Best Keto Buns for Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, and Sandwiches

Introduction

Hamburger buns are a must for any summer cookout, whether it be for the Fourth of July or a family get-together. Perhaps there is no greater introduction to classic Americana than a hamburger. Between two starchy buns sit cheese and beef. Imposing Patient. Appetizing and utterly delectable.

For those that follow a low-carb, low sugar diet, a classic hamburger presents a challenge as the average burger bun– yes, you read correctly, singular–contains 20 to 25 grams of carbohydrates. If you’re on a keto diet, how do you eat a hamburger bun if they’re so full of carbs?

Introducing keto burger buns! The best recipe that practically sells itself like a prime Billy Mays. Imagine a burger bun with 95% less carbs, a toasty golden brown crunch, and a flavor profile so delightfully cheesy it could out-dad your own father in-jokes.

Yes, that’s right. Back away slowly from that head of lettuce. Today we share with you the secrets of keto burger bun replacement. With only five ingredients and a foolproof preparation method, this is a healthy bun for anyone craving bread. But wait, there’s more! Just joking there isn’t, so let jump into the recipe shall we?

The Key Ingredients- The Why’s & Tips…

  1. Cheddar Cheese. A cup of cheddar cheese is highly recommended in a keto diet due to its high protein and fat content. Cheddar cheese helps with satiety, the feeling of fullness that will make you feel full for longer. Additionally, it’s naturally low in carbs. 
    Tip: You can substitute cheddar cheese with mozzarella and cream cheese if you’re after a less distinct cheesy taste. Mozzarella cheese is more sliceable and generally easier to incorporate.
  2. Almond Flour. Four tablespoons of almond flour. This stellar substitute for all-purpose flour works wonders when making keto burger buns, as it’s extremely low in carbs. It can also be used as a 1-to-1 substitute but keep in mind that the dough may get slightly spongy.
    Tip: We recommend regular almond flour or ground almonds instead of finely crushed ones. Otherwise, you may observe the dough turning too firm. If this happens, add water to the dough.
  3. Parmesan Cheese. A tablespoon is enough to make keto hamburger buns. It’s an ideal cheese substitute for your keto diet. For this recipe, the parmesan provides a background role for additional flavor and saltiness, making your buns impart a more decadent buttery crunch.
  4. Xanthan Gum. Of course, we’ll need a substitute for gluten which provides traditional dough the ability to rise. Xanthan gum solves this problem. About ¼ is enough to give our keto burger buns loft. Xanthan is a popular food additive in keto meals. It’s used primarily as a stabilizer or thickener in most baked goods. Xanthan gum also gives our buns a nice hold preventing the burger bun from becoming too crumbly. This star ingredient ensures your keto buns have a similar texture to conventional bread.
  5. Three eggs. Eggs hold everything in your keto hamburger buns together. In this recipe, our eggs need to be at room temperature. If you’re getting them from the fridge, we recommend waiting for a few minutes until they’re no longer cold. If you use eggs right from the fridge, you are likely not going to see your buns rising the way you want. 

Related: White Bread Keto Chaffle | Wonder Bread Chaffle

Reviews
4.5(321)

20 minutes

5 buns

Ingredients

1 cup cheddar cheese
4 tbs almond flour
1 tbs parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
3 eggs
Nutritional Information
118 Calories
10g Total Fat
-0g Net Carbs
7g Protein

Directions

1
Whisk three eggs in a large mixing bowl.
Make certain the eggs are at room temperature. Whisk eggs together until the mixture becomes homogenous. In other words, "Mix till it looks well mixed". Why say a lot of words when few words do the trick?
2
Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl. 
Add the remaining ingredients: (1 cup of cheddar cheese, four tablespoons of almond flour, one tablespoon of parmesan cheese, and ¼ tsp xanthan gum) to the egg mixture and whisk until everything is well combined. 
3
Shape the dough.
When you have achieved the right consistency, which is dough-like, you can start shaping. Line your baking tray with parchment paper, and place equal four to five spoonfuls of the mixture. You can shape them as desired. 
4
Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees and then broil for 3 minutes.
After broiling, remove keto buns from the oven. Place the baking sheet on a cooling rack and let the hamburger buns cool for a few minutes before tasting them. Serve warm, and enjoy! 

