Best Hamburger Bun Recipe

You’ve got flavorful dry-aged ground beef and all you want to do is sink your teeth into a juicy burger…but you have no burger buns!? You can’t pair a world-class burger with just any hamburger bun, it’s got to stand up to all your fixings, isn’t too bready, and cradles your burger just right. I’ve often struggled to find the best homemade bun for hamburgers. They’re either too tough, crumble under pressure, or the bottom gets soggy. This homemade burger bun recipe hits all the marks. Plus, it’s easy to make!

The whole recipe takes about 25 minutes of active time and comes together in 2 and a half hours. This Best Hamburger Bun Recipe makes 8 larger-sized buns, and they keep well for breakfast sandwiches or lunch! The egg white wash makes for a glossy finish and helps the sesame seeds stick but if you are short on time or those ingredients, you can skip it and the buns are just as good. No more excuses, time to make homemade burger buns!

Ingredients

Dough

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup water, lukewarm

2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

1 large egg

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon instant yeast

Sesame seed topping (optional)

1 large egg white, whisked with 2 tablespoons cold water

sesame seeds

Method

Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a soft, smooth dough. I do like to ‘proof’ my yeast first which entails putting the sugar, water, and yeast together and allowing the yeast to bubble a little before adding the rest of the ingredients. Cover the dough with cling wrap and a clean dish towel, place in a warm place out of the way, and let it rise until it's nearly doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Now to shape the buns. Gently deflate the dough and divide it into eight pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and gently roll in the palm of your hand or on a lightly floured surface. Place the buns on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, pressing down slightly for a more uniform 3” round disk. Cover and let rise until noticeably puffy, about an hour. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 375°F.

To add seeds to the buns, brush the egg white/water mixture; it'll make the sesame seeds adhere. Sprinkle buns with the seeds.

Bake the buns for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden. Allow to cool on a wire rack while cooking your burgers and by the time your hamburgers are done your buns are ready to be sliced and dressed. Enjoy!