Homemade Hamburger Patties (Freezer Friendly)

Hamburgers are a go-to meal for many families – especially on busy weeknights! That’s why we always have some frozen burgers on hand. But there’s no reason to purchase storebought frozen meat when you can easily make homemade hamburger patties. On top of being quick and easy to make, this simple recipe tastes better than those frozen disks and costs less to make than pre-made burgers!hamburger buns and fixings and one completed burger with friesI love having homemade burger patties in my freezer ready to cook up. That way, when there’s a day with beautiful weather or we get unexpected guests popping by, we can just grill up some burgers and host a BBQ. I like to be able to offer a variety so I usually have these ones along with some Blue Cheese Hamburgers. I set out the burger patties with buns, toppings, and all the fixings.hamburger buns, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles, and purple onionChristie invented this recipe after being inspired by the BBQ Meatloaf recipe. Her family loves to take these camping.

Christie’s Homemade Hamburgers Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/4 cup onion, finely minced
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons dry onion soup mix

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Add the ground beef, bread crumbs, graham cracker crumbs, onion, eggs, pepper, and dry onion soup mix to a large bowl. Use your hands to work the ingredients together until everything is well combined.
  2. Shape the mixture into hamburger patties and place a thumbprint indent in the middle of each patty.
  3. Transfer the patties to a baking sheet in a single layer and place the sheet in the freezer.
  4. When the patties are frozen, remove the pan from the freezer and transfer the hamburgers to a large resealable bag.
  5. Remove excess air from the bag and seal it closed. Store in the freezer until you’re ready to eat.

homemade burger patties in a clear freezer bag

Cooking instructions:

  1. Cook the patties from frozen or thaw them in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. The hamburgers can be prepared on the BBQ or cooked in the skillet until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees in the center.

burger patties cooked up in a skillet

Is it Better to Freeze Burgers Raw or Cooked?

When it comes to freezer cooking, it can be difficult to know whether your ingredients should be cooked before freezing or not. And in the case of hamburgers, it’s typically better to freeze the meat raw than to cook them before freezing. That’s because your ground beef can lose moisture as it cooks, which means the burgers may dry out as they’re being stored in the freezer.

Instead of trying to cook your burgers before storing them in the freezer, simply combine the burger ingredients and form them into patties. Freeze the patties raw and cook them when you’re ready to eat your burgers. homemade hamburger pattie on a bun with cheese and fries

How Do You Freeze Hamburger Patties So They Don’t Stick Together?

Storing your burgers in the freezer is a great way to prep a quick dinner ahead of time. But there’s nothing quick and easy about trying to pry frozen hamburgers apart in order to cook them! To ensure your burgers don’t stick together while they’re being stored in the freezer, use these storage tips:

  • Flash freeze the burgers. The first step to keeping your burgers from sticking together is to flash freeze – or individually freeze – your burgers before storing them. Place the burgers on a baking sheet, making sure to keep them in a single layer and keeping the burgers from touching while on the pan. Freeze until the meat is solid, then transfer the burgers to a freezer bag for long-term storage.
  • Use wax or parchment paper. If you’re still worried about your burgers sticking together after flash freezing them, there is one more step you can take to keep them separated. As you’re stacking the frozen hamburger patties in the freezer bag, place a small piece of wax or parchment paper between each burger. The paper will keep the burgers from touching each other and prevent moisture building from causing the burgers to stick together.

How Do You Make Hamburger Patties that Don’t Fall Apart?

There’s nothing worse than a burger that falls apart while you’re cooking it! The key to getting burgers that don’t fall apart is preparing the patties correctly in the first place. With the help of these tips, you can enjoy juice burgers that stick together no matter how you prepare them.

  • Make sure to use binders. Instead of using plain ground beef to make your hamburger, it’s best to add binding ingredients to the mixture to keep the patties from falling apart. Binding agents like breadcrumbs (and in this case graham cracker crumbs) and eggs are great options for keeping your patties together as they cook.
  • Thoroughly mix the ingredients. After combining the patty ingredients, it’s important that everything in the bowl is well mixed. Try using your hands to work the ingredients together to ensure all the binders are combined with the ground beef.
  • Make sure your patties are tight. Finally, form the patties into tight disks to ensure they stay together while you cook them. Start by scooping a ball of meat mixture into your hand, then squishing it together to form a ball. Press the ball down between the palms of your hand and then press your thumb into the center to keep the burgers from rounding as they cook.

hamburger with all the fixings open faced on a plate with fries

Do You Thaw Frozen Burgers Before Cooking?

One of the best things about making homemade hamburger patties ahead of time is that your frozen patties can be prepared from frozen or thawed before cooking. When cooking frozen burgers in a skillet, it’s best to add a small amount of oil to the pan to keep the patties from sticking as they cook. After that, cook the burgers over medium heat for three to five minutes on each side. Continue flipping the burgers until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

In addition to cooking your burgers from frozen, you can also allow them to thaw before you start cooking. Transfer the frozen burgers to the refrigerator to thaw safely the night before you plan to cook them. After that, the burgers can be cooked on the grill or stovetop. Since the patties are thawed, they won’t take as long to cook through as frozen burgers would.

Burger Topping Suggestions:

    • lettuce
    • sliced tomatoes
    • pickles
    • cheese (cheddar, Blue cheese, Jalapeño Jack)
    • banana peppers
    • cooked bacon
    • purple onions
    • avocado slices
    • sautéed onions
    • sautéed mushrooms
    • potato chips
    • fried onions or fried jalapeños
    • onion rings
    • pickled red onion
    • ketchup
    • mustard
    • relish
    • mayonnaise
    • BBQ sauce (I especially like to mix BBQ sauce and mayo together – yum!)
    • spicy aioli 
    • guacamole
    • Thousand Island dressing
    • Sriracha mayo

Basically, when it comes to dressing up your burger, let it be a reflection of your personality. In my opinion, eating a burger should be messy and fun and require a lot of napkins! That’s what makes these perfect for camping or a backyard BBQ.

Christie's Homemade Hamburgers
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
9 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Servings: 8 burgers
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. ground beef
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/4 cup onion finely minced
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 3 Tbsp. dry onion soup mix
Instructions
Assembly Instructions:
  1. Add all the ingredients to a large bowl. Use your hands to work the ingredients together until everything is well combined.

  2. Shape the mixture into hamburger patties and place a thumbprint indent in the middle of each patty.
  3. Transfer the patties to a baking sheet in a single layer and place the sheet in the freezer.
  4. When the patties are frozen, remove the pan from the freezer and transfer the hamburgers to a large resealable bag.
  5. Remove excess air from the bag and seal. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:
  1. Cook the patties from frozen or thaw them in the refrigerator overnight.

  2. The hamburgers can be prepared on the BBQ or cooked in the skillet until the internal temperature reaches 160°. Be sure to flip them partway through.