Soft and fluffy with golden brown tops, these are the best dinner rolls. This easy homemade recipe makes one dozen rolls, perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.

A basket of the best dinner rolls.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

If you’re looking for the best dinner rolls, you’ve found them here. I adapted them from my famous homemade bread recipe and tested them over and over to make sure they bake up perfectly every time.

This homemade dinner rolls recipe uses 7 simple ingredients and turns out soft, fluffy, and full of buttery flavor. They’re a holiday favorite and a must-have on the table with your other classics like potato rolls, French rolls and Texas Roadhouse rolls.

Ingredient Notes

Homemade bread recipes are always a hit, especially around the holidays, and these are perfect dinner rolls are right at the top of the list.

Yeast in a jar.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Flour: I recommend using bread flour when making this recipe. It has a higher protein count than all-purpose flour, which produces more gluten and a better texture. Learning how to measure flour accurately will also make a big difference in texture.
  • Yeast and sugar: An active dry yeast makes short work of giving these rolls their necessary rise. Sugar helps feed the yeast and adds a little sweetness.
  • Warm water: Make sure the water reaches 110°F so that it can activate the yeast.
  • Butter: I use unsalted because I add salt to the dough. You can use salted butter and adjust added salt.
  • Milk: The milk makes this dough incredibly tender and just a little sweet.

How to Make Dinner Rolls

The process of making homemade dinner rolls in a six step photo collage.
  1. Proof the yeast. Place the yeast and 1/2 Tablespoon sugar in a small bowl. Pour warm water (not too hot) over the mixture and let sit it’s nice and bubbly, about 10 minutes.
  2. Combine wet ingredients. Stir together the melted butter, 2 Tablespoons sugar, milk and salt into a large mixing bowl. Once the yeast mixture is bubbly, add them together and mix.
  3. Add flour to mixture. Using a stand mixer with bread hook, pour in 1 1/2 cups of flour. Then add in 1/2 cup of flour at a time and continue to knead, until the dough is no longer sticking to the sides.
  4. 1st rise. Coat the ball of dough and sides of the bowl with shortening or butter. Then cover the bowl with a warm towel and rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  5. 2nd rise. Once the dough has doubled, punch down, place on a floured surface and knead. Cut dough into four pieces. Roll each piece into 3 rolls then place into a buttered 9×13″ pan. Let the rolls rise again, until doubled.
  6. Bake in oven. Bake dinner rolls in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes. When the center is cooked through, remove from the oven and coat the tops with butter. Sprinkle sea salt on top if desired. Enjoy!

Baking Tips

  • Proofing yeast. After it sits for about 10 minutes, the yeast should be nice and foamy. The higher it bubbles up, the better! If it’s not bubbling at all, then it’s probably expired or the water you used was too hot.
  • Use a dough hook. When making the dough, you can use a dough hook with a mixer or a dough whisk to whisk together the dough by hand.
  • Let dough rise. Make sure to place the bowl in a warm spot to rise. You can also place on top of a heading pad. Another way to help the dough rise is to turn the oven to 100°F and then turn off. Then place the bowl inside the oven and allow to rise there.
  • Use foil if browning too fast. Tent with foil if the dinner rolls are starting to brown too fast.
  • Make ahead: For holiday dinners, you can prepare the homemade dinner rolls up until baking and then slow their rise by placing them in the fridge until ready to bake.
Homemade dinner rolls in a baking dish brush with butter and garnished with flaky salt.

Serving Suggestions

They are great on their own or impress guests by serving with cinnamon honey butter on top! They are also delicious with strawberry jam or apple butter.

After Thanksgiving I use the leftovers for turkey and cranberry sliders but they are also perfect for ham and cheese sliders or alongside any soup or salad recipe.

A homemade dinner roll broke in half to show the soft, fluffy texture.

Don’t stop with just these dinner rolls! Other favorites include Parker House rolls, Hawaiian rolls or these copycat Olive Garden breadsticks.

More Homemade Bread Recipes

Soft, fluffy homemade dinner rolls recipe in a basket.

Best Homemade Dinner Rolls

4.98 from 45 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Rising Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 12
Soft and fluffy with golden brown tops, these are the best dinner rolls! This recipe makes one dozen homemade rolls making it the perfect holiday side dish.
Print Pin This! Rate

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 2 ½ Tablespoons granulated sugar , divided
  • 2 Tablespoons salted butter , melted, plus more for tops
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt , or sea salt
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 3 cups bread flour , plus more as needed
  • Shortening or butter , to coat dough ball

Optional: Maldon sea salt for tops; Butter and jam for serving

Instructions

  • Activate yeast. In a small bowl, add 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast and 1/2 Tablespoon sugar. Pour 1 cup warm water (not too hot) over the yeast mixture and let it sit about 10 minutes, or until nice and foamy.
  • Combine milk mixture in mixer. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a bread hook (or dough hook), stir together 2 Tablespoons butter, the remaining 2 Tablespoons sugar, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 1/2 teaspoon salt. When your yeast mixture is ready, mix until combined.
  • Add flour. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour. Add in 1/2 cup flour at a time and continue to mix on medium speed, until the dough is no longer sticking to the sides. You’ll know it’s ready when your fingers no longer stick to the dough but it's still soft.
  • 1st rise. Spread shortening or butter across the dough ball and sides of the bowl and cover the bowl with a warm towel. Set by the window and let rise about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
  • Knead. When the dough has risen higher than the bowl, punch it down and place on a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Divide into equally sized rolls. Cut into 4 pieces. Roll each section into 3 rolls (they should be about 60 grams each). Place into a buttered 9×13-inch pan.
  • 2nd rise and bake. Let the rolls rise again and once they have doubled, place them in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and the center is cooked through. Remove from the oven and brush the tops with butter.
  • Serve. Sprinkle sea salt on top, if desired. Enjoy!

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Freezing instructions: You can freeze the baked dinner rolls by placing in a zip-top bag or freezer container. You can also place the shaped dough balls on a baking sheet and freeze. Then transfer to a zip-top bag or freezer container. When ready to bake, place on a buttered 9×13-inch baking dish and allow to rise for about 4 hours. Bake as directed. 
Storage: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container on the counter up to 5 days. 
Recipe credit: Adapted from my favorite homemade bread recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 147kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 295mg, Potassium: 54mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 67IU, Vitamin C: 0.004mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

Do I need a stand mixer with dough hook to make this dinner roll recipe?

Not at all! You can make this dough by hand, if you’d prefer. Use a large mixing bowl and a sturdy wooden spoon to form the dough and then knead by hand on a floured surface 3 to 4 minutes, or until the dough feels smooth.

Can these dinner rolls rise overnight?

Absolutely! Form the dough into balls and place in the baking dish, Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. Let the rolls come to room temperature and let them rise until doubled in size before baking.

Can I use instant yeast?

Sadly, not for this recipe. It was created using active dry yeast and it wouldn’t work the same as the rise times would differ.

How to store leftover dinner rolls?

Store homemade dinner rolls at room temperature for up to 3 days.

To freeze, let baked dinner rolls cool completely, then wrap each roll in foil. Place in a zip-top bag or freezer container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in oven until warm.

Can I freeze unbaked dinner rolls?

Yes! To freeze the dough, place the shaped dough balls on a baking sheet and freeze. Then transfer to a zip-top bag or freezer container. When ready to bake, place on a buttered 9×13-inch baking dish and let rise for about 4 hours. Then bake as directed.