Name: Quick Ultra Soft Burger Buns
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 8 buns
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 1/2 cups (420g) all-purpose flour; 1 tbsp instant yeast; 1/4 cup (50g) sugar; 1 tsp salt; 1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted (plus more for brushing); 1 cup (240ml) warm milk (110°F/45°C); 1 large egg (room temperature); Optional: sesame seeds for topping

Light, fluffy, and perfectly soft, these quick burger buns are the perfect addition to your homemade burgers. With minimal effort and a buttery finish, you’ll never go back to store-bought buns again!

Burger with lettuce, egg, onions, and peppers on a sesame bun sits on parchment. Wooden table background, glass and bowl blurred behind.

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It was a Sunday, around 2 PM, when we decided on a movie night. This usually means burgers and a movie at home with the kids. My husband casually suggested we go to the store for buns, and I was immediately offended. 'Why would we buy bread? Have you forgotten who you’re married to?' He laughed, 'Relax, your bread is the best, but we don't have time for all that rising and waiting.' 'Challenge accepted,' I replied.

For years, I’ve been on a mission to replicate the softness of fast food burger buns. Well, I finally did it! The secret isn’t just in the ingredients—it’s all about the short bake time and pulling them out at precisely the right moment. More on that below.

So I went to ChatGPT and asked:

Simple and quick ultra soft burger buns recipe

It said:

Here’s a simple and quick recipe for ultra-soft burger buns:

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups (420g) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp instant yeast
1/4 cup (50g) sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup (240ml) warm milk (110°F/45°C)
1 large egg (room temperature)
Optional: sesame seeds for topping

Instructions:

Activate the yeast: In a large bowl, whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Mix the dough: Add the melted butter, egg, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until the dough comes together. Knead by hand or using a stand mixer for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Shape the buns: Punch down the dough, then divide it into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Second rise: Cover the buns with a clean towel and let them rise for 30-40 minutes until puffy.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Optionally, brush the tops with milk or egg wash and sprinkle sesame seeds. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown.
Cool: Let the buns cool slightly before slicing.

These buns are soft and perfect for burgers!

I then refined:

After taking out of the oven, I brushed with melted butter. It was heavenly. Please update the recipe.  Also they only needed 10 mins in my oven FYI.

And here is the best burger bun recipe EVER:

Servings: 8 buns

Calories per serving: 220

Total prep time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Quick Ultra Soft Burger Buns

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups (420g) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp instant yeast
1/4 cup (50g) sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted (plus more for brushing)
1 cup (240ml) warm milk (110°F/45°C)
1 large egg (room temperature)
Optional: sesame seeds for topping

Instructions:

Activate the yeast: In a large bowl, whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Mix the dough: Add the melted butter, egg, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until the dough comes together. Knead by hand or using a stand mixer for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Shape the buns: Punch down the dough, then divide it into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Second rise: Cover the buns with a clean towel and let them rise for 30-40 minutes until puffy.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Optionally, brush the tops with milk or egg wash and sprinkle sesame seeds. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Butter finish: Immediately after removing the buns from the oven, brush them generously with melted butter for an ultra-soft, buttery finish.
Cool: Let the buns cool slightly before slicing and serving.