14 Frozen Hamburgers, Ranked Worst To Best

When it comes to feeding the hungry hordes, frozen hamburgers are a definite crowd-pleaser. In fact, Americans eat more than 50 billion burgers per year, that's 800,000 miles of burgers if placed side by side — enough to circle the globe 32 times (via Vinepair). The country even has a national hamburger day, with the next one scheduled for May 28th.

While the exact origins of hamburgers are a bit murky, the consensus is that they became popular in the U.S. after making their debut at the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904. Today, hamburgers are prepared in kitchens across the globe, and for a good reason. They are delicious, cheap, and easy to make. And keeping frozen hamburger patties in your home freezer can make the preparation process even easier.

Whether fried, grilled, broiled, or even microwaved, burger patties can be paired with veggies and sauces to your exact specifications. From beef, turkey, and chicken to alt-meat and veggie, today's hamburger options are endless. With this in mind, we have ranked frozen hamburgers from worst to best to make your next shopping trip a little easier.

Starting as a family-owned business back in 1932, the Kansas City Steak Company focuses on making classic burgers from beef raised and farmed in the Midwest. The brand's star — if you can call it that — offering, the classic steakburger frozen patties, comes with eight vacuum-sealed packages containing two patties each. The cuts can be either thawed or pan-fried straight out of the freezer — the choice is yours.

Kansas City Steak Company's frozen patties come from corn-fed livestock, which is deemed inferior to cow meat raised on grass. While lean, the burgers are also on the dry side. Nevertheless, they are adequate enough to make for an acceptable addition to a bun and veg for those on the run — as long as there's plenty of sauce. To make things easier, the patties come with a KC steak seasoning packet, giving you more control over your meal. To mix things up, the Kansas City Steak Company also offers American-style Kobe steakburgers, beef brisket chuck burgers, and patties with cheddar and bacon. 

Ball Park is the brand behind one of the most frequently consumed Frankfurters in the U.S. According to Statista, around 91 million Americans indulged in the meaty snack in 2020. So how do Ball Park's beef patties measure up? While not quite as popular as their Frank counterparts, the brand's burgers are a dinner staple at many American homes. However, this may be largely due to their ease of preparation and affordability rather than taste. The burgers come in a resealable bag of six fully pre-cooked patties, which translates to minimal cooking time in the microwave. Plus, they only cost around 40 cents per ounce.

In terms of quality, Ball Park's frozen burger patties are made from 100% beef and are free of artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and by-products. In addition, they are billed as "flame-grilled," as attested to by the very apparent grill marks on the cuts (whether these are the real thing is anybody's guess). All in all, Ball Park's frozen patties are an alright — if somewhat tasteless — choice when it comes to food on the run, and can be found in many grocery store frozen food sections.

Trader Joe's chain of stores is well-known for quality goods and affordable prices. In fact, many of the brand's products have reached what could be called a cult following. Trader Joe's cookie butter, chicken tikka masala, and Everything But The Bagel Seasoning are just some of the more popular items on the store's shelves. And while Trader Joe's uncooked grass-fed Angus beef burgers are still on the way to making it big among burger connoisseurs, the product is generating interest with shoppers.

Featuring a single ingredient — grass-fed Angus beef — these frozen patties deliver no surprises. Uncooked and unseasoned, Trader Joe's Angus burgers are relatively juicy (if you're looking for flavor, be sure to have your seasoning ready). And being grass-fed, you can rest assured that the meat quality is on the higher end of the spectrum. While these cuts of meat feature no artificial ingredients and no added growth hormones, they contain 290 calories, 80 milligrams of cholesterol, and 23 grams of fat (this is definitely on the high side, which substantially lowers this burger's ranking). In addition, the label on the package states that the beef comes all the way from New Zealand, which doesn't say much for the company's carbon footprint — a definite no-no in our book (via Freezer Meat Frenzy).

Founded by Rachel and Andy Berliner and named after their daughter, Amy's Kitchen dates back to 1987 when finding ready-made organic vegetarian meals was no walk in the park. The brand's flagship dish, pot pie, was such a success that the duo soon decided to diversify their offerings. And while the company has grown, the venture is still all about cooking with love and delivering products that are both good for consumers and the planet. "Our goal is to do things the right way. Right by our customers. Right by our farmers. Right by our family of employees. And right by our Earth," the duo has said. (via Amy's Kitchen).

Amy's Kitchen's "straight-from-the-garden flavor" Sonoma veggie burgers are infused with a multitude of appealing ingredients including organic vegetables, quinoa, walnuts, and mushrooms. The plant-based patties are also free of gluten, dairy, and soy. And rather than recreating the taste and texture of beef, these frozen burgers emphasize their real veggie origins (in other words, there's absolutely nothing beefy about them). And while this may hit the spot for some, they are a far cry from what one would expect from a classic burger, hence the relatively low ranking.

