooking times vary.

More Recipes

Want even more great grilling recipes and tips? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for my latest grilling adventures. If you make a recipe, I’d love for your to leave a comment and rating below. Thanks.