Looking for an easy, no-mess way to cook frozen hamburgers? This easy recipe for how to cook frozen burgers in the oven yields juicy, delicious burgers. I cover all of the tips and tricks to get the best hamburgers. Use any ground meat or vegan meat frozen burger patties!
I am pretty excited about this easy way to cook frozen hamburger patties. I mostly cover how I bake burgers, but I will also give a quick overview of using the air fryer because I know many of my readers have air fryers.
I will say using the oven is the best way if you need to feed more than two people. My son can easily devour two burgers himself, so cooking a lot of frozen burgers on a sheet pan works best for our family!
To save money, we buy frozen Costco burgers. They sell both frozen ground beef and frozen turkey burger patties.
As a busy food blogger, I’m always looking for quick and easy dinner solutions that don’t sacrifice flavor or nutrition. Frozen turkey burgers are one of my favorite shortcuts – they’re budget-friendly, pack in protein, and allow me to get a healthy meal on the table fast. But nailing the cooking method is key to getting a juicy, flavorful result. Through much trial and error, I’ve landed on a foolproof technique for how to bake frozen turkey burgers so they turn out tender and delicious every time.
In this article I’ll share my methods for baking frozen turkey burgers in the oven so you can avoid dried out rubbery patties. We’ll cover how to prep the burgers, what temperature to use, how long to bake them, and more tips and tricks along the way. Let’s dive in so you can soon be enjoying supremely scrumptious oven-baked turkey burgers!
Why Bake Frozen Turkey Burgers?
Before we get cooking, let’s review why baking is an ideal cooking method for frozen turkey burgers:
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It’s fast and hands-off Simply pop the burgers in the oven and let it work its magic while you multitask on other parts of the meal
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You can cook them straight from frozen: No tedious thawing required!
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Delivers even browning: The hot dry air of the oven crisps and browns the patties nicely on all sides.
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Cooks them safely: Baking gets the turkey burgers up to a safe internal temperature to destroy bacteria.
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Prevents greasiness Unlike pan frying, baking doesn’t add extra grease or oil
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Easy to adjust batch sizes: Bake just a burger or two for yourself or cook a whole sheet pan full for a crowd!
With all those advantages covered, let’s get into the bake!
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheet
To prevent sticking and promote even browning, it’s important to prep the baking sheet:
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Use parchment paper: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. The nonstick surface will prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
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Brush lightly with oil: Give the parchment a very light coating of oil. This helps conduct heat and brown the burgers. I use olive oil or avocado oil.
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Use a wire rack (optional): Place an oven-safe wire cooling rack on the baking sheet. This allows for air circulation under the burgers as they cook.
Step 2: Season the Turkey Burgers
Next up, flavor those frozen patties with seasoning:
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Separate patties first: If needed, separate any turkey burgers that are stuck together before seasoning.
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Salt liberally: Sprinkle both sides generously with salt. Kosher salt works nicely.
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Pepper to taste: Add freshly cracked black pepper as desired.
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Experiment with other spices or herbs: If you want to jazz things up, rub on Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, Italian herbs, or whatever your heart desires!
Step 3: Arrange on the Baking Sheet
Now we’re ready to arrange the seasoned turkey burgers on the baking sheet:
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Place on oiled parchment/rack: Lay the burgers directly onto the prepared baking sheet set up.
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Don’t overcrowd: Leave at least 1 inch of space between patties to allow air flow. Overcrowding steams rather than sears.
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Work in batches for more than 4 burgers: For larger quantities, bake in multiple batches to prevent moisture loss.
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Avoid overlap: Make sure patties aren’t touching or overlapping for even cooking.
Step 4: Bake at 400°F Until 165°F Internal Temp
Here comes the easy part – just pop them in the hot oven:
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Crank oven to 400°F: Preheat oven to 400°F. This relatively high temp helps the burgers brown quickly before overcooking.
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Bake for 8-12 minutes per side: For 1 pound frozen turkey burger patties, bake about 8-10 minutes, flip, then bake 8-10 more minutes. Thicker burgers take closer to 12 minutes per side.
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Check temperature: Bake until an instant thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a patty reads 165°F. This ensures food safety.
