Light, fluffy, buttery dinner rolls are impossible to resist. Homemade with just a handful of simple ingredients, the BEST Dinner Rolls can you be on your table in a jiffy. They really are the perfect addition to any meal but I love this easy dinner roll recipe with Buttermilk Ranch Oven Fried Chicken or these delicious Turkey Meatballs.
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The BEST Dinner Rolls
An easy dinner roll recipe needs to be in everyone’s repertoire. These dinner rolls are perfect. Like, truly perfect. Soft and fluffy, my dinner roll recipe is going to blow you away with it’s pillowy texture and buttery flavor. They are extremely versatile and a welcome addition to essentially every meal.
I am the biggest fan of carbs. There, I said it. I’m currently working with a nutritionist and I get 3 starches a day. It’s basically torture but I’m learning to deal with it. I pick and choose those starches verrrry carefully these days.
When I knew I was making these soft dinner rolls for dinner this past week, I took extra precautions to make sure I could have at least two of these amazing dinner rolls with butter and jelly. Although, to be completely transparent, they don’t even need butter. It’s more of a habit at this point.
You guys! Just look at these fluffy dinner rolls! I love that they have just a hint of sweetness but it’s not too much. They are perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, sandwiches – you name it.
They homemade dinner rolls are quick too! They do rise twice, for 30 minutes each, but start to finish, you’re looking at 90 minutes total and not a whole lot of work either.
I use my stand mixer and let the dough hook do the kneading for me. I’m using rapid rise or instant yeast in this dinner roll recipe so all the ingredients get dumped in together, much like you would in a bread machine. It’s basically the best thing ever.
Tips for Making Perfect Homemade Dinner Rolls
- This recipe comes together super fast so it’s nice to be prepared. Measure out all the ingredients before you get started so you can just dump them in the bowl of the mixer and get started.
- The milk is what activates the yeast so be diligent about checking for the right temperature. You’re looking for somewhere between 100-110F. I warm mine in the microwave in a glass measuring cup and then use this thermometer to check the temperature. If it gets too hot, let it sit until it reaches the right temperature. Killing the yeast is a big no-no.
- The first and second rise are both 30 minutes. Keep your rolls in a draft free location and cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap.
- Making the rolls the same size ensures an even baking time. I’m pretty good at eyeballing it but to be extra sure, pat the dough into a rectangle about 8 x 12 inches. Cut into 4 strips and then cut those strips into 6 squares for a total of 24 rolls. You can use a kitchen scale to weigh them.
- When rolling the dough into balls, I like to make them nice and smooth on top by pulling the “seams” down to the bottom and giving it a twist. That’s the side I place on to the baking sheet so the top is perfectly rounded. The video below will show you more of what I mean if that is unclear.
- Check the rolls at 12 minutes. If they are starting to darken beyond what you prefer, put a piece of foil over the top. I like my rolls a nice golden brown and once it hits that color, I know the rolls are done. Always check a center roll for doneness and then tent with foil if they need a few more minutes.
- Don’t forget to brush with butter! This is what gives the top of the dinner rolls that irresistible golden sheen. It’s super important 🙂
To Make Homemade Dinners Rolls, You’ll Need
How To Make Dinner Rolls
If you like this easy dinner roll recipe, make sure to check out this Cinnamon Bread and these Cheddar Bay Biscuits – so good!
The BEST Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 4 -5 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons rapid rise, instant yeast
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1½ cups warm milk , 110 degrees
- 5 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 egg , room temperature
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Combine 3 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, salt, warm milk, butter, and egg in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Attach the dough hook and turn the mixer on to the lowest speed and mix until flour is incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
- Add 1/2 cup flour and blend with the dough hook until incorporated. And another 1/2 cup flour and repeat, mixing at medium speed for another 2 minutes until a ball of dough is formed.
- Add additional flour as necessary. The dough should be slightly sticky and soft and pulling away from the edge of the bowl.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Let rise for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Remove the towel or plastic wrap and deflate the dough by punching down lightly.
