These homemade dinner rolls are soft, fluffy, buttery and quite simply irresistible. The best part? This homemade dinner roll recipe is truly ready in around 30 minutes, start to finish.
I used to think homemade dinner rolls were some kind of uber-complicated process that no mom could ever complete for a regular weeknight dinner! Now I know better… and I promise with just seven ingredients, these will be the star of any dinner you make.
As a child, I survived on dinner rolls and whipped cream for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was never a fan of turkey, tasted one too many bad casseroles and I have always believed that cranberries should not come out of a can in a mold.
Having survived the holidays on the bare minimum, I found myself to be a dinner roll connoisseur.
Yes, I’m the girl that judges a restaurant on the bread they serve before a meal. Your guests might, too. 😉 The good news is that you can make these easy yeast rolls in less than an hour (with little hands on time) that will have your guests so excited for the next course.
I’m still of the belief that the best dishes are made from scratch, with quality, fresh ingredients. There’s no need to water down recipes when milk adds a delicious, rich flavor and makes them sooooo soft! These dinner rolls would make Grandma proud.
I’ve been working on a variety of classic comfort foods for Thanksgiving and beyond, and these easy yeast rolls truly fit the bill. You can find my free Ultimate Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving and 30+ of the best Thanksgiving Appetizers for more delicious inspiration!
These dinner rolls are foolproof, so turn on a great playlist and let’s do this!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love these Easy Yeast Rolls
- They are fluffy, buttery and so soft.
- Versatile – these easy dinner rolls work with everything from a pasta dinner to a traditional Thanksgiving feast.
- There is the perfect hint of sweetness, but not too much.
- They make Baking with Yeast look so easy! Seriously… click through for a complete guide to baking with yeast. It’s so much easier than you’d think!
- Think yeast takes forever? Think again! These yeast rolls are ready FAST.
- They are simple enough for a weeknight but elegant enough for Thanksgiving.
- Oh, and if your guests are lactose free, no problem! Simply grab a bottle of lactose-free milk.
Dinner Roll Recipe Ingredients
- Flour – all purpose
- Milk – You can use any kind of milk you have on hand.
- Butter – These dinner rolls are all about the butter! You can use salted or unsalted butter, but I generally have salted on hand so that’s what I use. You can learn how to soften butter quickly, too – these tips will change your life!
- Sugar – they need just a tiny touch of sweet, but not much. Sugar also helps activate the yeast when it combines with the milk.
- Salt – a little goes a long way, especially if you’re using salted butter!
- Yeast packet – active dry yeast. Learn about Baking with Yeast, I promise it’s so easy!
- Eggs – large size please.
- Butter – yes, more butter. This time it’s melted to brush over the top of the rolls.
Variations
- Try a flavored butter for melting over the top! Sweet Butter is the perfect addition.
- Browned Butter is another great option to add a nutty, rich flavor to your rolls.
- Top with Cinnamon Sugar for a sweet, breakfast inspired touch.
How to Make these Easy Yeast Rolls
- In a mixing bowl add flour and make a well using your measuring cup in the middle and fit the mixer with the dough hook attachment
- In a bowl, add the milk, butter, sugar and salt. Microwave in 30 second increments decreasing time as needed until the butter is just melted. Stir and allow to cool 2 minutes.
- Pour half of the milk mixture into the flour well. Scatter the yeast over it.
- Start mixing on low speed, slowly pouring the remaining milk mixture and add eggs.
- Mix until the dough comes together and starts pulling from the sides, if it doesn’t, dust with a touch more flour. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and divide it into 12 pieces.
- Place all the rolls into an 11-inch round baking pan or a 13X9-inch baking pan.
- Cover the rolls with a clean tea towel and let rest while the oven is pre-heating.
- Heat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake the rolls for 14 minutes or until golden brown.
- Just before serving, brush them with melted butter.
Tips for Easy Dinner Rolls
- Be careful with the temperature of your milk. It’s what activates the yeast – so you want it not too hot, not too cold. 100-110F is ideal.
- Use a baking thermometer if you want to make sure you’ve got the temperature just right.
- To keep the size consistent, I part the dough into halves, halve it again and then break it down into three rolls each.
- Check the tops of the rolls at 11-12 minutes bake time. Every oven is different. If the tops are starting to darken, simply cover with aluminum foil for remainder of bake time.
- Be sure to check out my Baking Substitutions Guide for ideas on any last minute substitutions.
If you’re intimidated by yeast, you’re not alone. Don’t skip my Complete Guide to Baking with Yeast. It makes everything so simple, I promise!
Shortcuts
- Pre-measure! These rolls come together fast but I like to have all my ingredients laid out and ready to add to the mixing bowl as needed.
- Need more rolls? This recipe makes 12 easy yeast rolls, but it’s easy to double or even triple, using the measurement shortcut 1x 2x 3x feature in the printable recipe card.
