Best Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

If you’ve been searching for the Best Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe, you’re in the right place. I absolutely love how these rolls come out soft, pillowy, and just the perfect touch buttery—trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll be making them over and over. Whether it’s for a special holiday meal or a cozy weeknight dinner, these rolls never disappoint and are surprisingly easy to whip up!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient plays a special role here—warm water and yeast get the magic of rising started, while whole milk and butter add richness and softness to these rolls. I always recommend fresh yeast and room temperature dairy for the best rise and texture.

• Warm Water: Ideal temperature is about 105°F to wake up the yeast gently without killing it.
• Granulated Sugar: Feeds the yeast to help create that perfect fluffy rise.
• Active Dry Yeast: The secret ingredient for that light and airy crumb.
• Salted Butter: Adds buttery flavor and helps tenderize the dough; I melt and cool it before adding.
• Whole Milk: Brings a creamy richness you just can’t beat—try to use whole or 2% for best results.
• Egg: Helps with the structure and gives the rolls a nice golden color.
• Sea Salt: A little added into the dough balances the sweetness perfectly.
• All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of the dough; I find 3 to 4 cups work depending on humidity.
• Coarse Sea Salt (for sprinkling): Adds a finishing touch of flavor and crunch.

Variations

I love to change things up sometimes because it keeps dinner rolls exciting. You can easily make these your own by tweaking add-ins or toppings—trust me, once you try a variation, you might never go back.

• Herb Infused Rolls: I once added chopped fresh rosemary and thyme to the dough and it was a delicious hit, especially with garlic butter on top.
• Whole Wheat Version: For a heartier roll, substitute half the flour with whole wheat—just be sure to add a bit more moisture as whole wheat flour absorbs more liquid.
• Sweet Dinner Rolls: Try adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and swapping sugar for honey for a subtly sweet twist that’s perfect for brunch.
• Garlic-Parmesan Topping: Brush with garlic butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese before baking to elevate the flavor dramatically.

How to Make Best Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

Step 1: Proof the Yeast to Wake It Up

Start by mixing your warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it forms a foamy surface. This tells you the yeast is alive and ready to create that fluffy dough we all want. If it doesn’t foam, don’t try to rush the recipe—start over with fresh yeast to avoid flat rolls.

Step 2: Combine the Wet Ingredients and Add Flour

Once your yeast is foamy, add the melted and cooled butter, whole milk, and beaten egg. Give it a quick stir to combine everything evenly. Then, stir in 3 cups of flour and sea salt. Begin kneading with the dough hook on low speed, gradually adding more flour—about ½ cup at a time—until you get a tacky but manageable dough ball. I always stop adding flour when the dough just barely sticks to my fingers because adding too much flour can make the rolls dense.

Step 3: Let the Dough Rise Until Doubled

Grease a large bowl with a bit of butter, place your dough inside, and cover with a damp cloth. Set it somewhere warm and cozy to rise for about an hour or until it has doubled in size. I usually put mine near the oven or on top of the fridge. This stage is crucial to get those soft, airy rolls we’re after.

Step 4: Shape Your Rolls and Second Rise

After the dough has doubled, gently punch it down to release the trapped gas. Flour your hands lightly and divide the dough into 12 equal pieces—I like using a food scale to get them just right. Roll each piece into a smooth ball and arrange them evenly spaced in your lined 9×13” pan (I go for 4 rows of 3). Cover with another damp towel, making sure it doesn’t touch the tops of the rolls to avoid sticking, and let them rise again until doubled, about 30-60 minutes.

Step 5: Bake and Butter Your Rolls

Once the rolls have puffed up, preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake for 25-30 minutes until they’re golden brown on top and sound hollow when tapped—or use an instant-read thermometer for precision: 185-190°F inside is perfect. When you pull them out, immediately brush with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse sea salt for that irresistible finish. Let them cool just enough to be warm but not too hot, and then dive in!

How to Serve Best Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

Garnishes

I’m a big fan of a simple sprinkle of coarse sea salt and a brush of melted butter—that buttery saltiness never fails. For a bit of a kick, sometimes I add minced fresh herbs right after baking, like thyme or rosemary, especially for holiday dinners.

Side Dishes

These rolls pair wonderfully with almost anything, but my family especially loves them alongside hearty soups like creamy tomato basil or classic chicken noodle. They’re also a hit with holiday roasts or served with a fresh, crisp salad on the side.

Creative Ways to Present

For Thanksgiving or special gatherings, I like to arrange my rolls in a braided wreath shape or individual pull-apart clusters to make sharing easy and festive. You can also use mini muffin tins to create bite-sized rolls that look adorable on a holiday platter.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay soft and delicious for up to three days. If I know I won’t eat them so quickly, I usually freeze them to maintain that fresh-baked feel later.

Freezing

I’ve found freezing the shaped dough balls before the second rise works best for me—they thaw and rise beautifully when taken out and left at room temperature. Alternatively, you can freeze fully baked rolls wrapped tightly, and they’ll be almost as good as fresh when reheated.

Reheating

To reheat, wrap leftover rolls in foil and pop them in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. This restores that just-baked softness, and I often brush a touch of melted butter on after warming for extra yum.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Best Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe truly feels like a warm hug from the oven. I’ve shared these with family and friends, and every time they ask for the recipe because the texture and buttery flavor are just that good. If you’ve been shy about making rolls from scratch, give this one a go—you’ll be surprised how easy and rewarding it is. Enjoy every soft, golden bite!

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