There’s something special about a burger piled high with toppings, stacked between two perfectly golden buns… and when those buns are homemade? Game changer. These Homemade Hamburger Buns are everything you want in a bun—light, airy, tender, and strong enough to hold up to all your juicy fillings. They’re simple to make with pantry staples, and once you’ve tried them fresh out of the oven, you’ll never settle for store-bought again.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Made with pantry staples you probably already have on hand
- Freezer-friendly, so you can stash extras for later
- Light and fluffy, yet sturdy enough to hold all your burger toppings
- Versatile – make full-sized buns or slider rolls
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Warm water (110°F) – Activates the yeast
- Egg – Adds richness and helps with rise
- Granulated sugar – Feeds the yeast and enhances browning
- Salt – Balances flavor
- Instant yeast – Quick and dependable rise (or use active dry, proofed)
- Unsalted butter – For tender texture and flavor
- All-purpose flour – Measured properly for the right consistency
- Toppings (optional) – Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or everything seasoning
- Egg wash – For that irresistible glossy crust
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Buns
Step 1: Make the Dough
In a large bowl or stand mixer, whisk together warm water, egg, sugar, salt, and yeast. Add softened butter and most of the flour, reserving a couple tablespoons. Mix and knead until smooth and elastic, adding the remaining flour only if the dough is sticky.
Step 2: First Rise
Cover and let the dough rise until doubled—about 1½ to 2 hours in a warm spot. The dough should be airy and puffy.
Step 3: Shape the Buns
Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces (about 100g each). Roll each into a smooth ball and flatten slightly. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 4: Second Rise
Cover and let rise again for 1 to 1½ hours until nicely puffed.
Step 5: Bake
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush buns with egg wash, sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired, and bake for 15–16 minutes or until golden. Cool completely before slicing.
Tips for Perfect Buns
- Use room temperature ingredients for best results
- Don’t overwork or over-flour the dough—it should stay soft
- Let buns cool fully before slicing to preserve texture
- Toast before serving to keep them from getting soggy and enhance flavor
Serving Ideas
These buns are the perfect canvas for:
- Classic burgers or cheeseburgers
- Fried or grilled chicken sandwiches
- Pulled pork or BBQ brisket
- Breakfast sandwiches with egg and bacon
- Veggie burgers or portobello mushroom stacks
- Mini sliders (just roll into 16 small balls instead)
Storage & Make-Ahead
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container up to 3 days
- Fridge: Keeps fresh up to 5 days
- Freezer: Freeze cooled buns in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months
- To Serve: Thaw at room temp and toast for best texture
Final Thoughts
These Homemade Hamburger Buns are soft, golden, and just the right amount of indulgent. They’ll instantly elevate your burgers, sandwiches, or sliders—and your guests will be amazed you made them from scratch. Give them a try and you might just find yourself baking buns for every cookout, picnic, or weekend lunch. They’re that good.
Homemade Hamburger Buns
Once you try making these soft, fluffy burger buns at home, there’s no going back to store-bought. They’re buttery, lightly sweet, and perfect for stacking with your favorite burger fixings.
Ingredients
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 3/4 cup warm water, about 110°F
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 3 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (400g), plus more if needed
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast (rapid rise)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning
Instructions
- In a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the warm water, egg, sugar, salt, and yeast. Whisk it together for about a minute so the yeast gets nicely hydrated.
- Add in the softened butter, then most of the flour—leave out a couple tablespoons to adjust later.
- Use a sturdy spatula or dough hook to bring everything together, then knead the dough for 5 to 6 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. It should feel slightly sticky but not cling to your fingers. If it’s too sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour.
- Cover the dough with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size. This will take about 1 to 1½ hours in a slightly warm oven or closer to 2 hours at room temp.
- Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and divide it into 8 equal portions—around 100 grams each. Shape each one into a smooth ball by rolling it on the counter or in your palm until the top is tight and smooth.
- Place the dough balls onto a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet, leaving space between them. Gently flatten each into a 3 to 3½ inch circle.
- Loosely cover the tray with plastic wrap and let them rise again until they look noticeably puffed—another 1 to 1½ hours. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Whisk together the egg and water for the egg wash and brush it all over the tops and sides of the buns. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or bagel seasoning if you like, and bake for 15 to 16 minutes until they’re a rich golden brown.
- Cool them on a wire rack, then cover and store until ready to use. Slice them in half with a serrated knife right before serving.
Notes
- Make sure you measure your flour correctly—too much will dry out the dough. Start with less and add only what you need to get a soft, workable texture.
- To keep buns from drying out, wait to slice them until you’re ready to use. Once cooled, store them covered at room temperature.
- For extra flavor and to prevent soggy buns, butter the inside halves and toast them in a skillet until golden. It adds great texture and keeps sauces from soaking through.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 302Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 58mgSodium 521mgCarbohydrates 51gFiber 2gSugar 6gProtein 9g
All Chicken Recipes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although allchickenrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.