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.
- 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.
Nutrition
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Brenda says
Tried this recipe for the first time tonight and it turned out pretty good I used the instant yeast instead and followed the step without letting the yeast set in the water and it did perfect! Thank you
Jenna says
Can I use this recipe for hot dog buns?
Gianne - TFN Team Member says
While we haven’t personally tested this recipe for hot dog buns, it’s quite feasible to adapt it. The primary difference lies in shaping the dough. Instead of forming round balls for hamburger buns, you would shape the dough into elongated cylinders to accommodate hot dogs. Keep in mind that baking times may vary slightly due to the different shape and size, so monitor them closely to achieve the desired golden brown color.
We’d love to hear how they turn out if you give this a try!
Ginamarie Parise says
How to make with something other than white sugar?
Gianne - TFN Team Member says
While we don’t recommend skipping the sugar completely in this quick-rise recipe (it really helps activate the yeast with the shorter rise time), maybe you can try swapping it for honey or maple syrup if you prefer a more natural option. Just keep in mind it may slightly affect the flavor and texture.
If you’re looking for another option, you might enjoy our sourdough hamburger buns instead—they use natural fermentation. https://thefeatherednester.com/sourdough-hamburger-buns/
Brittain Wells says
I have used this recipe sooo many times now, dinner rolls (I added garlic to the recipe), hamburger buns, hot dog buns, and even made a pizza crust.
We are going camping this weekend with a large group and are doing pizzas one night and I thought I would premake the dough. Any ideas on how to make it early to travel and keep for one or two nights?
Gianne - TFN Team Member says
Hi! You may check out our post on how to freeze the dough to save you time: https://thefeatherednester.com/freezing-pizza-dough/
Also, we have Bisquick and Neapolitan pizza dough recipes where we share how to store and make them ahead of time. Here are the recipe links: https://thefeatherednester.com/neapolitan-pizza-dough-recipe/ and https://thefeatherednester.com/bisquick-pizza-dough/
Hope this helps!
Barbara says
I made these when I realized I forgot to buy hamburger rolls at the store. My husband and kids begged me to never buy store bought rolls again. I followed the directions exactly and they were perfect!