These keto buns are fluffy, soft, and tender on the outside, you won’t believe them to be low carb! Made with 5 main ingredients, they are perfect to use as hamburger buns! 2 grams net carbs per serving.
Keto Buns
Whenever I’m craving bread on a keto diet, my favorite recipes to make are rolls, tortillas, and these keto buns.
During the warmer months, one of my favorite things to do is throw a barbecue with friends. There is nothing better than filling up an esky with drinks and a plethora of foods to grill. Now, if I’m being honest, the best food at any good barbecue is the humble hamburger. There is something special about a freshly grilled burger patty, topped with cheese, sliced tomatoes, all between a soft and fluffy burger bun.
When I first went keto, trying to find a keto substitute for burger buns was high on my agenda. My friends would tell me to just use lettuce leaves but that would NOT cut it. Initially, I would use an English muffin or slice a soft pretzel in half. While they were fantastic alternatives, they weren’t what a hamburger bun should be. Instead, I adapted my pizza dough to create something pretty darn close!
I’ve been meaning to share a keto buns recipe for quite some time. They’ve been fantastic to complete my favorite hamburgers, as sliders, and even as a fancy sandwich. They need just 4 main ingredients and take minutes to prepare.
No wheat, no yeast, and no grains are needed, but you’d never tell. The texture is soft and fluffy and with a light and tender crumb. They taste like any good burger bun, with no cheesy or almond flavor at all.
I had some friends over for a bbq the other day and we used these buns for the hamburgers and NO ONE believed me when I told them they were low carb- They thought it had to be made with white flour and yeast!
How do you make keto hamburger buns?
The Ingredients
- Shredded cheese– Mozarrella cheese works best, as it is mild tasting and works well into the dough. You can also use cheddar cheese, but it will have a more obvious cheesy flavor.
- Cream cheese– Softened and full fat.
- Eggs– Two eggs will be used in the dough and the other will be whisked and brushed on top of the buns, to create a shiny brown crust!
- Almond flour– You must use blanched almond flour, not almond meal.
- Baking powder– Gives the buns a little stability and structure.
- Sesame seeds– Optional, but any good hamburger bun MUST have sesame seeds on top!
The Instructions
Start by adding your shredded cheese and cream cheese into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second spurts, until the cheese is mostly melted. Whisk together until combined and let it cool slightly. While it is cooling, mix together your dry ingredients and transfer to a food processor. Add the cheese mixture, along with two eggs, and pulse at high speed, until the dough is mostly combined.
Now, remove the dough from the food processor and gently knead it, until it is smooth. Form 4-6 large balls of dough and place them on a lined baking sheet. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg with the milk. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of each of the buns. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes, before slicing in half and using as buns.
Tips to make the best keto burger buns
- Ensure the cheese mixture is warm, but not hot. If it is too hot, you risk cooking the eggs into the dough.
- If you cannot fit all the buns on a single baking tray, do one at a time. Cooking multiple trays at once can cause the buns to deflate.
- These buns must be served warm, otherwise, they will be firm and dense.
- For slider buns, form smaller balls of dough and reduce the bake time by 2 minutes.
Storing and freezing low carb hamburger buns
- To store: Leftover buns should be stored in the refrigerator, covered. They will keep well for up to 1 week.
- To freeze: Slice the buns in half and place them in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Reheating: Either microwave the buns for 30 seconds or slice them in half and heat in a non-stick pan until warm.
More keto bread recipes you’ll enjoy
Easy Keto Buns
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded cheese mozzarella cheese * See notes
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 1 3/4 cups almond flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 large eggs
For the glaze and topping
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add the shredded cheese and cream cheese. Microwave in 20 second spurts, until the cheese is mostly melted. Remove and whisk together, until combined and smooth. Let the mixture cool slightly.
- Transfer the warm cheese mixture into a food processor. Add the dry ingredients, along with the eggs, and pulse until a thick dough remains.
- Lightly dust a kitchen surface with almond flour. Transfer the dough onto it, and, using slightly wet hands, knead it several times. Once the dough is smooth, divide it into 6 portions. Roll the portions of dough into balls and place them on the lined tray. Press down onto each one into a thinner burger bun shape. Brush the tops with the remaining egg (whisked), before sprinkling the sesame seeds on top.
- Bake the buns for 14-17 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes, before slicing in half and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Have you just abandoned us vegans and gone totally keto now? 😉
No I haven’t haha! 🙂 My dad is keto so I make lots of this stuff for him- I still love making eggless and dairy free recipes 🙂
Do you think I could use my stand mixer with the dough hook instead of the food processor and skip the kneading part?
I haven’t tried, but I have made this in the food processor with a dough hook function and it worked well 🙂
Can I sub the almond flour (my mom is allergic to almonds ) and we are on keto, so i want to do buns for a hamburger lunch
Not for this recipe
My dough turned out super sticky. Is that suppose to happen. I had to wet my hands often. I did manage to make 6 balls and did press them into a burger bun shape. They did turn out. I just couldnt believe how sticky the dough was though. I did not have full fat cream cheese. I used light. Would that have caused the dough to be that sticky?
Yes, I don’t recommend low fat cream cheese, it has added water and fillers to bulk it up.
Do the leftover buns have to be refrigerated? What happens when they are left out?
I don’t recommend them being left out.
Hi, thank you for the recipe, the bun is delicious. Unfortunately the dough deflated after taking it out of the oven🙁. Any idea why?
Note:- I mixed the dough by hand instead of food processor.
Do I need the cream cheese or could I sub for more full fat mozzarella?
You need the cream cheese
I made this recipe and they are so good and soft too!! I reheated a leftover bun the next day and it was even better. I was skeptical that they wouldn’t come out like the picture but they did and it was so worth it!! I wish I could post a picture.
Can they be shaped into a hot dog/sausage roll?
I haven’t tried but let me know if you do try it!
Yay! So good! Made the recipe exactly as directed and they came out great. Going to make some to freeze. Great for sandwiches, which I was really missing since starting keto.
🙂 So welcome!
We liked these alot. Thanks for a great recipe. Holds up to a big juicy burger. I messed up and squooshed them done to much. Suggest barely push down on balls. They should be about the dia. of a drinking glass (max) and about 1.5+ thick. Quick and easy to make. I made a half batch and it worked perfect for 3. I thought I would have to go try one of those keto yeast bun recipes. But wanted this to work because hamburgers should be a quick dinner. And you made it happen!
Just made your keto rolls turned out beautifully
the best bread I have had since starting Keto
Thanks Arman, look forward to trying out more recipes
Heather
Thank you, Heather!
Can the dough be made beforehand and freezed, and then baked when needed? Would that work with these buns?
Thanks for your help :)!
Not that I’ve tried 🙂
is cheese compulsory?
Yes, it is.
These are the best buns I’ve eaten they taste like regular bread. Actually better. So yummy.
Thanks, Debbie!