Homemade dinner rolls are the perfect thing to serve with any meal. These yeast rolls are soft and fluffy, with just a hint of sweetness. You only need a few ingredients to make these, and they’ll compete the meal beautifully.
Easy Dinner Rolls
These are the absolute best dinner rolls because they’re simple, delicious, and they go with everything. No meal is complete without these soft rolls on the table!
Sometimes the bread is the best part of a meal, especially when it’s soft, fluffy, and perfectly flavored. Add butter, honey, or jam to these fresh-baked rolls and enjoy.
Why You’ll Love this Dinner Rolls Recipe:
- Simple Ingredients: You only need 7 basic ingredients to make these yeast rolls from scratch, and you probably already have them on hand.
- Fluffy: The soft and fluffy texture is so heavenly. Slather on plenty of butter, and these will melt in your mouth.
- Best Side Dish: Every meal could use a nice dinner roll on the side, and these really complement any dish.
Once you learn how to make these dinner rolls from scratch, you’ll want to make them for every meal. Luckily, you can prep them and freeze them ahead of time, so you’ll always have some ready to bake!
How to Make Dinner Rolls
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Make the Dough: Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine and heat butter with other liquid ingredients on the stove. Then combine the two mixtures in a stand mixer using a dough hook, until the dough forms.
- First Rise: Transfer dough to a large bowl, coat in oil, cover the bowl, and let it rise.
- Second Rise: Divide the dough into separate rolls and place them in a baking dish. Cover the dish and let them rise.
- Bake: Bake until golden brown, brush with melted butter, and serve!
Dinner rolls are named after their purpose, which is to be an easily-passed side dish to accompany a meal!
Instant yeast is ready to be used right out of the package, whereas active dry yeast is coated to preserve its freshness. Because of this coating, you need to dissolve active dry yeast in warm (105-110°F) water before using it.
When using instant yeast, your best bet is to check the expiration date. As long as the package is sealed and within the date, the yeast should be good to go. If your bread dough doesn’t rise after the first proofing, your yeast may be old!
Absolutely! To make these dinner rolls by hand, stir together the step 1 and 2 ingredients until well-combined. Knead the dough for about 15 minutes, then continue to follow the recipe as written.
Dense or heavy rolls are usually caused by not kneading the dough long enough. Be sure to knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. If your dough is properly kneaded, it should slowly spring back when pressed with one finger. If it springs back too quickly, it is under-kneaded. If it does not spring back at all, it is over-kneaded. The same tips can be used to tell if the dough has been proofed enough. Too springy means under-proofed and not springy enough means over-proofed.
There are a few culprits for hard dinner rolls. First, you may have added too much flour. Be sure to measure your flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid using too much. Second, the dough may be over-mixed. Over-mixed dough will not spring back when pressed gently with a finger. Finally, the rolls may simply be overbaked. Perfectly baked rolls should be golden brown on top and 190°F internally.
Serving Suggestions
Every meal will be better off once you add these dinner rolls to the plate. They truly go with everything, so whatever you’re cooking, this is sure to be the best side dish. Here are some favorite dinners to try out.
Make Ahead Instructions
These dinner rolls are a great make-ahead recipe. You can prepare the dough through step 6, then place it in the refrigerator overnight to proof slowly. Continue the recipe as written the next morning!
Storage Instructions
Store leftover dinner rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Freezing Instructions
- Shaped: Shape the rolls and place them on a baking sheet with space between them. Freeze for 8-12 hours, then transfer to a Ziplock bag and store for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 3-5 hours, until risen. Bake as directed.
- Risen: Let the rolls rise completely, then freeze in a Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature until soft, about 2 hours. Bake as directed.
- Fully Baked: Freeze fully-baked dinner rolls in a Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 2 hours and reheat before serving.
Substitutions
- Bread flour gives the rolls a great chew, but you can substitute all-purpose flour.
- You can use active dry yeast instead of instant. Set aside ¼ cup of the milk and heat it gently to 105-110°F. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk, let stand for 5 minutes (until foamy), then mix it into the dough with the butter/milk/sugar mixture in step 3.
- You can use plant-based milk and butter if you prefer.
- Liven up the dough by mixing in 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1-2 tablespoons of freshly chopped herbs, or ½ cup of freshly grated cheddar or cheese!
Tips for the Best Dinner Rolls
- Make sure your yeast isn’t expired!
- Measure your flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense, hard rolls.
- Take care not to overheat the butter/milk/sugar mixture; otherwise, you could kill the yeast.
- If the dough is too sticky, add up to an additional ⅓ cup of flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Tent the rolls with foil if they are browning too quickly in the oven.
Whether you’re cooking a beautiful holiday dinner or a quick weeknight meal, these fluffy homemade dinner rolls will fit right in. So say hello to your new go-to bread recipe!
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Recipe
Dinner Rolls Recipe
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 3 hours 45 minutes
Homemade dinner rolls are the perfect thing to serve with any meal. These yeast rolls are soft and fluffy, with just a hint of sweetness. You only need a few ingredients to make these, and they’ll compete the meal beautifully.
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the flour, yeast, and salt. Transfer the bowl to the mixer and secure the dough hook.
4 cups bread flour, 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast, 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
In a saucepan, heat the milk, butter, and sugar until it reaches 120-130°F. Add to the mixer with the dry ingredients.
1 cup milk, ½ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup granulated sugar
Start the mixer on low and work up to medium speed. Mix for 2 minutes until combined.
Add in the eggs and mix on low, increasing to medium, until combined.
2 large eggs
Increase the speed to medium high and mix for 3 minutes.
Oil a large bowl, rub the oil up the sides to coat. Transfer the dough to the bowl and roll it around to coat it with the oil.
Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 60-90 minutes.
Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface.
Divide the dough into 15 equal portions (about 65 grams per roll). Roll each portion into a round smooth ball. (Watch the video to see our method!), then place them in the prepared baking dish.
Cover the rolls and let rise until doubled, about 60-90 minutes.
Halfway through the rise, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the rolls are browned and cooked through.
Brush with melted butter and serve warm!
Becky’s tips
- Bread flour gives the rolls a great chew, but you can substitute all-purpose flour.
- You can use active dry yeast instead of instant. Set aside ¼ cup of the milk and heat it gently to 105-110°F. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk, let stand for 5 minutes (until foamy), then mix it into the dough with the butter/milk/sugar mixture in step 3.
- You can use plant-based milk and butter if you prefer.
- Liven up the dough by mixing in 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1-2 tablespoons of freshly chopped herbs, or ½ cup of freshly grated cheddar or cheese!
- Make sure your yeast isn’t expired!
- Measure your flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense, hard rolls.
- Take care not to overheat the butter/milk/sugar mixture; otherwise, you could kill the yeast.
- If the dough is too sticky, add up to an additional ⅓ cup of flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Tent the rolls with foil if they are browning too quickly in the oven.
Storage: Store dinner rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1roll Calories: 213kcal (11%) Carbohydrates: 29g (10%) Protein: 6g (12%) Fat: 8g (12%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 0.3g Cholesterol: 43mg (14%) Sodium: 251mg (11%) Potassium: 86mg (2%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 4g (4%) Vitamin A: 252IU (5%) Vitamin C: 0.01mg Calcium: 31mg (3%) Iron: 0.5mg (3%)