Yes! Make this dough as directed, allow rolls to rise, and instead of baking, simply refrigerate. You can hold them (covered) in the fridge for 10-12 hours. Simply remove from the refrigerator for two hours before you’re ready to throw them in the oven.
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – These rolls can be stored at room temperature for up to three days. Wrap tightly to store.
- Refrigerate – for best results, wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap before refrigerating. This seals in moisture and helps them retain their soft texture. Allow to come to room temperature for an hour before eating.
- Freeze – Properly stored, these homemade dinner rolls will maintain best freshness and quality for about three months, but are safe beyond that time. I like to bag them individually in a ziplock before freezing.
What to Do with Leftover Dinner Rolls
- Serve for the next day’s brunch slathered with butter and Cinnamon Sugar.
- Make these incredible Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Juicy Burger Sliders
How to Serve these Easy Dinner Rolls
- Just before serving, I brush them with a little melted butter. Serve with Honey Butter for good measure!
- Doing dinner with more of an Italian vibe? Brush with a little garlic butter instead. Serve with my famous Italian Salad and you’re golden!
Dietary Considerations
- Vegetarian
- Nut Free
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More Amazing Bread Recipes
- Homemade Cornbread with Maple Butter Topping
- Artisan Bread
- Garlic Breadsticks
- Cornbread Muffins With Jalapeño and Cheddar
- Sweet Bread
30 Minute Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 6 cups flour all purpose
- 2 cups milk Whole is best but any kind will work
- 6 tablespoons butter salted or unsalted, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons sugar white granulated
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 yeast packet active dry
- 2 eggs large
- 2 Tablespoons butter melted, for topping
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl add flour and make a well using your measuring cup in the middle and fit the mixer with the dough hook attachment
- In a bowl, add the milk, butter, sugar and salt. Microwave in 30 second increments decreasing time as needed until the butter is just melted. Stir and allow to cool 2 minutes.
- Pour half of the milk mixture into the flour well. Scatter the yeast over it.
- Start mixing on low speed, slowly pouring the remaining milk mixture and add eggs.
- Mix until the dough comes together and starts pulling from the sides, if it doesn’t, dust with a touch more flour. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and divide it into 12 pieces.
- Place all the rolls into an 11-inch round baking pan or a 13X9-inch baking pan.
- Cover the rolls with a clean tea towel and let rest while the oven is pre-heating.
- Heat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake the rolls for 14 minutes or until golden brown.
- Just before serving, brush them with melted butter.
Notes
Tips
- Be careful with the temperature of your milk. It’s what activates the yeast – so you want it not too hot, not too cold. 100-110F is ideal.
- Use a baking thermometer if you want to make sure you’ve got the temperature just right.
- To keep the size consistent, I part the dough into halves, halve it again and then break it down into three rolls each.
- Check the tops of the rolls at 11-12 minutes bake time. Every oven is different. If the tops are starting to darken, simply cover with aluminum foil for remainder of bake time.
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – These rolls can be stored at room temperature for up to three days. Wrap tightly to store.
- Refrigerate – for best results, wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap before refrigerating. This seals in moisture and helps them retain their soft texture. Allow to come to room temperature for an hour before eating.
- Freeze – Properly stored, these homemade dinner rolls will maintain best freshness and quality for about three months, but are safe beyond that time. I like to bag them individually in a ziplock before freezing.
Recipe looks great! I want to try for Thanksgiving. If I don’t have a mixer with dough hook, can I use a regular mixer or mix by hand? Thanks
Absolutely, you’ll simply knead by hand. Enjoy!
My dough was very sticky. Should I have added a little more flour until it was easy to handle or is it a sticky dough?
I’m sorry to hear that! Yes, you can add a little flour to make the dough easier to work with.
These dinner rolls are seriously to die for!
I wish I could make something like that gluten free. These rolls look so good!
Sorry! Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of gluten free experience, but if you’re looking for dessert, my peanut butter bars are gluten free and sooooo good!
I make these yummy rolls. After mixing, cover, let sit approx 12 min, drop by globs into oiled cupcake tins and bake. Let cool, turn rolls out of tin into bowl. Works perfect, no fuss, no mess.
Mix, let sit 12 min, no kneading or rolling. Spray cupcake tin. Drop them in an bake.
What’s a substitute for a tea towel?
Any kind of kitchen towel. Enjoy!
Julie, I just made these for our early Thanksgiving dinner. Do they not need to rise before baking? My oven takes two minutes to preheat.
No, the 5-10 minutes it takes to part and roll them while most ovens preheat is plenty. Enjoy! (Maybe even with honey butter!)
Yummy. Perfect
These look Super Yummy! Thank you for sharing. I’m going to go try these RIGHT NOW!!!
Enjoy!
These look amazing. My daughter could live off of dinner rolls!
Wow! I have a 1-hour breadstick recipe that I love because of the minimal time needed for rising/baking, but this is even better. Thanks!
Is there a mistake in quanity? For 6 cups of flour you get more that 12 rolls – right? Thanks for clarification.
No, it’s right…no judgement, right? Enjoy!