The Best Buns for Burgers [Includes Creative Alternatives]

The bun is one of the most important parts of the burger because it is what holds it together! There are many buns people like to eat their burgers on. Some are types of bread, while others are alternative buns.

In this article, we’ll break down the top 15 options and what makes them so popular in the first place!

Contents

Best Burger Bread Bun Options
Best Burger Bun Alternatives
Final Thoughts

Best Burger Bread Bun Options

Buns are made from bread, a staple food in nearly every American household.

Most often, buns are used to hold together the burger, and we are going to bring you 10 of the most popular buns out there.

Plain

The plain bun is pretty self-explanatory, and really, you can’t get more basic than the plain bun.

It is in the typical bun shape with no seeds, seasoning, or extra flavoring added to it. Some might find this bun to be on the boring side, but others will appreciate how simple it is.

If you are the type of person to just want something that is stable and will hold together your burger, then the plain bun is for you.

Hey, don’t be ashamed if you prefer the plain bun.

Potato

At first glance, the potato bun looks similar to the plain, but we assure you they are not the same bun. For one, a potato bun is made of different potatoes—hence the name.

Another difference is that the potato bun is much thicker and more filling than some of the other buns on this list.

Using a potato bun will guarantee that your burger will stay secure and in one place while you are eating.

Sesame Seed

The sesame seed bun is another popular bun choice among burger eaters. Adding sesame seeds to a bun does add some flavor and texture.

While it may not be a big splash of flavor, if you compare it to the plain bun, then there is a big difference.

They are smaller and less sturdy than, say the potato bun, but for those who are having a simple burger with little to no fixings, then this is the option for you.

Pretzel

Pretzel buns seem to be all the rage lately. You’ll find them at a lot of fast-food and regular restaurants that serve burgers.

This bun is very thick and tastes like a mixture of butter, salt, and yeast. It tastes like a pretzel!

Due to how thick and large it can be, it’s best to just have a burger and a few fixings. If you add too much, you may not take much of a first bite.

Kaiser Roll

Kaiser means emperor, and this large type of bun is deserving of the name kaiser. These rolls are made of white wheat flour and have a distinct pinwheel-type design on top of them.

The Kaiser Roll is very soft and flaky. It will let you put a large burger between the two pieces of buns with a few fixings.

They are also great at containing the juices from the burger, so don’t worry about those spilling out while you are eating!

Sliced Bread

Out of all the bun options, using sliced bread is probably the simplest option here… even more so than the plain bun, which is pretty amazing when you think about it.

The sliced bread’s biggest benefit is that it is the cheapest and easiest option here.

Pretty much everyone keeps sliced bread in their household—I mean, it’s one of the top staples besides milk and eggs.

One of its drawbacks is that it is very thin and can get mushy quickly. If this doesn’t bother you, then go for it.

However, if that doesn’t sound very appealing, pass on the sliced bread option.

Onion Bun

You may have heard of the onion bagel, but what about the onion bun?

The onion bun looks similar to plain or sesame buns, and when you bite into it, you’ll taste the flavor of onion. It’s on the small side, so it’s best to just add the burger and a few fixings to it.

This option is best for those who want some flavor in their burger. With the onion burger, you won’t even have to put on onions!

The onion from the bun and the natural flavors from the burger will combine to create a great and memorable taste.

Ciabatta

Ciabatta, meaning slipper in Italian, is an Italian bread invented back in 1982. This thick Italian bun is made with yeast, water, salt, olive oil, and wheat flour.

The result is a thick bun that can hold a decent-sized burger and whatever fixings you want to add to it.

For some, the Ciabatta bread might be on the hard side. However, only the outside is hard. The inside is very soft, which might be what makes it sound appealing to your burger lovers out there.

English Muffin

Despite the name, English Muffins do not originate from England.

When compared to some of the other bread options on this list, English Muffins offer more nutritional value than, say, bread does.

Two slices of English muffins are only 127 calories each, while regular bread can be around 150 calories each.

This is not the most typical choice for a burger bun, but when toasted, they make a great option.

While they aren’t the largest option, they won’t get soggy as sliced bread will. Everything will stay moist and not end up mushy.

Brioche

The final option in this section is Brioche, which originates from France.

These buns are made with extra flour and egg compared to other buns out there, giving them a very fluffy appearance.

Taste-wise, it has a rich buttery taste, so this will certainly help bring out the natural savory juices from the burger.

For some, this might be too fancy of a bun, but hey, sometimes you want a little of a gourmet taste added to your burger.

Best Burger Bun Alternatives

Not everyone likes to eat their burger on a bun, and this is where these five bun alternatives come into play. Some may seem a little out there but don’t knock it until you try it.

Lettuce

If you want to eliminate those carbs from your diet and go for something on the healthy side, then using lettuce in place of a bun is a great way to do this.

The lettuce that works best is iceberg or romaine. You want something that is sturdy and will hold your burger in place.

Biting into such a concoction will give you quite the crunch. The better the crunch, the less chance there is of your burger and fixings falling out.

This is why you want to make sure the lettuce isn’t too soft.

Fried Mac and Cheese

Yes, you are reading this right. Fried Mac and Cheese can be used as a bun alternative. Is it the healthiest option?

No, of course not, but it is an option that will give you a huge burst of flavor because of the fried mac and cheese and burger blend.

One of the bigger drawbacks of using fried mac and cheese to hold together your burger is that you have to make the fried mac and cheese yourself.

This isn’t something you can just go out and purchase at the grocery store.

Donut Buns

A burger that uses donuts as buns is sometimes referred to as a Luther Burger.

You grill up some donuts (typically glazed) and then put your hamburger and fixings in between the two donuts.

On the surface, this may seem like a strange combination, but consider the mixture of the sweet donut and the savory burger.

For those who want that tangy sweetness, the donut bun is the option for them out of all the ones on the list.

Ramen

Using ramen as a bun alternative is a great option for those who want to try something different or are just on a budget.

To make this, get some ramen and then fry up the ramen with some egg, vegetable oil, and other assorted ingredients.

For those that crave a big crunch when biting into their burger, this is something they should try. It has an even bigger crunch than the lettuce and fried mac and cheese combined!

Portobello Mushroom

Our final option is another healthy option! Portobello Mushrooms are very large mushrooms that are perfect for holding a burger and whatever fixings you want to add.

If you want to use a portobello mushroom as a bun, you need to cook it in the oven or on the grill.

The result is a healthy, thick, and tasty burger you won’t want to put down until it’s finished.

Final Thoughts

And that is a wrap burger, lovers. There are so many types of buns you can use for holding your burger, some being on the traditional side and others being unique.

All of them help complete the burger because, without them, you’d have nothing to hold your burger and fixings all together!

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William Thomas

I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.