Notes

  • You can use coconut flour if you don’t have almond flour. But if you do, ensure your eggs are large enough so the dough mixture doesn't get clumpy. 
  • Use a cookie scoop instead of a spoon for equal dough portions. 
  • If you don’t have parchment paper, you can slightly grease the baking sheet with butter or oil. This can also prevent the dough from sticking to the sheet. 
  • Our low carb bread recipes serve as a substitute for white bread. You can enjoy them with your favorite spread.
  • You can serve hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, or even tacos (with a few modifications) on these delicious buns! Just shape them accordingly before they bake. 
  • Leftover buns should be placed in the fridge to maintain their freshness. Place them in tightly-sealed containers. 

Tools You'll need

Besides the ingredients you'll need for these low-carb hamburger buns, you'll also need to gather tools for the job. The best tools for these best keto hamburger buns are:

  • A whisk. You need this to mix everything. And because the recipe is simple, you don’t need a high-end stand or hand mixer.
  • Large mixing bowl. This is where you will mix all the ingredients to make your keto hamburger bun dough. Always go for the largest bowl to provide ease when mixing. A smaller bowl might lead to a frustrating experience incorporating the ingredients.
  • A spoon. Scoop the mixture and portion equally when it’s time to bake.
  • Baking sheet with parchment paper. Provide a nonstick surface for the shaped buns to rise before baking them. Parchment paper is mess free tool that prevents the dough from sticking to the baking sheet or pan. You can go without it, but you'll likely pay for this decision when it's time to clean up.
  • Oven with a broiler function. These buns need to be baked, ideally in an oven but not worry as most ovens in conventional kitchens come with a broiler function. Broiling gives a nice crisp crunch and golden brown appearance. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute the almond flour for coconut flour in this recipe?

You can but it is much preferred to use almond flour, as coconut flour would most likely leave the bun with a more crumbly texture. Some find that a desirable characteristic; however adding a teaspoon of baking powder improves the texture, giving it a similar hold to almond flour. Also note that if you make this swap, you must adjust how much flour you use. Almond flour vs. coconut flour is not a 1:1 ratio. 

Will the texture of keto buns differ from traditional burger buns?

Yes because these keto buns are gluten-free, they won’t have the same texture as normal burger buns. These are neither as elastic or as soft and fluffy as buns made with regular or wheat flour. If you have tried those store bought keto taco shells that are just made out of melted and formed cheddar cheese these will be similar in taste. However, the taste of cheese flavor in this recipe is not too overwhelming as there is a combination of cheddar and Parmesan cheese.
If those taco shells had a baby with buns made from Fat Head dough, these keto buns would be there delicious kid (is that weird to say? Just go with it)! What you get is a bun that is not just burnt cheese or a scrambled egg mixed with almond flour. These sufficiently hold up the contents and are savory addition to sandwich, bun etc.

My oven does not have a broiling function. Is that fine?

Broiling your buns prior to taking them out of the oven helps to give them a nice crisp and brilliant amber-brown color. If it is true we first eat with our eyes, their appearance makes them practically irresistible. However, not all ovens have this function. If your oven does not have the broiler function, that’s alright. The taste will remain unchanged, and you can still enjoy your soft keto buns. Broiling is a preference. If you are particular to the color and crunch of keto hamburger buns, you can broil the keto buns in a cast iron pan for two to three minutes on medium to high heat until the color and texture are achieved.

Can I use these for other things aside from hamburgers?

The best part about these keto buns is that you can use them for everything! We love to serve hamburgers on these so we tend to shape them into circles. However, these are awesome hot dog buns, sandwich bread, or even soft-shell tacos! Before you bake these keto buns, make them into whatever shape your heart desires! 

Wrap-Up

Our Keto hamburger buns offer an easy-to-make burger bun with 0.4 net carbs per serving. your burger this summer. Skip the lettuce or sad bun-less burger. In under 30 minutes, you can have hamburger buns with low compromise and even lower carbs. The richness of cheddar and parmesan, nutty notes of almond flour, binding eggs held together with xanthan gum present a purposeful bun alternative with taste and texture.

We believe strongly that you don’t have to sacrifice eating your favorite foods while on a strict keto diet. If you like this recipe you may also enjoy browsing through our collection of more keto bread recipes.

Thank you so much for spending time with us. Do you have any experience trying out this recipe? Rate our keto burger bun recipe below. We love reading your comments below!