Homemade Dinner Rolls

4.95 from 115 votes
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These homemade dinner rolls have been a favorite in our family for generations. We serve them with dinner, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner!

Homemade dinner rolls in a basket
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients in Homemade Dinner Rolls
  2. How to Make Dinner Rolls from Scratch
  3. Making Dinner Rolls Without a Stand Mixer
  4. How to Store Homemade Dinner Rolls
  5. Freezing Dinner Rolls
  6. How Thaw and Bake Frozen Dinner Rolls
  7. Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Dinner Rolls
  8. What to Eat With Homemade Rolls
  9. How to Make Dinner Rolls
  10. Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

Our mom has made these homemade dinner rolls as far back as I can remember for Sunday dinners and special occasions. They are definitely a favorite of our family and always get devoured. The texture and flavor of these rolls are perfect. They are so soft, fluffy, buttery, and go perfectly with ANY meal!

Ingredients in Homemade Dinner Rolls

  • Active Dry Yeast
  • Sugar
  • Warm Water
  • Warm Milk
  • Butter
  • Sea Salt
  • Egg
  • Flour
Small dinner rolls in a bowl


How to Make Dinner Rolls from Scratch

Homemade dinner rolls are SO easy to make. The hardest thing about this recipe is just having a little patience while the dough rises.

  1. First you combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Then in a large bowl or mixing bowl, combine scalded milk, softened butter, sugar, salt, and egg. Stir to combine and then add your yeast mixture.
  2. Add all-purpose flour (bread flour will work as well) a half cup of flour at a time and mix at medium speed.
  3. Let dough rise
  1. Use a bench scraper or dough knife to cut smaller pieces and form into rolls on a lightly floured surface. Grease a 9×13 baking pan and place rolls in rows and let rise again, covered with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray or a clean kitchen towel.
  2. Bake, butter, and serve!

Making Dinner Rolls Without a Stand Mixer

No stand mixer? No problem. After you add the flour, turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead the dough by hand until it is soft and smooth. Add a flour a little at a time as needed and continue kneading for about 10 minutes—just make sure not to add too much flour. You want the dough to be soft but not too dense or the rolls won’t be as fluffy as you would probably like.

A dinner roll split open to show the soft inside

How to Store Homemade Dinner Rolls

We have found the best way to store homemade dinner rolls is to first allow them to cool, and then place them in a Ziploc bag. Squeeze out all the air, then seal the bag tightly and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. If you would like to reheat them in the microwave, then you can wrap them one at a time in a paper towel and heat for 7-8 seconds.

Freezing Dinner Rolls

If you want to save yourself some time in the future, or just want to make it easy to bake up a few rolls at a time, try freezing the rolls before baking! It’s like making your own homemade Rhode’s Rolls recipe. Here’s what to do:

  1. Prepare the Dough: Prepare the dough as directed in the recipe below, through step 6. Do not allow the dough to rise a second time.
  2. Place on a Tray: Put the shaped rolls on a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper, making sure they don’t touch each other. You can put a bunch of the roll balls on to one tray, just give them a little space so they don’t accidentally stick together.
  3. Freeze: Place the baking sheet with the rolls into the freezer and leave them there for about 3-4 hours. This will help the rolls harden.
  4. Wrap for Storage: After the rolls have frozen for a few hours, remove them from the freezer and wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Make sure they are tightly wrapped to prevent air from getting in.
  5. Put in a Bag or Container: After wrapping each roll, you can place them all in a large freezer-safe plastic bag or airtight container. This will help keep them organized and protected in the freezer.
  6. Freeze: Put the bag or container in the freezer, and make sure your freezer is set at a very cold temperature to keep the rolls fresh.

How Thaw and Bake Frozen Dinner Rolls

You would make these much like you would frozen dinner rolls you buy in the store. Place them in a greased 9×13 baking dish at room temperature, cover, and allow them to thaw and rise for anywhere from 2-6 hours, depending on how warm it is where they are thawing. Once they have risen, bake them as you normally would per the instructions below. Don’t forget to butter them when they come out of the oven!

Baked dinner rolls in a pan

Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Dinner Rolls

Why aren’t my dinner rolls fluffy?

If you follow this dinner roll recipe as outlined, you will get soft, fluffy dinner rolls every time. The best way you can tell if you are going to get soft rolls is by how the dough rises. If your dough isn’t rising well, your rolls are going to be denser.

The key is to make sure your yeast is activated in the warm water and sugar mixture before you add it to the bowl of other ingredients. Visually, it should look foamy, not like a liquid.

Always check the labels on your yeast packages or packet to make sure they aren’t expired and that you are using it within 4-6 months from the first use. Also, be sure to keep yeast refrigerated or frozen after breaking the original seal.

