Frozen hamburger patties might just come to the rescue if you’re craving homemade burgers but don’t have the time to make the patties from scratch. An excellent frozen hamburger patty should be made of 100% premium beef, be tasty and juicy, have no artificial flavors, and should fit your special preferences, such as if it’s gluten-free and preservative-free.
Our overall best frozen hamburger patties are Ball Park Patties. This product offers quality patties that are tasty and juicy and have been pre-cooked for that extra easy preparation. Other great frozen hamburger patties include Mount Pleasant 100% Grass Fed Beef Burgers, Dr. Praegers Jumbo Veggie Burgers, and Bubba Beef Chuck Patties.
Read on to learn about these burger patties and see which one works best for you.
#1 Best Overall Frozen Burger Patties: Ball Park Beef Patty at Amazon.
"100% beef meat with a flame grilled flavor."
#2 The Runner Up: Mount Pleasant Beef Burgers at Amazon.
"Quality grass-fed meat."
#3 Best frozen vegan burger: Dr. Praegers Veggie Burger – at Amazon.
"The tastiest burger patty without any meat."
Table of Contents
Our Four Favorite Frozen Hamburger Patties
1. Ball Park Patties – Best Overall
Pros
- Lovely, flame grilled taste
- Pre-cooked for convenience
- 100% beef patties
- An excellent microwave burger
Cons
- Contains corn syrup
Ball Park Beef Patties are made from 100% premium beef, are juicy, and full of flavor. Each bag contains 6 patties that have been pre-cooked using the flame grill method. Once flash frozen, the barbeque flavor is sealed in for maximum taste.
Although grilling is your best option, these patties can also be microwaved. You’ll get amazing smoky-tasting meat in minutes! There is no need to worry about raw meat on the inside, being pre-cooked meat.
The Ball Park patty is gluten-free as well as free from by-products, preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors. It contains an impressive 19g of protein per serving.
2. Mount Pleasant 100% Grass Fed Beef Burgers – Runner Up
Pros
- Thick, half-pound patties
- Excellent quality meat
- Preservative-free
Cons
- They’re big, so not ideal for kids that aren’t big eaters.
- Not pre-cooked
Mount Pleasant Beef Burgers come in a box of 12. If size matters, then you’ll love these massive half-pound patties that are very juicy and flavor-packed.
Okay, so this product is shipped throughout America as a fresh, uncooked product. So, not technically frozen. But they had to be included in this review as their meat quality is so high. You can pop them in the freezer once they get to your home.
Mount Pleasant Beef Burgers are made from high-quality grass-fed cows that graze on the Estrella Range in Texas. No GMOs, hormones, grain, soy, or antibiotics are used on these cattle. The result is tender meat that creates the perfect burger!
The meat is made up of 90% meat and 10% fat, which is a lower fat content than most competitor brands. For those looking for high-protein meals with less fat, this is a better choice than most burgers on the market.
3. Dr Praegers Jumbo Veggie Burger – Best frozen Vegan Burger
Pros
- Gluten free and plant-based
- Verified Non-GMO
- Free from fillers, MSG, preservatives
Cons
- The flavor won’t suit everyone’s palate
With veganism trending upwards, it is important to include a vegan patty that most people on a plant-based diet can enjoy. The Dr Praegers Veggie Burger offers a huge 5.5-ounce burger, enough to satisfy any hunger craving.
Made from kale, carrots, onion, spinach, zucchini and a range of other vegetables, these patties are full of flavor and all-natural. They’re also a good source of fiber and free from preservatives and trans fat.
Flexitarians who are happy eating meat protein may find these burgers enjoyable for the occasional meat-free Monday dinner.
This burger offers 5 grams of protein. While less than others on this list, it is still a useful source of protein. They also only contain 130 calories and are gluten-free. Combining these patties with a toasted bun will provide a healthy, delicious dinner.
4. Bubba Beef Chuck Patties
Pros
- Excellent taste and a good size
- Great value for money
- USDA approved, 100% Angus beef
- Filler free
Cons
- They’re big, so not ideal for kids that aren’t big eaters.
