Homemade Hamburger Buns

These Homemade Hamburger Buns are soft, tender, and sturdy enough to hold all your favorite burger toppings. Lightly sweetened with honey and brushed with an egg wash before baking, they turn beautifully golden in the oven and are easier to make than you might think.

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I've tested these buns with both bread flour and all-purpose flour, as well as instant and active dry yeast. All of them work beautifully, making this an adaptable homemade bun recipe for summer grilling, burger nights, and anytime you want fresh bread from the oven.

And perhaps best of all, they freeze well, so you can make a batch now and tuck a few away for the next cookout.

Key Ingredients

You can find the ingredient measurements in the recipe card below, but here are a few notes on the ingredients you'll need.

• Bread flour or all-purpose flour: Both worked extremely well in testing. I prefer bread flour because the crumb is just a little sturdier and holds up beautifully to burgers, but don't hesitate to use all-purpose flour if that's what you have.
• Yeast: You can use either instant yeast or active dry yeast. Instant yeast makes the process slightly quicker because it can be added directly to the flour. See the recipe notes if using active dry yeast.
• Eggs: One egg is used in the dough, and another is combined with milk for the egg wash.
• Butter: Melted butter helps create a soft, tender bun.
• Honey: Adds a subtle sweetness to the dough.
• Oil: Olive oil: A small amount helps keep the dough soft and tender.
• Milk: Used with the egg to create a golden egg wash before baking.
• For topping: Sesame seeds or coarse sea salt are both delicious, or simply leave the buns plain.

If you love baking homemade bread, you might also like my Homemade Whole Wheat Bread or this soft Honey Oat Sandwich Bread. And for an easy dinner roll, these Quick Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls are always a favorite.

How to Make Homemade Hamburger Buns

Step 1: Make and Rest the Dough

Mix and knead the dough until it is soft and slightly sticky. Cover and let it rest for about 30 minutes.

Step 2: Flatten the Dough

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and gently pat it into a slightly rounded 5 x 10-inch rectangle, about ½ inch thick.

Step 3: Divide and Shape

Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball by tucking the edges underneath, then gently flatten into a disc.

Step 4: Rise and Bake

Arrange the buns on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Brush very gently with egg wash, add sesame seeds or coarse salt if desired, and bake at 375°F for 15-17 minutes or until golden.

What Is the Best Flour for Hamburger Buns?

I tested these hamburger buns with both bread flour and all-purpose flour, and either can be used successfully.

The difference was quite subtle, but I preferred the batch made with bread flour. The buns had a slightly sturdier crumb that held up particularly well once filled with a burger and toppings.

If all-purpose flour is what you have in the pantry, however, use it. The buns were still wonderfully soft and delicious.

What to Serve with Homemade Hamburger Buns

Fresh from the oven, these buns are perfect for my Grilled Beef Burgers pictured here. Add your favorite toppings and a spoonful of Homemade Burger Sauce for an easy summer dinner.

They're also delicious with Greek Turkey Burgers, chicken burgers, or black bean burgers. Or browse all of my easy grilling recipes for more cookout inspiration.

Storing and Freezing

Once completely cool, keep the hamburger buns tightly covered for serving later. For longer storage, freeze the cooled buns and thaw as needed for future burger nights or cookouts.

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