The short answer is that you should grill Bubba Burgers for about 6 to 7 minutes per side. They are made to cook straight from frozen, so you do not need to thaw them first. Just heat your grill to medium heat, place the patties on the grates, and let them cook without pressing them down.
Start by laying the frozen burgers on the grill and close the lid. After about 6 to 7 minutes, flip each patty. Cook the second side for another 6 to 7 minutes until the juices run clear. A cooked Bubba Burger should reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, so a quick check with a meat thermometer helps you know it is ready.
If you like melted cheese, add it during the last minute of cooking and close the lid again. Then let the burgers rest for a couple of minutes before serving. This helps keep them juicy. That is it. Simple, quick, and tasty every time.
Ideal Grill Time for Bubba Burgers
Grilling Bubba Burgers becomes much easier once you understand how long they need to cook. Most people rush it or flip the patties too early, which makes the outside dry and the inside undercooked. The best grill time is usually around 6 to 7 minutes per side on medium heat, but it can change depending on your grill and the thickness of the patties. Bubba Burgers start out frozen, so they need a little more time than fresh beef patties. Patience helps a lot here.
When you first place the patty on the grill, let it sit without touching it. If you flip too soon, the burger might stick or tear. Wait until you see juices forming on top. Those little pools are your sign that the heat has traveled through enough of the meat to flip cleanly. Thicker patties may need a bit longer. And whatever you do, do not turn the heat way up to rush the process. That only burns the outside.
Wind, weather, and the type of grill you use can change cooking times too. A windy day can cool down the grill faster, so you may need extra minutes. A charcoal grill loses heat slowly as the coals burn down. Using a simple timer helps you stay on track. Bubba Burgers should reach 160 degrees in the center, so checking with a meat thermometer is a great way to be sure.
Recommended Grill Temperature
Temperature makes or breaks the burger. If the heat is too high, the outside burns before the inside cooks. Too low and the burger dries out before it finishes. The best temperature for grilling Bubba Burgers is medium heat, around 350 to 375 degrees. This gives a steady, even cook.
Gas grills make this easy. Preheat for about 10 minutes on medium with the lid closed. If you do not have a thermometer, hold your hand about five inches above the grate. You should be able to keep it there for 5 to 7 seconds. Charcoal grills take more attention. Wait until the coals are coated in gray ash, then spread them in an even layer. Uneven coals mean uneven cooking.
Keeping the lid closed helps the heat stay steady. If you open the lid too often, the grill cools down and the burger takes longer to cook. Hot spots can also affect your timing. Some grills cook hotter in the back or on one side, so move the patties around if needed. Once you learn your grill’s behavior, cooking gets much easier.
Cooking Bubba Burgers From Frozen
Bubba Burgers are designed to be cooked straight out of the freezer. You do not need to thaw them, and thawing can actually make the patties soft and harder to handle. Cooking them frozen helps them hold their shape and cook evenly. But since they start cold, they take a little longer to finish.
Expect about 10 minutes per side on medium heat. Sometimes you may need an extra minute or two if your grill runs cool. Do not try to speed things up by turning the heat to high. That just burns the outside. Let the patty sit until you see juices pooling on top. That means it is ready to flip.
Give each burger some space on the grill. If you crowd them, they steam instead of grill. Cook with the lid closed so the heat reaches the frozen center. Season lightly, and if you want the seasoning to stick better, add it right after the first flip when the surface is warm and moist.
Flipping Techniques for Best Results
Flipping a Bubba Burger might sound simple, but timing matters a lot. If you flip too early, the patty can stick or fall apart. If you flip too often, the juices escape and the burger dries out. The best moment to flip is when you see juices rise to the top. Those small shiny spots mean the first side has cooked enough.
Use a wide spatula for support. Thin spatulas can slide under only one part of the burger and cause it to tear. Slide the spatula fully underneath and lift the patty gently. One flip is all you need. Overflipping slows cooking and dries the burger.
Do not press the patty after flipping. This is a common habit, but pressing squeezes all the juices into the flames and makes the burger dry. Watch the edges of the patty. When they look firm and browned, the burger is almost ready to flip or finish. Once you learn these signs, flipping becomes easy.
Grill Setup and Preparation
Good grilling starts with good prep. Preheat your grill for about 10 minutes before cooking. If the grill is cold, the patties will stick and cook unevenly. Clean the grates with a grill brush, then oil them lightly using a paper towel and tongs. Clean, oiled grates prevent sticking.
With a gas grill, turn the burners to medium and close the lid. Charcoal grills take more time. Light the coals, let them ash over, and then spread them evenly. Avoid piling them too high in one spot because that creates a hot zone that can burn the burgers.
Know your grill’s hot and cool spots. Some parts heat faster than others. If one burger is cooking quicker, move it to a cooler part of the grill. Keep your tools nearby so you do not run back and forth between the kitchen and grill.
Keep a cooler zone ready to manage flare ups. When fat drips and flames jump, slide the burger to the cooler spot. When the flames die down, move it back. This prevents burnt edges and keeps the burger juicy.
How to Tell When Bubba Burgers Are Done
Knowing when a burger is done can be tricky, but there are easy signs to look for. The safest way is to use a meat thermometer. Bubba Burgers should reach 160 degrees in the center. Insert the thermometer from the side so you do not let the juices escape from the top.
If you do not have a thermometer, watch the juices. When they turn from clear to light brown and bubble on the surface, the burger is close to done. The patty should feel firm but still have a little bounce when pressed gently with a spatula. Pale or soft centers usually mean it needs more time.
Timing helps too. Most frozen Bubba Burgers take around 10 minutes per side on medium heat. The more you grill them, the better you get at reading the patties. Visual signs plus a quick temperature check make it hard to go wrong.
Tips to Keep Bubba Burgers Juicy
Keeping Bubba Burgers juicy is all about handling them the right way. The biggest rule is to never press the patty. Pressing forces the juices out and dries the burger. Let the patty cook without pushing down on it.
Manage flare ups by sliding the patty to a cooler part of the grill when flames rise. Flare ups burn the outside and dry the inside. Medium heat also helps the burger cook evenly and keeps the fat from escaping too quickly.
Season at the right moment. Seasoning frozen patties does not always stick. Adding seasoning after the first flip works much better because the surface is warm and moist. Let the burger rest for two or three minutes after cooking so the juices settle back into the meat.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Grilling Bubba Burgers
Most mistakes happen because people rush or handle the patties too much. Do not cook on high heat. Bubba Burgers are thick and will burn on the outside before the center cooks. Stick with medium heat. Avoid flipping more than once. Every flip causes heat and moisture loss.
Another mistake is not preheating the grill. Cold grates make the burger stick. Adding cheese too early creates a mess and causes flare ups. Cheese only needs one minute to melt. Also, keep the lid closed as much as possible. Every time you open it, the grill loses heat and the burgers take longer.
Once you stop making these common mistakes, your burgers turn out juicier and cook more evenly.
Conclusion
Grilling Bubba Burgers gets much easier once you understand the timing, heat, and little habits that matter. Medium heat, clean grates, a single flip, and keeping the lid closed all help the burgers cook evenly and stay juicy. The biggest lesson is patience. Frozen patties take time, but the results are worth it.
Once you get the hang of the signs of doneness and avoid the common mistakes, grilling becomes more fun and a lot less stressful. Try these tips during your next cookout and see how much better your burgers turn out. Enjoy the process and make each cookout something to look forward to.