The best burger buns are pillowy, squishy, and flavorful. They shouldn’t fall apart or have too big a crumb. A good hamburger bun should also be fairly firm—it shouldn’t be too fluffy. It should smoosh with the burger patty, fusing the two together. Ideally, the best burger buns should contain a hint of sweetness, too. Most of all, a good hamburger bun doesn’t distract from the star of the show, aka the meat.
We put a lot of work into this best hamburger buns ranking, conducting not one, not two, but three separate taste tests. We listened to recommendations from the food industry as well as the Sporked fans. We’re proud of this list and we stand by it. What made the list? And what are the best burger buns to crack the top 11? Let’s find out. (And if you’re looking for the best frozen burgers to put on the best burger buns, we tasted and ranked those, too!)
- Ballpark Burger Buns
As far as burger buns go, this is pretty standard. But the price for an eight-count bag is hard to beat. Whether you go seeded Ballparks or plain, you’re still getting a fluffy, sweet, sizable bun. Say you’re having a party for more than ten people and you just want reliable consistency, this is where Ballpark comes in. If you’re churning out burgers and dogs on a grill and are looking for an inoffensive, decent quality bun, Ballpark is the best hamburger bun for you. This burger bun makes me think of cheap beer and a standard burger, which is never a bad thing. Plus, it won’t cost you $30. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Alfaro’s Artesano Bakery Buns
These buns feel like they’re bakery fresh. They’re fluffy, sweet, and just a little bit doughy. Quite honestly, these satisfied our indulgent, fancy food cravings more than any brioche buns we tried—none of which ended up making the list. An Alfaro’s Artesano Bakery Bun probably isn’t best for a standard burger, but if you’re adding some bacon, sharp cheddar, or flavored mayonnaise, these buns will compliment those ingredients well. They’re meaty and doughy in a way that begs for a lot of toppings. Buy Alfaro’s when you want to step up your burger game, while not venturing too far into gourmet territory. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Amazon
- Oroweat Premium Golden Seeded Sliced Buns
This Oroweat bun might be thick, but it condenses nicely if you squish the burger in your hand. This bun is soft, flavorful, and seeded nicely on both the top and the sides of the bun. The extra texture from the seeds is welcomed and earns these buns a spot on the best hamburger buns list. This bun is great if you’ve got a proclivity towards Big Macs—and who among us doesn’t like a Big Mac? — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Amazon
- Wonder Classic Hamburger Buns
Wonder is a reliable, all-American product with great brand recognition. Wonder’s instantly identifiable squishy, sugary bread is a great addition to anything meaty. Their buns are so soft, they practically become one with the burger. We had a feeling Wonder would do good work here, and they did. If you want a burger bun to just stay out of the way and let the meat do the talking, this is the best burger bun for you. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Walmart
- Dave’s Killer Bread Burger Buns Done Right
These look appetizing. They’re dusted with flour as if they just came out of the oven. And they come cut all the way through, so you don’t have to worry about ripping into the bun too much. They’re a little sweet, wonderfully chewy, and sturdy enough to handle a couple of smash burger patties. I do think they could use some toasting (but I’m a toasted bun kind of gal). They’re made without bleached flour and they tout 6 grams of protein. Want to feel a little better about scarfing down a greasy burger? These are the best burger buns for you. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Oroweat Country Potato Sandwich Buns
These buns are thick and sizable, which make them the best burger buns if you’re making a gourmet burger at home. The potato flavor is great, and they are quite soft, too. Oroweat’s Country Potato hamburger buns are dusted with flour for that bakery-fresh aesthetic, and the sweetness here is really great. Again, these buns are huge and can withstand a whole lot of toppings. If you love a fried egg on top of your burger, these would hold that slippery yolkiness well. Some commenters on Amazon mentioned that these buns don’t last too long at room temperature since they’re free of preservatives, so that’s something to keep in mind. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Amazon
- King’s Hawaiian Sweet Hamburger Buns
There’s gotta be a dump truck of sugar in these. I mean, King’s Hawaiian Sweet Hamburger Buns contain at least double the amount of sugar as the other burger buns on this list. It could be too much for your average burger eater. But the sweetness makes these the best hamburger buns to pair with spice—so if you like chili peppers, sriracha mayo, pickled jalapeños, and the like on your burgers, this bun could provide a good balance. Overall, these are incredibly squishy, soft, and delicious. It’s a King’s Hawaiian Sweet Roll in burger bun form. What’s not to like? — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target
- Dave’s Killer Bread 21 Whole Grains and Seeds
Whole grain burger buns are often very dry and sad. But not this one. It’s pillowy and soft and it looks incredible with its wide array of seeds scattered like a textured galaxy across the top of the bun. (That’s how good these burger buns are, they inspired that level of poetry.) It’s definitely not too wheaty, either. If you’re opting for a slightly healthier bun, this is the best burger bun to buy. It just further proves that Dave’s (makers of the best store bought bagels) really know what they’re doing in the bakery. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Arnold Country Potato Sandwich Buns
Arnold’s buns have that wonderful potato bun squishiness and flavor, plus this really shiny and buttery exterior that’s quite alluring. The chew of this bun is incredible, and it’s dense enough to soak up all that delicious burger juice.You might see online that Oroweat and Arnold are actually the same company, and their products do in fact look identical, but we didn’t get a chance to try them side by side. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Amazon
- King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Hamburger Buns
An unconventional pick for number two, but the flavor here is undeniable. As a hamburger bun, this checks every box: The squish factor is great, the texture is solid, and the flavor is sweet. Combine that with the toasty, salty flavor of a pretzel, and this is a damn winner. The sweet and salty flavors play off of each other really, really well, and the soft texture is a damn delight. King’s Hawaiian rolls are iconically squishy and sweet, and this burger bun version only confirms their stellar reputation. (They’re also the only pick when it comes to the best slider buns.) This was the bun we couldn’t stop eating. It was previously the number one best burger bun, but given that it’s a rather specialized product, we moved it down to make room for more conventional burger buns at the top. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target
- Francisco Deli Hamburger Buns
A list of adjectives to describe these burger buns: Sweet, squishy, dense, tangy, and buttery. A friend recommended these a while ago, and once we got a hold of them, we absolutely fell in love. Instacart says these are $4.47 for 16 (sixteen!) hamburger buns, and that’s a huge reason they are the best burger buns. That’s incredible value for a really good product. If you’re looking for a utilitarian hamburger bun for a cookout, Francisco is your guy. This is the most affordable, practical recommendation for your cookout needs. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
Best for a Big BBQ
Best Bakery Buns
Best Sesame Seed Bun
Best Crossover
Best Organic
Best Gourmet Burger
Best Sweet
Best Whole Grain
Best Potato Bun
Best Unconventional
Best of the Best
Other burger buns we tried: Sprouts Hamburger Buns, Kirkland Artisan Hamburger Rolls, Nature’s Own Brioche Buns, Marketside Brioche Hamburger Buns, Signature Select, Signature Select White Artisan Hamburger Buns, St. Pierre Brioche, Trader Joe’s Seeded Hamburger Buns, Pretzilla Soft Pretzel Bread, Great Value, Authentic Pretzel Bun
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