One of the most important parts of any good burger is the foundation. You need a good bun. Otherwise, you just have a mess! Follow our handy guide to the best burger buns.
🍔 How to Prepare the Buns
When it comes to the best buns for hamburgers, a big part of the magic is in the preparation. If you want a one that tastes as good as the best burger joint you’ve visited, you will need to grill your buns.
Grilling buns can be accomplished on a grill, on a griddle, or even on a skillet. All you will need are the buns of your choice and butter. Butter both insides of the bun and place those face down on your hot surface for about three to five minutes until they crisp up a bit.
If you need to make a large number of “grilled” buns, butter the buns and place them on a sheet pan. Pop them in the oven on broil (buttered side up) or convection bake (buttered side down) at 400º for 2-4 minutes. Keep a close eye on them so you don’t burn your buns.
While each different type of burger bun has pros and cons, a lot of the cons (soft, no flavor) can be overcome simply by buttering and toasting it. It makes a huge difference and takes very little time.
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Options
You have so many choices when it comes to types of hamburger buns. You can dress your burger up in style, and change it up frequently for variety and fun. From regular hamburger buns to Texas toast, you’ll love these ideas! Each comes with pros and cons, so let’s talk about that first.
Then we will talk about each of the different types of hamburger buns in greater detail. Several of the pros or cons listed could actually be in either column depending on what you are looking for so study both columns in this list to make an informed decision about the best buns for burgers.
| Type of Bun | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Hamburger Buns | traditional | boring |
| Everything Bagel Flavored Buns | flavorful | strong flavor |
| French Hamburger Buns | sturdy, gourmet | unsliced, tough |
| Sesame Seed Buns | textural | soft |
| Potato Rolls | flavorful | soft |
| Pretzel Rolls | sturdy, flavorful | chewy, thick |
| Kaiser Rolls | crusty, sturdy, | hard, stale, unsliced |
| Brioche Buns | gourmet | soft |
| Ciabatta Sandwich Rolls | sturdy, crunchy | chewy |
| English Muffins | sturdy, lower carbs | chewy, harder to eat |
| Bagel Thins | lower carbs | hole in the middle, chewy |
| Texas Toast | flavorful, different | soft, less sturdy |
| Kings Hawaiian Rolls | flavorful, sweet | small |
| Onion Rolls | flavorful | soft, strong flavor |
| Pita Pockets | no-drip | dry, rip easy |
| Lettuce | no-carb, gluten-free | not bread |
Regular Hamburger Buns
Classic hamburger buns are exactly what you want for traditional burgers. The buns have very little flavor so they really let the flavor of the burger and condiments shine through.
A high-quality brand will be strong enough to take a big burger stacked with toppings while still having a soft texture on the inside. These buns grill up perfectly with a little butter for a restaurant-quality finish.
Everything Bagel Flavored
When you want incredible flavor on a burger bun, go with the buns that have Everything Bagel seasoning. This savory seasoning blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, garlic, and salt is the perfect complement for your burger. Buttered and toasted, this less-traditional bun will wow your guests precisely because it is different.
French Hamburger Buns
French bakery buns are the gourmet go-to burger bun when you want to get fancy. You’ll find them in the bakery aisle unsliced, so don’t grab them on your way to a picnic or you’ll be slicing buns with plastic knives. Been there, done that!
These sturdy buns will stack a big burger without falling apart and have a crusty exterior and soft interior. They can be a bit chewy so a little toasting on the grill really makes a difference.
Sesame Seed Hamburger Buns
Texture is almost as important as flavor when it comes to eating, and sesame seed buns are big on that. Basically, this bun is the same as a classic bun with sesame seeds added to the top. The seeds on top can make the bun a bit firmer and a little crunchy.
These buns also tend to a be a bit larger in diameter, which is perfect when you want hefty amount of beef. Of the best burger buns that made our list, this is one of our favorites. It is a classic!
Potato Rolls
Potato rolls are really common in the mid-Atlantic states, but you can find them almost anywhere nowadays. These are made by replacing some of the wheat flour with potato flour.
The rolls are soft and a bit sweeter than traditional buns.
Pretzel Rolls
When you visit a restaurant known for high-quality burgers, you will almost surely find a pretzel burger on the menu. This bun is made from traditional pretzel dough with all the flavor and structure of a good bakery pretzel, but in the shape of a bun.
This pretty much the quintessential bun – it’s sturdy and chewy on the outside, soft on the inside, and full of flavor. You can stack it high or keep it simple. It holds together extremely well, even when stacked with tomatoes, lettuce, onions and all of the other fixings.
Kaiser Rolls
A traditional Kaiser roll is split into five segments that meet in the middle on top and form a crusty, sturdy bun a little on the firmer side. This can be a great gourmet bun choice with enough strength to pile on the toppings.
You’ll find these unsliced in the bakery at your local grocery store. They go stale quickly so plan to purchase them close to the day you want to consume them. Kaiser rolls can be smaller than a traditional bun, so plan your patty size accordingly.
Brioche Buns
These bakery style buns are soft, smushy and a fan favorite. They are already buttery and moist, so they butter up and grill beautifully but probably won’t hold up to a big pile of toppings.
These buns are best for simple burgers that don’t require much structure and are great when you don’t want to detract from the flavor of the burger itself. Brioche buns can also be a bit sweet depending on the recipe used, so they can be used for both savory and sweet burger recipes. If you’ve ever had a burger with a sunny side up egg and little bit of maple syrup on top you know how amazing that would be on a brioche bun.