- Pinch off pieces of the dough and form 24 rolls. You can weigh them to keep the rolls close to the same size. Mine were about 2 ounces each but this will vary depending on how much flour you added.
- Transfer the rolls to a lightly greased quarter baking sheet or 9 x 13 baking dish. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise for an additional 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake the rolls for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. If the rolls are getting too brown, just tent the rolls with foil.
- Remove rolls and brush hot rolls with the melted butter. Serve immediately or store cooled rolls in a plastic bag for up to 3 days.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Feeling all the carbs?? Make sure to check out these recipes from friends:
Brioche Loaf Bread | The Best Cloud Bread | Milk Bread
Some great appetizers to try!
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Teriyaki Bites
Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls
For all dinner recipes, go HERE.
For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Celeste says
This looks great but it makes a bit too much for one sitting (we’re 3 adults and it would be on the side with a soup and salad i will be making later on in the week). Does the dough freeze well, or would you recommend cooking them all and freezing them once cooked?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Terri says
Last year I made 8 dozen for 3 family Thanksgivings and was requested to do it again this year. I was wondering if I could freeze the dough so I can take my time instead of spending 3 days making and baking? Thoughts?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Hi Terri! You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Kathleen says
I am interested in making these ahead of Thanksgiving. Can you freeze them? How do they turn out?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Jodi says
Can you store dough in the fridge for a day or two for fresh rolls each day?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can store the dough for about 1 day, I’ve never had them in the fridge for longer than that.
Amy Gernant says
Can these be made ahead of time and dough frozen? I am wanting to make ahead of time for thanksgiving
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Brittany says
Hello, do you have any suggestions on freezing the dough? We are traveling about five hours away for Thanksgiving and I would like to pre-make the dough here freeze it and then let it bake when I get where I’m going on Thanksgiving morning. We will be driving over the night before so I can sit in the fridge to thaw out and rise. Any suggestions? Or would be better to bake them and then freeze them. Also do you think I could make this in the bread maker?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Rebecca Henderson says
This is the first time I have made these rolls. I left out the butter. Are they ruined?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
No, they will still turn out.
Stacie says
Made these rolls last week, and they were absolutely incredible. Looking to make them for Thanksgiving and all the store had was active dry yeast. When I use active dry yeast I usually proof in water, should I proof in milk or can I add water to this recipe? Any recommendations?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I have made this recipe with active dry yeast and didn’t change the recipe at all. It will just take a bit longer to rise. If you want to proof, proof the yeast in the warm milk and then proceed as directed. Hope that helps!
Lindsey A says
Hello! Was wondering if I can prep these the day before thanksgiving and bake them the next day? Thanks
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Shay says
I am wanting to make these rolls for Thanksgiving, would I be able to make these the day before and refrigerate them after forming the rolls? I am assuming I could pull them out about an hour to an hour prior to cooking them? Please let me know if you have any experience with making them in advance
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Amber says
I wanted a quick and easy bread recipe to make last minute with dinner and decided to try this because I had just enough yeast. It was my first time making rolls, until now I have only ever made loaves of bread…NEVER AGAIN! These rolls were amazing! My husband loved them!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’m so glad Amber! Thank you for the sweet comment!
Nancy says
Do you thionk I can make these ahead of time for Thanksgiving and freeze them?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Jamie Winchester says
Love this recipe, I added garlic an came out buttery garlic delicious with my beef stew😘💕
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Great idea! I bet they were delicious!
Stella says
Do the rolls freeze well
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.
Jane says
Tried this recipe today & buns were amazing.
Used to make rolls with my mom who I miss so much.
These got rave reviews.
Mara Lazar says
I made these a little while ago and they turned out amazing. Definitely making these again. Do you think it’d be possible to freeze the dough?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Excellent Mara!
You can freeze the dough, here’s how:
Prepare the dough as directed, let it rise, and then shape the rolls.
Freeze the rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet or in a baking pan spaced out so they aren’t touching.
Place them in a ziploc freezer bag.
When you are ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise for about 4 hours at room temperature. The exact time will of course depend on warm your home is.
Then simply bake as directed.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the baked dinner rolls and let thaw for an hour or at room temperature.