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Watch closely near end: Check often toward the end to prevent overbaking. You want a minimum internal temp, not maximum.
Step 5: Let Rest and Serve
The final step in how to bake frozen turkey burgers to tender juiciness:
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Rest for 5 minutes: Once at 165°F, remove burgers from oven and let rest 5 minutes. This allows juices to redistribute.
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Add cheese now if using: If you want cheeseburgers, add the cheese in the last 2 minutes then let melt during resting.
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Serve on buns: Construct your turkey burgers on whole wheat buns or whatever bread you prefer.
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Add toppings: Have fun piling on all your favorite condiments and extras!
Pro Tips for the Best Baked Turkey Burgers
Through many baking sessions, I’ve picked up some useful tips for maximizing flavor and moisture:
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Brush with oil or marinade: Lightly brushing patties with oil or marinade before baking helps keep them juicy.
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Use meat thermometer: Investing in an instant read thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness.
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Try foil-wrapped baking: For ultra-moist burgers, wrap in foil after flipping halfway through baking.
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Make indent in patties: Gently make a shallow indentation in the center of patties before baking to allow for even cooking and prevent hamburger bun peaks.
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Toast buns: Lightly toasting burger buns on baking sheet a few minutes before the burgers are done adds delicious crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best oven temperature for baking frozen turkey burgers?
I recommend 400°F. This relatively high temperature helps the burgers develop a nice sear quickly before the insides overcook. Lower temps result in mushy/underdone meat.
How long should frozen turkey burgers bake?
For 1 pound patties, bake 8-10 minutes per side, so 16-20 minutes total. Thicker patties may take closer to 12 minutes per side. Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Can you bake frozen turkey burgers without thawing?
Yes, baking straight from frozen works great! No tedious thawing required. Just add a minute or two to the bake time.
Should you flip turkey burgers when baking?
Definitely flip halfway through! This allows both sides to brown evenly. If you don’t flip, the tops will be pale and undercooked.
What temperature are turkey burgers done baking?
Bake frozen turkey burgers until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Check with an instant read thermometer for doneness.
How do you keep baked turkey burgers moist?
Brush with oil, don’t overcrowd the pan, flip halfway through baking, let rest before serving, and remove at 165°F instead of overbaking. Wrapping in foil halfway also helps lock in moisture.
Enjoy Perfect Baked Turkey Burgers
There you have it – everything you need to know for how to bake frozen turkey burgers so they turn out tender and juicy every time. Ditch the dry, hockey puck turkey burgers of the past! With these tips, you’ll be enjoying delicious oven-baked turkey burgers that are sure to become a regular menu item in your home.
What’s your favorite turkey burger topping or condiment? Share your thoughts in the comments! And don’t forget to bookmark this guide so you always have my frozen turkey burger baking method handy. Now get ready to sink your teeth into supremely scrumptious baked turkey burgers!
Why These Frozen Burger Hacks Are Great:
- Easy clean-up. This is a biggie for me, especially during busy weeknights.
- No grill, no problem! Get juicy burgers every time baking them in the oven.
- Oven baking is great for winter when it is cold outside. In the winter, it is too chilly to use the grill. Cooking burgers on the stove is messy.
- Cooking burgers in the oven is so much easier.
- You can cook a lot of burgers at once.
- You can cook all types of frozen burger patties, from ground beef to vegan Impossible Burgers!
These burgers should be gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, and oat-free. It can vary depending on the brand of frozen hamburgers you use.
Top them with your favorite burger toppings, and enjoy!
- Traditional fixings: lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and pickles.
- Make them Southwestern with grilled onions, peppers, and my homemade salsa.
- We love barbecue burgers. Top with cheddar cheese, these fried onion rings, and barbecue sauce!
- Mediterranean style can feature lettuce, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and hummus.
What Buns Are Gluten Free?
There are several great brands of gluten free buns if you need to serve gluten free. Franz Bakery, Canyon Bakehouse, and Trader Joe’s make my favorite buns. You can also make homemade gluten free hamburger buns!
You can also make my deliciously fluffy Gluten Free Hamburger Buns recipe.