23 Fluffy Brunch Bao-Bun Recipes for New Year That Stand Out

Posted on November 28, 2025

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Introduction

Bao buns bring soft texture, warm flavor, and a fun brunch twist to New Year mornings. These pillowy buns pair well with sweet, savory, and fusion fillings, making them perfect for gatherings or relaxed weekend meals. This full collection offers a mix of classic favorites and fresh brunch-style combinations that look beautiful and taste comforting.

1. Honey-Soy Chicken Bao Buns

A sweet-savory classic that fits beautifully into brunch.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Cooked chicken (shredded): 2 cups
  • Honey: 2 tbsp
  • Soy sauce: 2 tbsp
  • Garlic (minced): 1 clove
  • Green onions: 2 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Mix honey, soy sauce, and garlic in a pan.
  2. Add shredded chicken and cook 3 minutes.
  3. Steam bao buns 5 minutes.
  4. Fill buns and top with green onions.

How to Serve It

Add sesame seeds for extra flavor.

2. Crispy Shrimp & Spicy Mayo Bao

Crispy shrimp adds a fun crunch against soft buns.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Shrimp (breaded & fried): 12 pieces
  • Mayo: 3 tbsp
  • Sriracha: 1 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Mix mayo and sriracha.
  2. Steam buns 5 minutes.
  3. Add shrimp and drizzle with sauce.

How to Serve It

Add shredded cabbage for freshness.

3. BBQ Pulled Pork Bao Buns

A rich, slow-cooked filling perfect for comfort brunch.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Pulled pork: 2 cups
  • BBQ sauce: ½ cup

Instructions

  1. Warm pork with BBQ sauce 5 minutes.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Fill generously.

How to Serve It

Top with crispy onion strings.

4. Egg & Cheese Breakfast Bao

A breakfast classic tucked into a soft bun.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Eggs: 4
  • Shredded cheese: ½ cup
  • Butter: 1 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Scramble eggs with butter.
  2. Add cheese until melted.
  3. Steam buns.
  4. Fill and serve warm.

How to Serve It

Add chives for color.

5. Teriyaki Salmon Bao Buns

A flavorful seafood option with gentle sweetness.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Salmon (cooked & flaked): 1½ cups
  • Teriyaki sauce: 3 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Toss salmon with teriyaki.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Fill and garnish with onions.

How to Serve It

Add sesame seeds.

6. Crispy Tofu & Peanut Sauce Bao

A rich vegetarian filling with crunchy texture.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Crispy tofu cubes: 2 cups
  • Peanut sauce: ¼ cup

Instructions

  1. Warm tofu.
  2. Drizzle with peanut sauce.
  3. Steam buns.
  4. Fill and serve.

How to Serve It

Add cilantro and pickled carrots.

7. Lemon-Garlic Chicken Bao Buns

Bright and fresh with a warm buttery finish.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Cooked chicken: 2 cups
  • Butter: 2 tbsp
  • Lemon juice: 1 tbsp
  • Garlic (minced): 1 clove

Instructions

  1. Melt butter with garlic.
  2. Add lemon juice and chicken.
  3. Heat 3 minutes.
  4. Steam buns and fill.

How to Serve It

Add parsley.

8. Spicy Beef & Kimchi Bao

A bold, tangy pairing with tender beef.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Sliced cooked beef: 1½ cups
  • Kimchi: ½ cup
  • Gochujang: 1 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Toss beef with gochujang.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Add beef and kimchi.

How to Serve It

Top with roasted sesame seeds.

9. Coconut Shrimp Bao Buns

Sweet coconut and crunchy shrimp work perfectly for brunch.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Coconut shrimp: 12 pieces
  • Mayo: 2 tbsp
  • Lime juice: 1 tsp

Instructions

  1. Mix mayo and lime.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Add shrimp and drizzle sauce.

How to Serve It

Add shredded lettuce.

10. Sweet Chili Chicken Bao

A bright, sweet-spicy option.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Cooked chicken: 2 cups
  • Sweet chili sauce: ¼ cup

Instructions

  1. Heat chicken with sauce.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Fill and serve.

How to Serve It

Add cucumber ribbons.

11. Crispy Fish Bao Buns

Crisp fish and soft buns make a perfect contrast.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Fried fish pieces: 8
  • Tartar sauce: ¼ cup

Instructions

  1. Steam buns.
  2. Add fish and sauce.
  3. Serve immediately.

How to Serve It

Add fresh dill.

