Skip the store-bought carbs and preheat your oven for the ultimate recipe for Easy Homemade Burger Buns.
I recently caught myself glaring at the wide array of hamburger buns in my local supermarket with the kind of epic eye-roll generally reserved for a Real Housewives reunion. All those buns. All those lifeless and on-the-brink-of-expiration buns. Are they any way to greet a stack of perfect hamburger patties?
I’m the girl in the supermarket who reaches as far back as humanly possibly to retrieve what I can only imagine is the freshest bag of burger buns. As if somehow, magically, that bag that’s just barely out of reach is going to far surpass its aging counterpart parked conveniently in front of my huffing and puffing face.
Retracting my Go-Go Gadget limb, I reappear from the tower of carbs while firmly grasping my prize: a bag of only slightly less smashed burger buns.
Needless to say, I go to great lengths to acquire the best buns a store has to offer. But there will be no more grocery store aisle contortion routines from this girl. I am now a homemade burger bun enthusiast. And, yes. They’re easy. As in mix, proof, shape and bake easy. Absolutely zero kneading required! Of course there are two rounds of proofing, which results in a fluffy, doughy texture, but you can speed up the process with my go-to proofing machine …
A dryer!
Yep. My ugly, old dryer. Remember the Pepperoni Pizza Pull-Apart Bread? Different recipe, same technique.
So as we embrace prime burger season, I’d like to invite you to spare yourself the store-bought varieties of hamburger buns. Spare yourself the crumbly texture and the cardboard taste. And instead, give a little love to your patties with Easy Homemade Burger Buns, “everything” seasoning optional!
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Ingredients
For the buns:
- 2 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup lukewarm water (See Kelly's Notes)
- Vegetable oil, for greasing
For the topping:
- 1 egg white
- 2 teaspoons "everything" seasoning
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the buns in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Beat the ingredients at high speed for 2 minutes until they begin to come together around the dough hook.
- Lightly grease a large bowl with vegetable oil. Gather the dough into a ball and transfer it to the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm, dark place for 60 to 90 minutes until it has visibly puffed.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently deflate the dough and divide it into 6 equal pieces for regular-sized buns or 12 equal pieces for slider-sized buns.
- Shape the dough pieces into balls, tucking the edges under to make smooth tops, and then place them on the baking sheet, spacing them apart so they do not touch. Gently flatten the balls so they're about 3 ½ inches wide for regular-sized buns or 2 inches wide for slider-sized buns. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for an additional 60 to 90 minutes until the buns are noticeably puffy.
- Place the rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 350°F. Whisk the egg white with 2 teaspoons of water. Brush the tops of the buns with the egg white mixture and then sprinkle the buns with the "everything" seasoning (optional).
- Bake the buns for about 20 minutes, until they're light, golden brown.
- Remove the buns from the oven, transfer them to a rack and allow them to cool completely.
Kelly's Notes:
- The amount of water used in the recipe depends on how humid your environment is. Use 2/3 cup water in summer months or more humid climates and use ¾ cup water in winter months or in drier climates.
- The egg white wash isn't essential, but it's what gives the buns their attractive sheen and golden brown crowns.
- The buns can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
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Recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour.
This recipe is easy and so good! As an amateur bread maker, I was surprised how easy it was.
It really makes us not want to buy store bought buns anymore. I didn’t know the dryer trick before this. We usually just turn our oven on to the lowest setting then turn it off once the dough goes in and vent it by putting a wooden spoon in the oven door. But it’s nice to have another option as well. We also didn’t have everything seasoning so I just used sesame seeds. Worked great!
Thanks for the great recipe!
Yay! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Sydney!
Made these last night for the first time. Followed the recipe exactly and did use the everything bagel seasoning. They were delicious!! Definitely will be on our “repeat” list. I would never have thought to add Parmesan cheese and onion powder to a bread or bun recipe, but it brought a great flavor to them without overpowering them!
Not only were they delicious, they looked great too!
Woohoo! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Cat!
Can you make this by hand? No mixer no bread machine no hook?
Thank you
Hi Audrey! I’ve never tried making this recipe without a stand mixer, but I think you could do it by hand. It should work out without any issues (although the texture might be slightly different), you’ll just want to make sure the ingredients are well incorporated.
I’ve made these buns at least a dozen times! They are my family’s fav!
Woohoo! I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe!