Dinner Rolls

These old-fashioned, fluffy, homemade dinner rolls are the perfect companion to any main dish.

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Who can resist bread fresh from the oven? Flaky, soft, buttery dinner rolls are the perfect companion to any main dish. This basic dinner roll recipe can be made in just over an hour, which makes it easy enough for busy weeknights and helpful on holidays when you’re rushing to get everything done.

MORE RECIPES: Balsamic Glazed Steak Rolls | Easy to Make Cornbread Side Dish Recipe | Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Dinner rolls are the perfect addition to any meal, so don't let homemade rolls only be something that you make for a special occasion. No need to rely on frozen rolls, these homemade rolls are easy enough to whip up for a weeknight menu and delicious enough for the Thanksgiving table.

Making the best dinner rolls doesn’t need to be a difficult process. This recipe is made with a stand mixer, 7 ingredients, and just 10 minutes of prep time.

Fluffy dinner rolls that practically melt in your mouth are likely to outshine any main dish.  They will be awfully delicious whether you pair them with Crockpot Beef Stew or Creamy Chicken and Asparagus.

Dinner Rolls Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Rapid rise, instant yeast
• Granulated sugar
• Salt
• Milk
• Butter
• Egg

The best dinner rolls only need a short list of ingredients, the majority of which are pantry staples including flour, sugar, and salt. If you've been nervous about making homemade bread don't be. Even the process of making dinner rolls can be broken down into three simple parts: making the dough, shaping the rolls, and baking them.

To shape the dinner rolls start by pinching off pieces of the dough to form 20 equally sized dough balls. You could also divide the dough using a bench cutter tool. Cup the cut dough pieces in the palm of your hand and roll the pieces into rounds either on the countertop or using your other hand.

Once you've mastered the basic recipe you can try some dinner roll variations by adding garlic, herbs, or cheese, maybe even chocolate. After baking, place your rolls in a serving dish or bowl and cover them with a kitchen towel to keep them warm.

How to Make Dinner Rolls

FIRST STEP: Add 3 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir together. Add warm milk, softened butter, and egg.

SECOND STEP: Attach the dough hook and turn the mixer on to the lowest speed, mix until flour is incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

THIRD STEP: Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.

FOURTH STEP: Add ½ cup flour and blend with the dough hook until incorporated. And another ½ cup flour and repeat, mixing at medium speed for another 1-2 minutes until a ball of dough is formed. Add up to ½ of additional flour until the dough ball is slightly sticky and pulling away from the sides of the bowl.  

FIFTH STEP: Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel and let rise for 30 minutes at room temperature.

SIXTH STEP: Remove the towel and deflate the dough by punching down lightly.

SEVENTH STEP: Pinch off pieces of the dough to form 20 equally sized dough balls.

EIGHTH STEP: Transfer the rolls to a lightly greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Cover with a towel and let rise for an additional 30 minutes at room temperature.

NINTH STEP: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the rolls for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. If the rolls are getting too brown, just tent the rolls with foil.

TENTH STEP: 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.

Cooking Tips 

Warm the milk in the microwave for about 1 minute and 10 seconds to reach approximately 110 degrees F.

This recipe calls for making the dinner rolls with your stand mixer, but you can easily make them by hand as well. Start by mixing the dough ingredients together in a large bowl, and then knead the dough for 10-12 minutes.

While this recipe calls for instant dry yeast, which does not need to be proofed, you can also use active-dry yeast. If using active-dry yeast combine the warm milk with 1 Tablespoon sugar and your yeast. Then whisk in the remaining sugar, salt, melted butter, and egg. Slowly add the flour ½ cup at a time.

How long to bake dinner rolls? Bake your dinner rolls at 375 degrees for about 15-17 minutes, until golden brown.

Storing this Recipe

AT ROOM TEMPERATURE:  Place leftover rolls in a plastic storage bag or wrap them in foil and store them at room temperature for up to 4 days.  

IN THE FREEZER: Bake your rolls as directed and allow them to cool completely before placing them in an airtight container. To eat, thaw rolls in the refrigerator or at room temperature, then reheat in the oven or microwave.  

IN THE FRIDGE:  Dinner roll dough can also be made ahead of time and refrigerated. For make-ahead rolls, follow the recipe through the step where you shape the dough and place it into the baking dish. Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate it for up to 48 hours. Before baking, place the dish on the counter and let it warm up to room temperature for 2 hours. Bake rolls as directed.  

Dinner Rolls

These old-fashioned, fluffy, homemade dinner rolls are the perfect companion to any main dish.

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Resting Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 20 rolls

Calories 156 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 ½ cup all-purpose flour , divided
• 1 ½ tablespoon instant yeast , rapid rise
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 ¼ cup warm milk , 110 degrees
• 4 tbsp butter , softened
• 1 egg , room temperature
• 2 tbsp butter, melted (for the top of the finished rolls)

DIRECTIONS

 

• Add 3 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir together. Add warm milk, softened butter, and egg.
• Attach the dough hook and turn the mixer on to the lowest speed, mix until flour is incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
• Add ½ cup flour and blend with the dough hook until incorporated. And another ½ cup flour and repeat, mixing at medium speed for another 1-2 minutes until a ball of dough is formed. Add up to ½ of additional flour until the dough ball is slightly sticky and pulling away from the sides of the bowl.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel and let rise for 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Remove the towel and deflate the dough by punching down lightly.
• Pinch off pieces of the dough to form 20 equally sized dough balls.
• Transfer the rolls to a lightly greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Cover with a towel and let rise for an additional 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the rolls for 15-17 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.

WATCH THIS RECIPE VIDEO

Notes

Warm the milk in the microwave for about 1 minute and 10 seconds to reach approximately 110 degrees F.

Nutrition

Serving: 1roll | Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 142IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

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