Your Choice of Buns or Rolls: Quick and Easy in 30 Minutes

This is life!  I had steaks laid out, thinking it was only going to be my husband, my son, and myself.  I was wrong.  I ended up with an extra kid and my daughter too. 

The quickest thing to thaw out of the freezer is ground beef.  So hamburgers it was.

There are some weeks that I just dread going to the store.  This was one of them.  We had a hectic week. We had been out of town, on the road for eight hours, AND the kids were hungry.  I didn’t go prepared with a list.  I stopped at the store just long enough to grab a few essentials so I could feed everyone when we walked in the door.

Have any of you ever done that?

That little stop meant we had everything we needed…except hamburger buns.

Just to note, I have a hard time buying hamburger buns.  Our crew doesn’t eat them very often.  We usually use fresh, toasted bread. I have made buns on occasion, but it takes a while to put them together.  Unfortunately, I don’t plan well when it comes to weeknight dinners. 

This time was different.  I decided to try out a new recipe.  The goal was to make it within an hour.  That’s approximately how long it would take for our burgers and steaks to be done on the Pit Boss.

Why You’ll Love These Quick Buns or Rolls

When I say this recipe is easy, I truly mean it. It’s quick, simple, and incredibly versatile.

• Ready in about 30 minutes
• No long rise time
• Can be shaped into buns or rolls
• Soft, tender, and family-approved

Whether you shape them into hamburger buns or soft dinner rolls, these buns or rolls fit right into busy weeknight meals.

The batch I made that night turned into large hamburger buns, and my kids and husband couldn’t stop talking about how soft and delicious they were.

Helpful Notes Before You Make These Buns or Rolls

Buns or Rolls—You Choose

This dough is very forgiving and easy to shape. You can divide it into larger portions for hamburger buns or smaller pieces for dinner rolls. This dough works well whether you need buns or rolls for dinner, sandwiches, or sliders.

Bread Machine Friendly (And No Shame Here)

I own a bread machine, and I use it often—especially on busy days. It’s been a lifesaver in my kitchen. I use it strictly for mixing and kneading the dough, which frees me up to handle the rest of dinner.

If you choose to use a bread machine, place the ingredients in according to your machine’s instructions and use the dough function only. Once the kneading cycle is finished, remove the dough immediately.

Do not let it rise in the machine. Because this recipe uses a generous amount of yeast, the only resting time needed is while the oven preheats.

Kneading By Hand

If you don’t have a bread machine, kneading by hand works just as well. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it forms a soft dough. It will still be slightly sticky.

If needed, add small amounts of flour while kneading. When shaping the dough, lightly wet your fingers—it makes handling the dough much easier.

👉 Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list, instructions, and printable recipe.

A Weeknight Win with Homemade Buns or Rolls

My family said these were the best buns I had ever made.  It will definitely be a repeat recipe in my house. Recipes like this make it easier to skip store-bought buns and enjoy homemade buns or rolls instead.

I hope you take the time to try this recipe.  I think you will be surprised at how quick and simple it really is.  Plus, you can rest easy knowing what ingredients are in the food you just made. 

Comment below and let me know if you make these and what you make. Was it buns, rolls, or something else???

If you love simple, real-life recipes like this one, you’ll feel right at home at Rooted Table—my once-a-month recipe email where I share new recipes, freezer-friendly tips, and encouragement for busy home cooks.

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