12. Avocado Egg Salad Bao

A creamy, fresh option with soft texture.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Eggs (chopped): 4
  • Avocado (diced): 1
  • Lemon juice: 1 tsp
  • Salt: ¼ tsp

Instructions

  1. Mix all filling ingredients.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Spoon filling inside.

How to Serve It

Add microgreens.

13. Mango Chicken Bao Buns

A fruity, bright combination perfect for brunch.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Cooked chicken: 2 cups
  • Diced mango: 1 cup
  • Lime juice: 1 tsp

Instructions

  1. Mix chicken, mango, and lime.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Add filling.

How to Serve It

Top with cilantro.

14. Bao-BLT Brunch Buns

A fun bao twist on a brunch classic.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Cooked bacon: 8 slices
  • Lettuce: 8 leaves
  • Tomato slices: 8
  • Mayo: 2 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Steam buns.
  2. Spread mayo.
  3. Layer bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

How to Serve It

Add pepper for extra kick.

15. Garlic Butter Mushroom Bao

A cozy vegetarian option with rich flavor.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Sliced mushrooms: 2 cups
  • Butter: 1 tbsp
  • Garlic: 1 clove

Instructions

  1. Sauté mushrooms with butter and garlic.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Fill while warm.

How to Serve It

Add parsley and a little parmesan.

16. Pineapple Pork Bao Buns

A sweet-salty pairing that works beautifully for brunch.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Pulled pork: 2 cups
  • Pineapple chunks: 1 cup

Instructions

  1. Warm pork.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Add pork and pineapple.

How to Serve It

Add green onions.

17. Thai Peanut Chicken Bao

A flavorful, creamy chicken filling with small crunch.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Cooked chicken: 2 cups
  • Peanut sauce: ¼ cup
  • Shredded carrots: ¼ cup

Instructions

  1. Toss chicken in sauce.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Add filling and carrots.

How to Serve It

Top with crushed peanuts.

18. Sweet Teriyaki Beef Bao

A tender and slightly sweet beef option.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Thin-sliced cooked beef: 2 cups
  • Teriyaki sauce: 3 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Warm beef with sauce.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Fill generously.

How to Serve It

Add sesame seeds.

19. Brunch Sausage & Egg Bao

A hearty breakfast-style bun.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Crumbled cooked sausage: 1 cup
  • Scrambled eggs: 1 cup

Instructions

  1. Prepare eggs and sausage.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Add filling inside.

How to Serve It

Add cheese if desired.

20. Crispy Chicken Katsu Bao

A crunchy, satisfying brunch option.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Chicken katsu slices: 8
  • Shredded cabbage: ½ cup
  • Tonkatsu sauce: 2 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Steam buns.
  2. Add katsu slices.
  3. Drizzle with sauce.
  4. Add cabbage.

How to Serve It

Top with green onions.

21. Sweet Chili Tofu Bao

A flavorful vegetarian option with soft spice.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Crispy tofu cubes: 2 cups
  • Sweet chili sauce: ¼ cup

Instructions

  1. Toss tofu in sauce.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Add filling.

How to Serve It

Add cucumber slices.

22. Apple-Cinnamon Breakfast Bao

A sweet brunch bun with warm spice.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Diced apples: 1 cup
  • Cinnamon: ½ tsp
  • Brown sugar: 1 tbsp
  • Butter: 1 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Sauté apples with butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
  2. Steam buns.
  3. Spoon warm apples inside.

How to Serve It

Add a drizzle of honey.

23. Lemon Pepper Chicken Bao

A bright and zesty chicken filling.

Ingredients

  • Bao buns: 8
  • Cooked chicken (shredded): 2 cups
  • Lemon juice: 1 tbsp
  • Lemon pepper: ½ tsp
  • Butter: 1 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Melt butter with lemon.
  2. Add chicken and seasoning.
  3. Heat 2 minutes.
  4. Steam buns and fill.

How to Serve It

Top with thin lemon zest strands.

Conclusion

Bao buns make brunch fun, soft, and full of color. With sweet, savory, crunchy, and creamy fillings, there’s something here for every New Year mood. Try your favorites, mix flavors for a brunch board, or share these ideas with friends who enjoy creative small plates.

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