Can dinner rolls be frozen?

Absolutely! When you prepare the rolls, use COLD milk. Make them as you normally would but form them before they rise. Remove them from the mixer and knead the dough by hand on a floured surface until you can form the balls. Place them on a greased baking sheet and freeze them right away. You don’t want them to rise at all. Once frozen, place them in a plastic sealed bag and store for up to 6 months.

How do you make rolls taste better?

Add some flavor to your melted butter before spreading it on the rolls. Make honey butter or add herbs like garlic or rosemary.

What to Eat With Homemade Rolls

There are so many possibilities with these rolls! They literally go with everything. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

How to Make Dinner Rolls

Small dinner rolls in a bowl

Homemade Dinner Rolls

4.95 from 115 votes
These homemade dinner rolls have been a favorite in our family for generations. We serve them with soup, salad, and of course, Thanksgiving dinner!
Prep Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 2 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Servings 24 dinner rolls

Video

Equipment

  • 9×13 inch pan

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons yeast active, dry
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 cup whole milk scalded (microwave for 1.5 min)
  • 1/2 cup butter softened (you can use salted or unsalted butter)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt or sea salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 5-6 cups flour
  • 2-3 tablespoons butter melted

Instructions

  • Combine yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar, and warm water in a small bowl and set aside. 
  • In a large stand-mixer bowl with a dough hook attachment combine scalded milk, softened butter, ½ cup sugar, salt, and egg. Stir until well combined.
    Stir in yeast mixture. 
    liquid ingredients in Kitchen Aid mixing bowl
  • Add 4 cups flour, adding ½ cup flour at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, it should still be slightly sticky. You may need more flour or even a little less than the full amount- it is best to eyeball this and go by feel than exact amounts. 
    ingredients to make dinner rolls in a stand mixer ready to be mixed
  • Slightly oil a large mixing bowl. Place dough in bowl and turn once to lightly cover dough in oil. Cover lightly with plastic wrap or light kitchen cloth.
    unrisen dough in a large bowl
  • Allow dough to rise for 1 hour. 
    Punch down dough. Lightly knead on a floured surface if dough is too sticky.
    dinner roll dough in a large bowl that has risen
  • Break off sections to form into small rolls. They should be roughly the size of a ping-pong ball (or approximately 2 oz.).
    Pinch the bottom of the rolls (so you have a smooth, round top) and place seam-side down in a greased 9×13 glass baking dish. You should be able to get 6 rows of 4 rolls (24 rolls total) and possibly a few extra. 
    dinner roll dough in a baking dish
  • Cover lightly with plastic wrap (greased so dough doesn't stick to it) or light kitchen towel and allow to rise 30-45 minutes or until rolls have at least doubled in size. 
    Uncooked dinner rolls that have risen in a pan
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops of the rolls become light golden brown. Tip: This recipe may vary by elevation, if the middle of the rolls seem too doughy, lightly cover with foil and bake another 3-5 minutes or until centers are light and fluffy.
    Remove from oven and brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter. Cool slightly and serve. 
    Baked dinner rolls in a pan

Notes

  • We have found the best way to store homemade dinner rolls is to first allow them to cool, and then place them in a Ziploc bag. Squeeze out all the air, then seal the bag tightly and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
  • If you would like to reheat them in the microwave, then you can wrap them one at a time in a paper towel and heat for 7-8 seconds.
  • No stand mixer? No problem. After you add the flour, turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead the dough by hand until it is soft and smooth. Add a flour a little at a time as needed and continue kneading for about 10 minutes—just make sure not to add too much flour. You want the dough to be soft but not too dense or the rolls won’t be as fluffy as you would probably like.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 148mgPotassium: 47mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 178IUCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I will be switching out our store bought buns for these homemade deliciousness buns!
    My people will love the homemade buns!
    In fact I am going to make them today for supper tonight!
    They’ll be a big Texas hit!

  2. 5 stars
    These rolls are worth every step that it takes to make! Simply light and delicious! You can even freeze them for another time to eat.

  3. 5 stars
    If you do not make these homemade dinner rolls with your turkey dinner,you are missing a lot of the comfort that comes with a great turkey dinner. Five stars nothing less.

  4. 5 stars
    Bread has always been my weakness. Soft & Fluffy Rolls are at the top of my list! Slather on some butter or jelly or syrup or gravy…well just about anything! I am always asked to bring these rolls to a family gathering.

  5. 5 stars
    I love how easy these rolls are to make. This will be the 3rd time baking these beauties. Great for the Holidays too! Thank you for sharing…

  6. 5 stars
    Hands down, the Homemade Dinner Rolls are at the top of my family’s list of favorites. Thank you for your amazing recipes!