Nature's Rancher's patties come from animal welfare-approved ranches, meaning that they are better for both your body and your conscience. After all, it's nice to rest in the knowledge that the burgers you are eating are made from livestock that had been humanely treated. The certification comes with the assurance that each one of Nature's Rancher farms undergoes an audit every 15 months. The company's other requirements include that the livestock was tended on pasture for 75% of its life or longer and that the transportation time didn't exceed 16 hours.

The good news is that Nature's Rancher's grass-fed meat contains no nasties such as hormones, antibiotics, lactose, or gluten. While these frozen hamburgers may appear on the processed side of the equation, they definitely pass the taste test. And since the beef comes unseasoned, the quarter-pounders can be easily prepared to your exact specifications (via Nature's Rancher). All in all, this is a sold middle-of-the-range frozen beef hamburger option.

A leaner alternative to beef burgers, Gold'n Plump's frozen patties are made from boneless, skinless chicken fillets. The patties are available in four flavors including original, mushroom and Swiss, Tex Mex, and bacon and cheddar. "We found today's consumers seek authentic flavor from around the world and look for more unique burger options to add to their grilling menu," Gold'n Plump's new product development manager Sara Danforth told PR Newswire.

Gold'n Plump prides itself on the fact that its chickens are raised without antibiotics and only given filtered water and feed made from corn packed with minerals and vitamins. And the company must be doing something right because Gold'n Plump's products garnered certification from the American Humane Certified farm program for its animal handling and processing practices. Arnie Blommel who has been supplying Gold'n Plump with poultry since 1978 says, "We are a small business out here and we take care of our birds. We don't delegate responsibility, we take care of it personally. I would like people to understand that we are really close to them and it's a concern of ours that we have a quality product" (via Gold'n Plump).

The founder and CEO of TRIBALÍ Foods, Angela Bicos Mavridis, discovered the healing power of food in her grandmother's kitchen as a little girl. After 35 years as a vegetarian, Angela rediscovered the Paleo diet, which was such a huge part of the culinary passions of her grandmother. Today, Angela — who is also a holistic nutritionist — delivers ancestral cooking right to our tables with the TRIBALÍ range of frozen goods. And the 100% grass-fed livestock raised on family farms isn't just Paleo certified. They are also Whole30 approved and free of GMOs, gluten, dairy, and soy (via The Shelby Report).

TRIBALÍ Foods' Mediterranean-style beef patties combine humanely-raised meat with roasted garlic, onion, tomatoes, rosemary, and spearmint for a truly global flavor. Standing in stark contrast to other unseasoned beef patties on the market, the flavor of the meat may not be for everybody — it all depends on how tangy you like your beef. The air-chilled patties are also available in umami beef, which is often referred to as the fifth taste (the others being salty, sour, bitter, and sweet). If you're looking for something a little different with your frozen burger, these could be worth a try. 

Omaha Steaks has definitely expanded its range of products since the company's humble beginnings as a butcher shop way back in 1917. After multiple transformations throughout the years, today the fifth-generation business runs dozens of retail stores across multiple states that offer a huge range of goods including poultry, pork, and seafood. "We've managed to build trust. The quality we absolutely insist on. Our customers know they can depend on us," said the president and chief executive officer of Omaha Steaks, Bruce Simon.

The Omaha Steaks turkey frozen burger is a lighter take on the company's original product — steak. Blending turkey with onion, lemon, and rosemary, the juicy patties are ready for grilling, frying, or baking straight out of the packet. They are also pre-cooked and ultra-easy to prepare since they don't need to be defrosted prior to cooking. Plus, they are individually vacuum-sealed so you can rest assured that you're getting a fresh, quality product.

Plant-based burgers were once a rarity. Luckily for many of us, this is no longer the case. Beyond Meat's Beyond Burger is a case in point. A solid alternative to meat, the plant protein patties turn from pink to brown during the cooking process but require slightly less time on the pan or grill than regular beef burgers. Plus, they contain no GMOs, gluten, or soy. "The new Beyond Burger is the next step in our journey toward building meat directly from plants that delivers a consumer experience indistinguishable from its animal protein equivalent," said Beyond Meat Founder and CEO, Ethan Brown.

So what's in Beyond Burgers that gives them their meat-like flavor and consistency? The burger's main ingredients are proteins from split peas, mung beans, and rice. While peas are rich in amino acids, mung beans offer fiber, nutrients, and vitamins. The patties also contain plant oils to emulate beef fat and cocoa butter and coconut oil to emulate the marbling of real beef. In terms of texture, it's the process of heating, cooling, and pressure that gives faux beef its distinctive meaty consistency (via Esquire). While we like these burgers, at around 80 cents per patty they are on the pricey side.