Ciabatta Sandwich Rolls
It doesn’t get any crunchier than a buttered and toasted ciabatta roll and when it comes to building a big burger pile. That can be a very good thing. Ciabatta rolls are also great at taking up flavor so if you want a garlic roll for your burger, add a little powdered garlic with the butter when you grill your ciabatta “buns”.
This option is very sturdy, crusty on the outside and would be a big help to something like a salmon burger which doesn’t have much structure on it’s own. Without toasting, ciabatta rolls can be a little on the chewy side.
English Muffins
This lower carb option is a great choice when you want structure for a juicy burger or one with lots of sauce. English muffins toast up beautifully and will have a crunchy surface to build your burger on.
They can be a little chewy and difficult to eat if left unheated, so they should always be grilled or toasted. English muffins often come unsliced, so be prepared with a good bread knife.
Bagel Thins
Another great low carb choice with more structure is the bagel thin. This is just like a traditional bagel but half the thickness. The dough is chewy and firm but will toast up nicely. The hole on top and bottom can be problematic if you are building a messy burger, but nothing beats the crust of a toasted bagel for building a sandwich of any kind.
Texas Toast
Build your next burger on Texas toast for an extra buttery garlic flavor and the perfect crunch. If you use the cheesy version you’ll even have built in cheese on your burger!
Texas toast is definitely not a traditional burger bun choice, but the added flavor is worth going outside of your comfort zone. Try this hamburger bun option with any recipe that would benefit from more garlic flavor. And, seriously – what recipe doesn’t get better with more garlic?!?
Kings Hawaiian Rolls
Soft and sweet Hawaiian rolls can be a great option when you are building burgers for a crowd. When you are thinking about different types of buns, this is not one that comes quickly to mind but it’s really a great choice for several reasons.
In addition to building burgers in mass, the size is perfect for sliders when you are serving appetizers, guests with varied appetites, or small children.
We cut the whole sheet of rolls in half, layer all of the burgers and topping on, add the top of the buns and then cut along segments. This gives everyone a bite-sized BBQ treat!
Onion Rolls
Similar to the everything bagel bun, the onion bun comes with it’s own unique oniony flavor that works really well with most burger recipes. Bigger than a regular bun, these rolls have toasted onion flakes on the top.
It’s an an especially nice choice with any burger that includes caramelized or grilled onions. Because of the size, these buns can be a bit soft and lack the structure needed for a large number of toppings.
Pita Pockets
When you want something hand-held that can be eaten without any dripping, pita pockets are a fun bun option. As to be expected, pita pairs really well with lamb burgers, but can be a great idea for other burgers as well.
The pockets can tear easily when cold, so a little time on the grill is a good idea. You don’t really want them toasted, just softened. Everything for the burger fits into the pocket and really cuts down on the mess, which is great for kids (or klutzy parents like me!)
Lettuce (Low Carb)
If you want to go extremely low-carb with your next burger or you are looking for a tasty gluten-free option, a lettuce wrap is the best option for your burger. A flexible lettuce such as green leaf is the best choice.
A large leaf of lettuce will fold over and allow you to hold your burger without dripping. Iceberg lettuce is not flexible enough to fold. Romaine lettuce is usually not large enough for a burger when folded with the spine and will break if folded against the spine.
FAQs
Regular classic buns are all well and good, but when you want variety try everything bagel buns, French hamburger rolls, sesame seed buns, potato rolls, pretzel rolls, Kaiser buns, Brioche buns, Ciabatta sandwich rolls, English muffins, bagel thins, Texas toast, Kings Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, Onion Rolls, Pita pockets, or lettuce wraps.
Brioche buns are very moist and buttery and work well with turkey burgers or chicken burgers which tend to need moisture and added flavor.
In order to make sure your burger bun is vegan you will need to check for milk, eggs, butter, whey, and casein. These are all dairy products typically used in bread baking. The Arnold brand regular bun is a common favorite among vegans, but you should always read the label to be sure because brand recipes can change.
Ciabatta rolls are a great choice for salmon burgers, which are delicate, flaky, and lack structure on their own. Bakery French rolls are also a good option.
Brioche is both buttery and moist which makes it a great choice for chicken burgers.
Green leaf is the best choice because you can find large leaves that are flexible enough to be folded while strong enough to carry the burger to it’s last bite.
Lettuce wraps may be the way to go when it comes to gluten-free buns, because the flavor is on point. You can also purchase gluten-free buns from your favorite brand such as Canyon Bakehouse Bakery but many people prefer the lettuce wrap approach instead since gluten-free bread lacks strength.
Butter the cut sides of each bun and slap them face down in a hot skillet, griddle, or grill surface to toast up your buns for burgers restaurant-style. In a pinch, use the oven.
Lettuce wraps are probably the lowest carb option, followed by gluten-free buns from your favorite brand, English muffins, and bagel thins. Be sure to read the labels on your keto bun of choice.
We are partial to pita pockets for lamb burgers, but honestly you can’t go wrong with any of the best burger buns on this list.
Potato buns are very complementary in flavor for a pork burger and have enough structure without being too stiff.
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Conclusion
Get creative and try different types of hamburger buns every time you make burgers for your family! Match the style of bun to the toppings planned, and pretty soon you will have a favorite selection that pleases everyone eating at your table. Whether you go traditional or think completely outside of the box, the best burger buns are up to you to decide!
Have you tried something completely different from our list? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!
