Which Brands Earn a Spot in Your Freezer?
It might not feel like it, but summer’s right around the corner, and the season’s nothing without a little BBQ action! Frozen burgers are one of those staples that everyone needs in their home, but it’s not always easy to know which brands deliver flavor and which only deliver disappointment. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you make the best pick.
1. BUBBA Burger
BUBBA Burger focuses on straightforward frozen patties built for convenience and reliable flavor. There’s really nothing it doesn’t bring to the table; its Angus line is made with 100% USDA Angus beef, and they’re ready in about ten minutes. Talk about a win-win.
2. Omaha Steaks
If you want frozen burgers that feel a little more polished, Omaha Steaks is one of the strongest names in the game. The company sells a wide range of burgers online, and its patties are crafted from aged Omaha Steaks beef. So, that’s probably why the brand has a more upscale rep.
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3. Ball Park
Who doesn’t love grilled meat at the ballpark? Okay, you might not watch your favorite player launch a homer, but you can still relish in the Ball Park brand. Its fully cooked flame-grilled beef patties are made with 100% beef and are seasoned, grilled, and flash frozen, so they’re especially useful when you’re craving an actual burger.
4. Marketside
Marketside lands in that sweet spot between budget-friendly and a little more elevated, so you can actually score a decent meal for half the price of its competitors. Walmart lists its frozen patties as 100% Angus beef, USDA inspected, and sold in substantial 1/3-pound portions, so you get a restaurant-style size without paying specialty-store prices.
5. Great Value
A great value, indeed! Not every good frozen burger has to be fancy, and Walmart’s patties are sold as 100% pure beef, individually quick frozen, and ready to cook from frozen. It might not be five-star quality, but you buy this brand for value first—the convenience is just a pickle on the bun.
6. Applegate
Applegate is one of the better frozen burger brands for shoppers who care about sourcing. The beef is 100% grass-fed, and the animals are raised with no antibiotics, so you can chow down on a cleaner-label appeal than many standard options. Oh, and they taste amazing, too!
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7. Kirkland Signature
Honestly, what can’t Costco do? Kirkland beef patties come in multiple formats, including lean ground beef patties and frozen lean sirloin patties, so you have plenty to choose from. It’s also one of the better brands because the lineup focuses on simple beef and generous sizes.
8. Dr. Praeger’s
There’s a reason Dr. Praeger’s is one of the best-known names in veggie burgers. You’ll score something that’s 100% vegetarian, and its California Veggie Burgers remain a popular frozen option built around an actual mix of vegetables. It’s pretty unbeatable as far as clean eating goes.
9. MorningStar Farms
MorningStar Farms has been a freezer-aisle staple for years, and it’s easy to see why! The brand covers both classic veggie-burger fans, but some of its varieties also pack 20 grams of protein per serving. So, you’re not only staying full, but you can also locate them at your local Target or Walmart.
10. Beyond Meat
You know, a lot of people hated veggie burgers when they first emerged, but Beyond Meat is one of the most recognizable brands on both sides of the border. The delicious burgers are plant-based and vegan, giving Americans and Canadians both a modern meatless burger that’s built to satisfy traditional cravings.
Now, the truth is that not every frozen burger is a freezer triumph. With some of the good guys out of the way, let’s explore which ones don’t belong at the get-together this season.
1. Johnsonville Grillers Steakhouse Onion Seasoned Patties
Johnsonville’s Steakhouse Onion patties are way too heavy for what’s supposed to be a simple burger night. One little patty comes with 350 calories, 29 grams of fat, and 860 milligrams of sodium, which is a lot to take on before you even add anything else. It’s also way too seasoned for our liking, which zaps the fun out of making it your own.
2. Smart Ones Mini Cheeseburgers
Mini cheeseburgers sound convenient, but Smart Ones’ option is also a classic case of compromise. Not only is the taste missing, but they’re common culprits for sodium, carbs, and additives. They’re really not worth the trouble.
3. Trader Joe’s Grass Fed Angus Burger
We love Trader Joe’s as much as the next guy, but its Grass Fed Angus Burger is way too high in fat and calories despite its simple ingredient list. To make matters worse, you’ll need to do a lot of the heavy lifting yourself; the flavor on its own isn’t much to write home about.
4. Gardenburger Original Burger
A veggie burger shouldn’t have to lean this hard on sodium to make an impression, but Gardenburger packs a serious wallop. You may like the nostalgia of its name, but it’s not the best choice for clean eating, especially with how far its competitors have come.
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5. Wild Fork Bacon and Cheddar Beef Burgers
Wild Fork’s Bacon and Cheddar Beef Burgers sound indulgent, and they are, but not in a good way. One look at the nutrition figures can show hair-raising calories and sodium, all for a burger that doesn’t taste as good as other things in the freezer.
6. Extra Value Meats Beef Patties
Extra Value Meats tells you what it is right in the name, so you can’t be that shocked. Even the brand’s own marketing centers on being budget-friendly above all else, and while that lands with some shoppers, affordability doesn’t always guarantee the best bargain.
7. Good & Gather All-Natural Turkey Burger Patties
Who doesn’t love a good turkey burger? They’re healthier, they’re tasty, and they’re supposed to be the better choice—in a perfect world. But Good & Gather’s patties have a noticeably shakier reputation than its competitors. Bland and pretty rubbery for what they are, these guys are an easy no.
8. White Castle Microwavable Frozen Cheeseburgers
Okay, well, just reading the name should signal why this isn’t great! They come fully cooked and fully assembled, yes, but you can kiss freshness and texture goodbye. They’re not even really worth it to scratch a late-night itch.
9. Heritage Farm Seasoned Quarter Pound Beef Patties
Heritage Farm’s patties really don’t bring much to the BBQ. The blunt reality is that they lack everything you want in a patty, even a frozen one. They don’t taste great, they can be a little small, and you’re still expected to pay higher prices for “real beef.” Not to mention, they consistently score low with consumers online!
10. Kroger 100% Pure Beef Quarter Pound Burgers
Kroger’s own frozen quarter-pound burgers round out the list, and we’re sad to report it’s because they’re often freezer-burned. The flavor is MIA, too, and you just aren’t scoring the same kind of quality you would with other brands. You can certainly buy worse, but this is the kind of patty that’ll make you wish they’d just bought fresh.
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