Making the Best Hamburger Buns from Scratch

Would you like to impress your family and friends with homemade burger buns? You'll be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to make homemade hamburger buns in your bread maker.

I've been making this easy recipe for hamburger buns in my bread machine since 2011. Have you noticed how the hamburger buns in the grocery store have gotten smaller and smaller? If you’ve ever had a burger fall apart because the bun couldn’t hold up, or you’ve been disappointed by dry, small grocery store buns, these homemade bread machine buns fix both problems.

Bread Machine Hamburger Buns (Soft, Better Than Store-Bought)

Name: Bread Machine Hamburger Buns
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 3 h 3 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3/4-1 cup lukewarm water (depending on humidity); 2 tablespoons butter, melted; 1 large egg, at room temperature; 3-1/2 cups (14.75 ounces) all-purpose unbleached flour; 1-1/4 teaspoons salt; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 Tablespoon bread machine yeast

Homemade Hamburger Buns

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Making your own hamburger buns from scratch means you control the size and the quality. Once you start making your own burger buns, you won't want the buns from the grocery store ever again.

Making hamburger buns at home is easier than you might think, especially if you use a bread machine. I use my Hamilton Beach bread machine to prepare the dough for these hamburger buns using the dough setting. This recipe will work in any 2-pound bread maker.

Once the dough is ready, I shape it into rolls and then bake the rolls in the oven. It couldn't be easier. All you need to do is add the ingredients to the bread machine in the order listed in the recipe. Your dough will be ready to shape into buns in 120 minutes.

I recommend these kitchen tools when making these buns: my bread machine and my kitchen scale. These links are for the same models I use in my kitchen and love.

Jump to Recipe

Watch: How to Shape Hamburger Buns That Bake Evenly

This is the step that makes the biggest difference in how your buns turn out.

Tips for Baking Burger Buns

Burger Bun Ingredients

First, measure out the lukewarm water. You'll want to decide on the right amount of water depending on the time of year and humidity. Use 3/4 of a cup in very humid conditions.

I also like to measure my flour by weight. If you don't have a kitchen scale yet, please consider getting one. I use mine several times a week and wouldn't want to be without it.

Weigh Your Flour

When using a bread machine, add all the ingredients to the machine in the order they are listed in the recipe and select the dough cycle.

After 120 minutes, the dough will have been kneaded and will have completed its first rise.

Divide the dough into eight portions and roll each into smooth round balls by cupping your fingers lightly around the dough and rolling it on the counter.

Roll the Dough on the Counter

Place the dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If you want a flatter burger bun, gently flatten each bun using the bottom of a measuring cup. I usually don't flatten my buns.

Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rise for one hour. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F near the end of the hour.

Flatten the Dough

After the hour, brush each piece of dough with melted butter. If you'd like to add some seeds to the tops of your buns, use egg white instead of melted butter then sprinkle with the seeds.

Brush with Butter

Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the buns are nicely browned. Brush the tops of the buns again with melted butter. This makes the tops of your buns soft. Remove the buns from the pan to cool on a wire rack.

Brush Hamburger Buns Again with Butter to Soften the Crust

Once cooled, slice the buns and top them with your favorite burger. These buns are terrific for sandwiches, sloppy Joe's, or pulled pork, too.

These buns freeze nicely. Cool completely and store in a single layer in a zip-closure freezer bag.

Why Your Hamburger Buns Didn’t Turn Out Right

Dense buns → too much flour
Flat buns → over-proofed
Dry buns → overbaked

My Bread Machine Success Without Guesswork has all my tips for bread-making success with your bread machine.

What to Make Next: Other Bread Machine Recipes

If you’re getting comfortable with your bread machine, you might also love my cinnamon swirl bread or small batch cinnamon rolls, both of which use the dough cycle and simple shaping techniques. Other recipes you might like:

Bread Machine Foccacia Bread
Honey Oat Bread
Hearty Flaxseed Rolls

burger buns, sandwich buns, bread machine buns

bread

American

Yield: 8 large buns

Author: Donna Urso