I Tried 6 Burger Buns to Find the Best Brand for a Barbecue

6. Butternut

Coming in at the bottom of my ranked list are the hamburger buns from Butternut. I found these buns to have a very delicate, soft texture that compressed between my fingers and collapsed after the first bite. A juicy burger with any wet or heavy toppings would quickly overwhelm these buns. They didn’t have much substance or chew and felt gummy in my mouth.

Retailing at $4.49, Butternut buns are on the higher end of the price range for the brands I tried. I did appreciate that this brand was the only one of those I sampled that offered a recipe on the back of its packaging. The blue cheese burgers sounded delicious, and this was a nice touch for added value.

Bottom Line: My kids liked the sweet flavor and soft texture of these buns, but they are simply too fragile for a hearty adult-style burger.

5. Pepperidge Farm

At first glance, I noticed that the Pepperidge Farm Soft White hamburger buns looked slightly different from the majority of the other buns I sampled. They were a bit darker with a toasted appearance. I appreciate that the browned exterior offered a bit of textural contrast, but I found the inside a bit dry. This stiffer structure was a welcome departure from the overly soft texture of the Butternut option, but it still wasn’t exactly what I was looking for in the perfect bun. At $4.29, these buns didn’t have a bargain value to skew my opinion either.

Bottom Line: I liked how the package offered recommendations for grilling or toasting the buns. The suggestion to spread butter, mayonnaise or olive oil on the buns before heating is a great way to add flavor and texture to an otherwise lackluster and somewhat expensive bun.

4. Ball Park

The buns from Ball Park were the most expensive of the lot, coming in at $5.19. The All-American graphics on the packaging imply that these are the best choice for a game-day meal (or at least to remind us of summer days watching The Sandlot). I did like the texture and structure of these buns as well as the slightly sweet, buttery flavor. In addition, Ball Park offers a “great taste guarantee,” promising you will love every bite or you can get your money back.

Bottom Line: The buns from Ball Park are a solid choice that will hold up to juicy hamburgers, but when there are less expensive options that are even more delicious, they won’t necessarily become my go-to brand.

3. Aldi

Aldi is known for great prices, and that certainly extends to the brand’s classic hamburger buns. At $1.39 per package, this value just can’t be beat. Even though these buns were a bit smaller in diameter than others on the list, that wasn’t a negative in my book. Sometimes it’s nice to have a more modestly sized burger so I can still have room for potato salad, watermelon slices or other summer sides.

The low price point definitely didn’t mean a sacrifice in quality—the flavor and texture were great. In addition, Aldi has a number of other bun options for folks who are looking for variety in a one-stop shopping destination. I spied brioche, potato and pretzel buns, plus keto and gluten-free options on the shelves.

Bottom Line: If you’re feeding a crowd and need a lot of high-quality buns at a great price, it is worth a trip to Aldi.

2. Trader Joe’s

This was my first time buying hamburger buns at Trader Joe’s, and I wonder what took me so long! Even before opening the package, I was impressed by the size and shape of these buns. They had great height, so they held up well to a bigger patty. The soft, fluffy texture had just the right amount of chew. And the $2.99 price point totally won me over for the quality.

There were several other bun options at Trader Joe’s that I’m excited to try in the future. I spied potato buns and pretzel buns, two of my favorites!

Bottom Line: Trader Joe’s buns will certainly make their way into my cart on future shopping trips. I did read some advice online that because these buns don’t contain heavy artificial preservatives, they can sometimes spoil or mold quickly. Therefore freezing the bread is recommended if you have leftovers.

1. S. Rosen’s

My number one choice for classic hamburger buns was a runaway win for S. Rosen’s. At $4.99 per package, they were more expensive than other top picks, but I found the splurge to be well worth it. These buns hit the ideal sweet spot between a tender chew and sturdy structure that can hold up to even the juiciest of burgers without falling apart. The bread is not overly sweet or salty, which allows the burger and toppings to really shine.

The S. Rosen’s buns have a gorgeous golden sheen—you can see it even through the package! I would guess this sheen comes from an egg wash before baking. I found that it made for the best texture of all the buns I tried.

Bottom Line: These soft, white burger buns will hold up to all toppings from simple hamburgers to the sauciest sloppy joes. None of the others even came close in my professional foodie opinion!