This quick and easy hamburger bun recipe makes the best hamburger buns in under 40 minutes! You’ll have soft and fluffy buns that taste much better and are fresher than the store-bought variety. See our video and tips below on how to freeze them to enjoy later, too!
You can have the best hamburger buns in just 30 minutes. This recipe makes perfectly soft bread that is way better than store-bought.
They’re exactly what you want for sloppy joes, shredded beef rolls, pulled pork sandwiches, grilled turkey burgers, and more.
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Hamburger Bun Recipe Video Tutorial
Why We Love This Hamburger Buns Recipe
- The dough is very soft and elastic, which makes it ideal for kneading in a mixer with a dough hook.
- They’re ready in as little as 30 minutes! Although we call them 40-minute hamburger buns, our recipe shares how to shorten that to just 30 minutes—which makes them perfect for cookouts, lunch with friends, or as an addition to our delicious dinner recipes for March!
- You can serve them freshly baked or freeze them for later!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Bread Flour – Or you can substitute it with all-purpose flour.
- Active Dry Yeast – This is a necessity! This is what gives the buns their quick rise.
To make them without yeast, see our sourdough hamburger buns recipe if you have a sourdough starter. - Cooking Oil – Use your preferred cooking oil or use melted and cooled butter for a more buttery roll.
- Egg – Use room temperature eggs. It tends to help keep the dough warmer for a good rise.
- Sugar – This is a must for this recipe (see TFN Pro Tip below for why!).
We recommend using bread flour (I prefer King Arthur flour), but you can easily substitute all-purpose flour. I find that bread flour yields a smoother bun that looks just like store-bought ones.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Don’t skip the sugar! Since this recipe has a very short rise time, the sugar is essential to help the yeast rise.
Recipe Variations
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of dried minced onion or onion powder to the dough for an onion flavor.
- Swap the bread flour for half whole wheat flour for a healthier option.
- Skip the sesame seeds and instead brush with garlic butter.
4 Easy Steps to The Best Hamburger Buns
Step 1: Make the Dough: Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Add the oil and sugar and let it stand for 5 minutes.
Add the 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 comes together.
Step 2: Knead the Dough. 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.
Step 3: Shape the homemade hamburger buns. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
Gently flatten them in your hand. Place the rolls 3 inches apart on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Bake at 425°F for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown.
After removing the burger buns from the oven, brush them with melted butter and sprinkle on sesame seeds (optional) for a delicious flavor.
After baking, let them cool on wire racks, then cut them in half.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
How to store: Store in a sealed zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the burger buns on a baking sheet and warm them in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes until they’re soft and warmed through.
If you plan on storing the rolls from this quick hamburger buns recipe for more than a day or two, it’s best to freeze them.
Freezing Instructions: Place them in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat from frozen, thaw overnight on the counter, then place on a baking sheet and bake in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. You’ll need to knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it becomes soft and pliable. If it’s been kneaded enough, you should be able to stretch the dough for 4-5″ without it tearing. The dough is soft and pliable, so flour your countertop and hands well before kneading.
The signs that the dough has been kneaded long enough are that it should feel smooth, like the inside of your cheek, be tacky but not sticky, and be able to stretch it for several inches without tearing.
Yes, you can. Skip adding the yeast to the warm water, and add it to the flour. Go ahead and mix the dough as in step 2 of the recipe.
You can do a few things to keep them soft:
First, brush them with melted butter before they cool. 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.
More Bread Roll Recipes to Consider…
If you tried this easy hamburger bun recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Quick and Easy Hamburger Bun Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- large bowl
- parchment paper
- wire rack
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons active dry yeast see notes for instant yeast
- 1 cup warm water 95° to 105°F
- ⅓ cup cooking oil
- ¼ cup sugar *see notes
- 1 large egg, room temperature beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 to 3-1/2 cups bread flour or all purpose flour
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.
Video
Notes
- Don’t skip the sugar! Since this recipe has a very short rise time, the sugar is essential to help the yeast rise.
- You can let the dough rise for 10 minutes, but I have found that 20 minutes is optimal.
- Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast? Yes, skip adding the yeast to the warm water, and add it to the flour. Go ahead and mix the dough as in step 2 of the recipe.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of dried minced onion or onion powder to the dough for an onion flavor.
- Swap the bread flour for half whole wheat flour for a healthier option.
- Skip the sesame seeds and instead brush them with garlic butter.
- Store in a sealed zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. Warm them in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes to reheat until soft and warmed.
- If you plan on storing the bread rolls for over a day or two, it’s best to freeze them.
- Freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, thaw overnight on the counter, then warm them in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes.
Nutrition
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Michelle says
Can you use ol8ve oil instead of vegetable oil
Renae says
Yes, you can. I have also used avocado oil and coconut oil in this recipe, too.
Alia says
How do you unfreeze them? Directly in a toaster? Will they be soggy when they unfreeze? Thanks!
Renae says
I prefer to freeze the dough before baking, however, if you bake them first you just let them thaw as you would frozen baked bread. I recommend thawing them on the countertop, covered to prevent them from becoming stale. If you thaw them directly in the toaster, they could become soggy.
Val says
Oh my goodness! These are great! Yes, quick, easy & quite delicious! Made them today to use this week for lunches. I left 4 plain with just melted butter brushed on them after baking, the other 4 I used “Everything Seasoning”. Delicious! My new go-to bun recipe!
Renae says
Adding Everything Seasoning to the tops of the buns is such a great idea! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe.
Sharon Q says
These are delicious and quick to make. They take less time than driving to the store
I use everything bagel topping on mine.
Renae says
That’s a great idea! I’m going to try the everything but the bagel seasoning next time!
Daley Wilson says
2 Tablespoons of yeast?!
Renae says
Yes, 2 Tablespoons of yeast are used in this recipe.