When it comes to veggie burgers, there's little doubt that Dr. Praeger's delivers. Aside from the highly coveted kale veggie burger, the brand has a huge range of vegetarian burger offerings. Some of these include cauliflower, black bean and quinoa, mushroom risotto, and sweet heat beet. There are also global flavors such as Korean, Tex Mex, Asian, and, of course, the all-American burger patties. With 10 grams of protein, the kale veggie frozen patties are a blend of 10 different vegetables including red peppers, zucchini, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. Plus, the colorful burgers are Non-GMO Project verified and free from gluten and soy. 

The history of Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods started in 1994 when two heart surgeons decided to try their hand at the food business. Focusing on simple and nutritious ingredients, they created a range of frozen products that are not only convenient and healthy but also a treat for the taste buds. While the surgeons are no longer at the helm of the company, their family has taken it upon themselves to ensure that the spirit of the brand lives on in the quality of its products (via Dr. Praeger's). While ordinarily, we wouldn't be ranking a veggie hamburger so highly, Dr. Praeger's kale burger's unique taste rivals that of many of the burgers on this list. 

With the tagline "You'll Never Bite A Burger Better Than A BUBBA!," BUBBA Foods sets itself up as the best frozen patty producer on the market. While this may or may not be true, the brand's burgers do hit the spot when it comes to both taste and quality. Packed with 100% BUBBA USDA Angus beef, the patties are both succulent and flavorful, making for a solid burger with every bite. 

BUBBA Burger patties have also been praised for their unprocessed quality. In fact, they are some of the only patties on the market made from entire muscle meat chunks. A taster from Eat This, Not That noted, "The texture of the meat pieces in the patty are the biggest and the closest to what you'd be cooking if you formed this burger from scratch. Due to the thickness of the BUBBA burger, this was the easiest to cook to a medium."

Built on the concept of the regenerative power of nature, Force of Nature claims that the grazing ruminant animals that are a part of the brand's production process "have the power to reverse climate change, create wildlife habitat, build soil, and heal our bodies." In fact, according to the company's website, every pound of beef it produces ultimately sequesters 3.5 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

While Force of Nature specializes in a variety of meat products, their star offering is the bison patties. And the secret — 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised bison meat, uncured bacon, and a dash of sea salt and celery powder. Those looking after their health will be pleased to know that bison meat may just be healthier than beef. Not only is it leaner than beef, bison meat also tends to feature less inflammatory properties (via Healthline). Force of Nature also offers venison Wagyu burgers made from grass-fed, pasture-raised venison and Wagyu beef.

Priding itself on being the purveyor of beef from "the best slow feeders in Nebraska and Colorado," Wild Fork follows strict standards when it comes to both sourcing and processing the brand's meat. All of the beef sold at the company's chain of stores is aged in a climate-controlled room for 17 days (they even age their pork for eight days). Plus, the farm-to-fork venture eliminates warehouses, distributors, and retail shops to give consumers top-notch products at the best possible price (around 40 cents per ounce).

Wild Fork's Angus beef pub-style burgers are blast frozen at the peak of freshness to preserve their texture, flavor, and nutritional value. This packaging style also ensures that the patties remain fresh and free from crystallization on their journey to your kitchen. The 1/3 pound patties combine the ideal 80% lean meat and 20% fat. For an even more filling experience, try Wild Fork's half-pound thick Angus beef chef-style burgers.

Mount Pleasant grass-fed beef burgers are probably as tasty and healthy as frozen beef patties get. They are also good for the conscience. After all, it's comforting to know that the meat you are about to eat comes from grass-fed cows that once roamed a 13,500-acre ranch in North Texas. "Our vocation is to provide an environment where the cows can grow and reproduce in a natural setting. Where the grass they eat has never been fertilized with chemicals or treated with pesticides. Our values lie in raising cattle as humanely as possible and as a result, we have found that these animals are much healthier," said Mount Pleasant representative.

Unlike many other producers that use hormones and antibiotics to maximize the growth of their cows, Mount Pleasant's stock is hormone and GMO-free. In addition, the cows are fed grass in fresh air rather than grain in feedlots, a practice that can play havoc with the animals' digestive systems. In addition, grass-fed beef contains more vitamin E and carotenoids than the grain-fed alternative, making these patties both tasty and nutritious (via Healthline). At the end of the day, there's little doubt that the care taken to raise and process Mount Pleasant's meat shows in its juicy texture and rich taste.