The Best Homemade Burger Patties Recipe You Can Stock Up Your Freezer With!
Hi! If you’ve been following me for long you’ll already know this, but for those who are new, welcome to Far From The Farm. I’m Mona, the Brit behind the recipes, learning life and food in the States while sharing our debt-free journey and what’s on the menu in our home today!
If you are a regular around here, you already know I love a good burger. Honestly, if I could eat burgers every week without consequence, I probably would. They are comforting, filling, and one of those meals that feels like a treat even when you are eating at home.
Lately though, as we have been more intentional about cutting back on eating out and saving money, I have been thinking hard about how to keep burger nights delicious without making them feel like extra work.
Making burgers from scratch tastes so much better than anything frozen from the store, but shaping patties every single time quickly became something I just did not want to do after a long day.
There had to be a better way.
Spoiler alert, there was! And it is this incredibly simple freezer friendly burger patty method that has completely changed how we do burger night.
I meal prep and make a large batch at once and stock my freezer with homemade burger patties that are ready to cook whenever we want them. No prep. No mess. No last minute shaping. Just good quality burgers ready to go.
I usually make a 3 pound batch, which gives us two full burger nights for our family. This recipe scales easily, so you can make more or less depending on what works for you.
There are no fillers here. No breadcrumbs. No egg. No mystery ingredients. Just good quality 80/20 ground beef, salt, and pepper. That higher fat content matters. Too lean and the burgers will fall apart and dry out.
You can absolutely add other seasonings later if you want, but this simple base works beautifully with any toppings or sauces you love.
As a military family on baby step 2 of our debt free journey, eating at home more often has been one of the biggest ways we have stretched our budget. Every meal we make instead of eating out adds up. Freezer friendly recipes like this make staying home feel easy instead of restrictive.
And just a reminder that if you’re struggling and you need help with managing your budget or starting your own debt free journey then here’s some FREE resources below you may find helpful!
living frugally and fully
free tips and resources to make the most of what you have
As always, these photos are from my real kitchen here in our sweet military base home. No staged lighting or spotless marble counters. Just real life and real food made in a small space. Proof that you can feed your family well without needing a dream kitchen or fancy tools!
So step into the kitchen with me and let’s make a few meals worth of homemade burger patties so your family can enjoy good quality burgers for a fraction of the cost of eating out or buying frozen ones from the store!
Equipment
- Bowl
- Parchment paper
- Cookie sheet
- Plastic wrap
- Freezer food bags
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Ingredients
Makes 12 burger patties (about 1/4 lb each)
- 3 lbs ground beef, 80/20 works best
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Step 2
Divide the ground beef into 12 equal portions (1/4 lbs patties) . Try not to overwork the meat. Handling it gently keeps the burgers tender.
Step 3
Shape each portion into a round burger patty. Press just enough to hold its shape without compacting the meat too much.
Step 4
As you place each patty onto the parchment lined sheet, season both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5
If making a full batch, place a second sheet of parchment over the first layer of patties and repeat, stacking neatly.
Step 6
Cover the entire cookie sheet tightly with plastic wrap and place it into the freezer. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
Step 7
Once frozen, transfer the patties into freezer safe bags. Label with the date and return to the freezer.
How to Cook These Homemade Burger Patties From Fresh or Thawed
Fresh or fully thawed burger patties are more delicate than frozen ones. My favorite way to cook them is on a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
Approximate cooking times for 1/4 lb patties:
- Rare: 2 to 3 minutes per side
- Medium: 3 to 4 minutes per side
- Well done: 5 minutes per side
Avoid pressing down on the burgers while cooking. This pushes out juices and dries them out.
How to Cook These Homemade Burger Patties From Frozen
Frozen patties actually hold together better and work beautifully on the grill, griddle, or skillet. Cook over medium heat and add about 1 to 2 extra minutes per side compared to fresh patties.
Approximate cooking times for frozen 1/4 lb patties:
- Medium: 4 to 5 minutes per side
- Well done: 6 to 7 minutes per side
Flip once and cook until the internal temperature reaches your preferred doneness.
Notes and Troubleshooting
Notes
- 80/20 ground beef is ideal for flavor and structure
- Avoid overmixing or compressing the meat
- Season simply and add sauces and toppings later
Troubleshooting
- Patties falling apart? Beef is too lean
- Dry burgers? Cooked too long or heat too high
- Shrinking too much? Patties pressed too thin
Storage
- Store frozen burger patties in freezer safe bags for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if cooking from fresh, or cook straight from frozen.
Serving Ideas
- Classic cheeseburgers
- Smash burgers on the griddle
- Burger bowls
- Slider night
- Burger night with homemade fries
- Do not forget to check out my Quick Spicy Burger Relish or Brioche Bun Recipes. They pair perfectly with these patties.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe And Method?!
- Simple ingredients
- Freezer friendly
- No fillers or binders
- Budget saving
- Perfect for busy weeks
FAQ
Can I add seasoning to the meat?
Yes. Garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika all work well.
Can I make smaller patties?
Absolutely. Adjust cooking time as needed.
Do I need egg or breadcrumbs?
No. Good quality beef holds together on its own.
How to Make Homemade Burger Patties You Can Cook From Frozen!
February 10, 2026Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Divide the ground beef into 12 equal portions. Try not to overwork the meat. Handling it gently keeps the burgers tender.
- Shape each portion into a round burger patty. Press just enough to hold its shape without compacting the meat too much.
- As you place each patty onto the parchment lined sheet, season both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place a second sheet of parchment over the first layer of patties and repeat, stacking neatly.
- Cover the entire cookie sheet tightly with plastic wrap and place it into the freezer. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
- Once frozen, transfer the patties into freezer safe bags. Label with the date and return to the freezer.
- Fresh or fully thawed burger patties are more delicate than frozen ones. My favorite way to cook them is on a skillet or griddle over medium heat.Approximate cooking times for 1/4 lb patties:Rare: 2 to 3 minutes per sideMedium: 3 to 4 minutes per sideWell done: 5 minutes per sideAvoid pressing down on the burgers while cooking. This pushes out juices and dries them out.
- Frozen patties actually hold together better and work beautifully on the grill, griddle, or skillet. Cook over medium heat and add about 1 to 2 extra minutes per side compared to fresh patties.Approximate cooking times for frozen 1/4 lb patties:Medium: 4 to 5 minutes per sideWell done: 6 to 7 minutes per sideFlip once and cook until the internal temperature reaches your preferred doneness.
Notes
- 80/20 ground beef is ideal for flavor and structure
- Avoid overmixing or compressing the meat
- Season simply and add sauces and toppings later
Storage
- Store frozen burger patties in freezer safe bags for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if cooking from fresh, or cook straight from frozen.
Related Recipes
- Grab the recipe for these Easy Brioche-style Buns!
- And finish your burgers off with some of my delicious Spicy Burger Relish!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The Takeaway
This is the kind of meal-prep method and recipe that quietly makes life easier. A freezer stocked with homemade burger patties means dinner is never far away. You get better flavor, better ingredients, and fewer last minute decisions.
It is one small way to keep feeding your family well while staying home, saving money, and keeping weeknights manageable!
What to Try Next?!
Share & Rate This Recipe!
If these burger patties earn a permanent spot in your freezer, tap the stars on the recipe card and leave a quick comment. Sharing helps other families cook well at home too.
Last update on 2026-02-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
