Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe (2024)

This homemade hamburger bun recipe is a quick and easy way to make your burgers even better. They are soft and fluffy, and taste so much better than the store-bought variety.

Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe (1)

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You can have the best homemade burger buns in just 30 minutes. Seriously. This quick and easy, small batch hamburger bun recipe makes perfectly soft burger buns that are way better than store bought. They’re exactly what you want to hold burgers or cheeseburgers, sloppy joes, shredded beef or pulled pork sandwiches, and more.

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Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe

I discovered this burger bun recipe a few years ago (from A Taste of Home) and shared it on a weekly dinner menu. Since then, I’ve made a few modifications to the original recipe to make it even better!

They are perfect for enjoying homemade burgers however you like, from classic beef patties and cheeseburgers to healthy grilled turkey burgers and even veggie burgers.

This family loved recipe yields 8 buns, but can be easily doubled if you’re feeding a crowd. Also, the buns are baked to perfection in just 12 minutes. So if you’re looking for a great recipe for burger buns, give this one a try!

What Make This The Best Buns Recipe

There are a number of reasons that these quick 30 minute burger buns are simply amazing, and are sure to be your favorite go-to hamburger rolls recipe:

  • The dough is very soft and elastic, which makes it ideal for kneading in a mixer with a dough hook.
  • Your house will smell of freshly baked bread.
  • Homemade burger buns can be enjoyed fresh, or frozen and saved for later.

Follow my simple steps below to make the best, softest small batch hamburger buns recipe in under an hour.

Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe (2)

Hamburger Bun Recipe Ingredients

  • bread flour – or all-purpose
  • active dry yeast
  • vegetable oil
  • egg
  • sugar
  • salt
  • Optional: sesame seeds

We recommend and use King Arthur bread flour), but you can easily substitute all-purpose flour. I find that bread flour yields a smoother bun that looks exactly like store bought buns.

Note: Don’t skip the sugar! Since these buns have very little rise time, the sugar in the recipe helps provide a boost to the yeast.

Our Favorite Tools To Make Hamburger Buns

Recipe Tips

Making the Dough. Dissolve the yeast in warm water in a large bowl. Add oil and sugar and let it stand for 5 minutes.

Add a beaten egg, salt, and 3 cups of flour to the bowl and make a soft dough. If the dough is too runny, add more flour 1/4 cup at a time until it is stiff enough to knead.

Knead the Dough. Turn the dough onto a surface that is covered in flour. Knead the dough (by hand or using a dough hook in a stand mixer) until it is smooth and elastic, which should take about 3-5 minutes.

Shape the burger buns. Divide and the dough into 8 pieces, roll each piece into a ball. To smooth the top, pinch the bottom of the dough repeatedly until it is smooth on top.

Gently flatten the roll in your hand. Place rolls 3 inches apart on a greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheet or hamburger roll pan. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.

Bake the buns. Bake at 425°F for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Ready to Serve. After baking, remove the pans from the oven and let them cool on wire racks. Once they are cooled, cut them in half to serve.

Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe (6)
  • Be sure to combine the yeast with warm water – not cold or too hot.
  • Let the shaped bun dough rest for the full suggested 20 minutes to fully proof and get the best rise.
  • When the rolls come out of the oven, immediately brush the buns with some melted butter and sprinkle on sesame seeds for delicious flavor.

Recipe Variations

  • Add 1-2 tablespoons of dried minced onion or onion powder to the dough for onion flavor buns.
  • Swap out the bread flour for whole wheat flour for a healthier option.
  • Skip the sesame seeds and instead brush the buns with some garlic butter.
  • For a fun twist, use food coloring to tint the dough before shaping it into balls.

Serving Suggestions

These quick and easy homemade burger buns are perfect for serving traditional beef burgers or cheeseburgers, or your favorite veggie or turkey burgers.

They are also delicious to enjoy with sloppy joes, pulled pork or chicken, shredded chuck roast, or other saucy main dishes.

Or use them to jazz up classic sandwiches by swapping slices of bread with soft hamburger rolls.

Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe (7)

Storing Fresh Hamburger Buns

Closely cover cooled hamburger buns in a sealed zip-top bag and store them at room temperature for up to 3 days. To reheat, place buns on a baking sheet and warm them in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes until they’re soft and slightly crusty.

Note: If you plan on storing the hamburger buns for more than a day or two, it’s best to freeze them.

How to Freeze

Yes, you can freeze these hamburger rolls. Place your buns in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat frozen buns, thaw overnight on the counter, then place buns on a baking sheet and warm in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes.

Burger Bun Recipe FAQ

I don’t have a stand mixer. Can I knead this by hand?

Yes you can. Watch the video in this homemade bread post to see how to properly knead dough. This dough is soft and pliable, so flour your countertop and hands well before kneading.

How will I know if the dough has been kneaded long enough?

The signs that dough has been kneaded long enough. The dough should feel smooth, like the inside of your cheek. It should be tacky but not sticky. And, you should be able to stretch the dough several inches without it tearing.

This recipe is for active dry yeast. I have instant yeast. Can I use that?

Yes, you can. Skip adding the yeast to the warm water, and add it to the flour. Go ahead and mix the dough together as in step 2 of the recipe.

How do you keep your buns soft after baking?

There are a few things you can do to keep your buns soft after baking.
First, brush them with some melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven. This will help keep them moist.
Second, don’t over-bake them. They should be just golden brown, not dark brown.
Finally, store them in a zip-top bag or airtight container to prevent them from drying out.

Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe (8)

Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe (9)

Quick and Easy Hamburger Buns

Renae

4.78 from 53 votes

For the best flavor and freshness, make these easy hamburger buns! They taste amazing and only take 30 minutes to make.

PrintPin

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 buns

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes

Total Time: 33 minutes minutes

Calories: 289

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water 95° to 105°F
  • cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour, or a mix of both

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil and sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Add beaten egg, salt, and 3 cups of flour and make a soft dough. If the dough is too runny, add the rest of the flour, 1/4 cup at a time.

  • Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead (by hand or using a dough hook in a stand mixer) until smooth and elastic, about 3-5 minutes. Immediately divide into 8 pieces and shape each into a ball. Place 3 in. apart on baking sheet (non-stick, greased, or cover with parchment paper).

  • Preheat oven to 425ºF. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes*. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Cut in half to serve.

Notes

*You can let the hamburger bun dough rise 10 minutes, but I have found that 20 minutes is optimal for the lightest buns.

Keep homemade burger buns at room temperature in an airtight bag for up to 4-5 days. To freeze, seal in a bag and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

This recipe was inspired by Taste of Home

Nutrition

Serving: 1bun | Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 303mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

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Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes a good hamburger bun? ›

The ideal burger bun is pillowy soft, squishy and tender. It needs enough structural integrity that it will hold strong with a juicy burger, but should never be tough and chewy - that would distract from all the other delicious flavours and textures in a perfectly crafted burger.

How do you make hamburger buns taste better? ›

Inject flavor right into burger buns by basting them with a seasoned butter mixture. "I like to create fun, flavored butters and baste all my breads," said Formicola. "Using melted butter with just a 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, chili powder, or cumin can totally transform a boring bun."

What are burger buns made from? ›

Bread flour (hard wheat) is usually used for hamburger bun production. This could come from a mixture of 50% winter wheat and 50% spring wheat. Better-quality buns come from a higher concentration of spring wheat, targeting a protein content of 12%.

What's the best type of burger bun? ›

Burger buns that give the ingredients all the attention
  • Brioche buns. What makes brioche different from most buns is the buttery, soft texture, and sweetness. ...
  • Potato buns. Potato buns are served up with the classic American-style burger. ...
  • Milk buns. ...
  • Kaiser rolls. ...
  • Sesame seed buns.

What is the white stuff in burger bun? ›

What is the white dusty stuff at the bottom of a hamburger bun? Flour, that is all. If the buns are traditionally baked, the baking tray has flour on it to stop the buns from sticking. Even if they're cooked by the Chorleywood method, they might still be sprinkled with flour to make them look better than they are.

Why are my homemade hamburger buns dense? ›

Avoid adding too much extra flour to the dough.

Your instinct might be to add extra flour; however, any extra flour will create a denser, tougher bun instead of the light, fluffy, brioche-style bun we want.

How do you keep hamburger buns from falling apart? ›

The last possible action is to spread the bread with butter, mayonnaise, or salad dressing (Russian, miracle whip, ranch, or some other flavor). Put a thin layer to help seal the bread from the burgers juices. The more rare the burger, the juicier it will be. That juice seeping into the bun helps the bun “ fall apart”.

What is the secret of soft buns? ›

The secret to soft, light rolls, if you're looking for something like a dinner roll, is an enriched dough that contains butter or other dairy, eggs, or both. If you want something more bread-like, you want a high hydration dough that's been properly kneaded and given at least two bulk fermentations before shaping.

What is the flour on the bottom of hamburger buns? ›

It is used to prevent the uncooked dough from sticking. You will sometimes see the same on the bottom of bread loaves. It is the same reason that homemade pasta is lain on flour dusted pans or pastry makers sprinkle flour on the work surface before working with their dough.

How long do homemade hamburger buns last? ›

Store the homemade hamburger buns in an airtight container or wrapped in foil at room temperature for up to five days. Avoid short term refrigeration, as this will dry them out.

Why do burger buns have a hole? ›

The holes in burger buns are called "grommets" or "steam vents." They are there to allow steam to escape from the buns while they are cooking, which helps to prevent the buns from becoming soggy. However, not all burger buns have grommets.

What is a mcdonalds bun made of? ›

Ingredients: Enriched wheat flour, Water, Sugars (sugar, corn dextrose, corn maltodextrin), Yeast, Vegetable oil (canola and/or soy), Vegetable proteins (pea, potato, faba bean), Sunflower oil, Corn starch, Salt, May contain and or all of the following in varying proportions: Wheat gluten, Dough conditioners ( ...

Where do McDonald's get their buns from? ›

The wheat for our buns comes from the U.K., Germany, America and Canada. The buns are baked at bakeries in Lancashire and Oxfordshire.

What is the difference between a bread roll and a burger bun? ›

Rolls are typically proofed and baked closer together for a softer, “pull apart” result. This makes them great for dipping or eating alongside other food. On the other hand, buns are proofed with space between them, which makes them crustier.

Are brioche buns best for burgers? ›

Are brioche buns good for burgers? Brioche buns can be so rich and soft that they often fall apart when they come into contact with the juices from a meaty burger, as well as being squished when picking up that burger. These buns are a little more substantial, but still lovely and soft with a fantastic flavour.

What's the difference between bread and hamburger buns? ›

Many people confuse buns with bread. However, they are different. Bread is a loaf which yields many servings, whereas a bun is a single-serving baked product. The primary ingredients in the bun are flour, milk, yeast, and a small amount of sugar or butter.

Are potato buns better for burgers? ›

If you want to make your burgers extra special, you might want to consider using potato buns instead of regular buns. Their pillowy-soft insides make them fluffier and bouncier than your average burger bun.

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