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Don't Toss Out Those Leftover Hamburger Buns!

Madison

It's the day after the Fourth of July, most of America just celebrated with a backyard barbecue and chances are that you've ended up with extra buns. It's impossible to calculate exactly how many portions you'll need to feed a gathering of people, and most of us just opt to over-buying rather than have a bun shortage right when those appetites start kicking in. Instead of tossing out the surplus or eating hamburgers for the next few days, read on to learn the variety of ways you can use leftover buns!


No matter what types of burger buns you have left over, they can be used to make savory breakfasts, mouth-watering desserts, salad garnishes, side dishes, and everything in between. These recipes are so versatile and delicious that you could be eating hamburger buns at every meal without realizing it!


One of the easiest and most multi-purpose options for leftover buns is to turn them into breadcrumbs. If you have a food processor, all you have to do is pulse the buns in the machine until they're the desired consistency.

Spread them on a tray and put them in the oven at 300ºF for 5 to 10 minutes until lightly browned and crispy. Want more flavor? Toss them in olive oil with salt and pepper before you bake them and add your choice of seasonings once they've cooled.

Image Source: Taste of Home

 

Breakfast casseroles are typically made with Italian or French bread. Your leftover buns won't be as crusty and hearty, but they'll still be a great substitute! Just put a layer of shredded burger buns in the bottom of a casserole dish and whip up the eggs, milk, and additional ingredients of your choosing. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and let it sit for at least an hour to ensure it is fully saturated. This can be done overnight, giving you nothing left to do in the morning apart from preheating the oven and baking the breakfast casserole!


 

Let's face it, bread pudding is wildly underrated. Bread pudding has long been a reliable recipe for using up stale bread, and it works just as well with hamburger buns. It's also highly adaptable.

Classic bread pudding recipes call for nothing more than vanilla, cinnamon, and maybe a handful of raisins, but you can add nuts, bourbon, lemon curd, and any kind of fresh or frozen fruit.

Pop it in the oven and you'll soon be thanking yourself for over-purchasing burger supplies!

Image Source: All Recipes

 

Who says you can't enjoy stuffing the other 364 days out of the year? Stuffing is one of the best Thanksgiving side dishes, but you can eat it during any season. It's such an adaptable dish, you can perfect a signature recipe or experiment with different versions, all while using your leftover hamburger buns!

Image Source: A Mindfull Mom

 

For a quick meal that uses up multiple leftovers, bruschetta's got your back. Traditional bruschetta is made by toasting slices of an Italian sourdough bread called pagnotta in oil and topping them with chopped tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. The delicious dish has evolved over time to include nearly every ingredient imaginable. Ciabatta is the common bread of choice, but using leftover hamburger buns is a great substitute. They won't have the same chewiness as ciabatta, but they will provide a thick base for your ingredients along with a light, airy texture!

Image Source: The Recipe Critic

 

Grilled cheese is a fail-safe option that never gets old. No matter how stale your burger buns are, nothing can take away from the combination of butter and melted cheese! Go for a basic recipe or get creative with smoked gouda and roasted veggies. There's no reason to only use one cheese, try a combination! The key to using a hamburger bun for grilled cheese is flipping it so the inside it face down on the pan to soak up all that buttery goodness.


 

Mouthwatering French toast, but in a casserole dish. Think of it as the love child of traditional French toast and bread pudding. Do you enjoy it for dessert or breakfast? The choice is yours! Customize the recipe to fit your cravings - If you're looking for something light and healthy, add fresh fruit and use less sugar.

Image Source: Belle of the Kitchen

 

Croutons can turn even the most boring salad and blandest soup into fragrant, buttery dishes. Whether you prefer them plain, garlicky, or coated in herbs and parmesan, they open doors to all kinds of delicious meals. If you have bread lying around, toasting up some croutons is a no-brainer.


Image Source: The Pioneer Woman

 


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