A box of BUBBA Beef Chuck Patties will get you two juicy, fresh-tasting ⅓-pound patties. This product offers exceptional value for money. It is made from 100% USDA-Certified Angus beef. There are no unwanted fillers in this product, just quality ground beef.
The Bubba patty stands out from the competition having excellent texture. It always looks like the patties have been hand-formed – they look and taste like they’re homemade.
Flash-freeze technology locks in the flavors during processing. It’s like eating the fresh version, only there’s a lot less preparation work.
The company behind the Bubba Burger doesn’t just produce delicious meat patties. They have policies in place that minimize waste reduction and conserve energy.
Our Criteria for Testing the Patties
Taste and Texture
We placed the most weight on the flavor of each burger patty. Why have a nutritious patty if it tastes awful? A rustic patty with chunks of distinguishable meat scored well.
Type of Meat Used
The wellbeing of a cow during its life plays an important role in the quality of beef burgers. A stressed cow provides tougher meat. We looked for brands that offer meat made from free-roaming, grass-fed cows. We also looked for hormone-free, GMO-free ground beef.
Appearance
A burger patty needs to look mouth-watering sandwiched between the buns. Size, juiciness, color, and texture are all important criteria when choosing the leading meat patty.
Price
As with any product comparison, price is always a consideration. If two brands were similar in quality, then price was the deciding factor.
Nutrition
For some people, nutrition is a big factor in the buying decision. Frozen meat retains its high levels of protein, making it an excellent post-workout meal. However, some brands of frozen meat patties contained high levels of sodium and had lots of added binders and additives. The brands on this page scored higher on this attribute than many other products we looked at.
5 Benefits of Buying Frozen Burger Patties
Food Safety
Bacteria, like E. coli, thrive on fresh meat left out of the fridge. Although there are precautions that can be taken by the home cook to reduce the risk of becoming ill, frozen food is relatively safe. Transferring food from the freezer directly to the grill is a safe way to cook frozen burgers.
Convenience
Cooking with ready-made burgers is as easy as opening a box. No mess, no hassle, and less washing up. If you’re time-poor, then you’ll appreciate this time-saving.
Flexibility
Is your household prone to extra friends or family showing up for dinner? It’s handy to have a box of patties ready to go for this situation.
Less food waste
Food waste is a big problem on this planet and even the smallest reductions can help. When you make a batch of fresh patties it’s hard to get the quantity spot on. Using frozen hamburger patties is an exact science; simply count, cook and serve.
Great taste
If you’re new to cooking then over-seasoning is possible. Choosing frozen patties means all you need to worry about is getting the right combination of fillings.
How to Make the Perfect Burger
Once you’ve chosen the perfect patty and cooked it, you’ll need to add the extra fillings. Check out the infographic below which shows how to make a delicious burger. If you prefer to make your own meat patty too, check out this burger recipe.
FAQs
Frozen burgers can be grilled, baked, or microwaved directly from the packet without defrosting. Because the internal meat is frozen, it is important to check that the patties are cooked through before serving.
Eating beef patties with a little pink inside is considered safe, so long as the internal temperature of the meat has reached 160°F (71°C).
The shelf life of frozen beef patties will vary depending on the ingredients. Refer to the “best by” dates to determine the shelf life of your meat.
The most common reason that burgers shrink is that they're cooked at a temperature that’s too high for the meat. To reduce shrinkage, cook the burgers at a lower temperature for longer. If you choose a patty with a meat-to-fat ratio of 80/20, you'll get a good balance between flavor and the amount of shrinkage.
Final Words
We researched and taste-tested the best frozen burger patties on the market so that you know what’s good and what’s not. Although there were some unpleasant-tasting products, the majority were excellent for eating. All the options in this review are worthy contenders, but we’d recommend Ball Park Beef Patties based on flavor, meat quality, and price. For a vegan option, try the Dr Praegers Veggie Burger. Most meat eaters might not think it sounds good, but you might be pleasantly surprised.
Another product we didn't get the opportunity to taste test was Greensbury Organic Grass Fed Beef Burgers. There is excellent online feedback about this brand, so they are also worth a try.
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