Homemade Dinner Rolls
Soft, fluffy homemade dinner rolls — perfect for everyday meals or holiday gatherings.
Homemade dinner rolls are soft and fluffy, and these instructions make them easy to make and bake. You only need a little time to let the dinner rolls rise between mixing, shaping, and baking. There’s very little hands-on work required. A stand mixer with a dough hook is best for dinner rolls because you don’t have to add as much flour while kneading. If you knead by hand, try to avoid adding too much extra flour.
Why You’ll Love Them
Soft, fluffy texture. These rolls rise beautifully and bake up pillowy and tender inside.
Great for gatherings. Makes a big batch—perfect for holidays or family dinners.
Classic flavor. Slightly sweet, buttery, and perfect for slathering with more butter.
Beginner-friendly. Straightforward ingredients and method, with no complicated shaping.
Freezer-friendly. Bake ahead and freeze extras for easy future meals.
Ingredient Notes
- Warm water: Activates the yeast; make sure it’s between 105°F and 110°F.
- Sugar: Feeds the yeast and adds a touch of sweetness.
- Active dry yeast: Needs to be proofed in warm water before mixing into the dough.
- Milk: Adds moisture and softness to the dough—lukewarm is best.
- Salt: Fine sea salt blends easily and enhances flavor.
- Flour: All-purpose flour works great here. Start with 6½ cups and add more as needed.
- Butter: Adds flavor and richness to the dough—melted and cooled before adding.
How to Make Dinner Rolls
- Prepare the yeasted dough mixture in the stand mixer bowl.
- Transfer the mixture to a buttered container to rise.
- Shape the dough into 30 balls and place them in 2 pans.
- Let the dough rise in the pans.
- Bake the dinner rolls.
What to Serve With Homemade Dinner Rolls
- Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Instant Pot Carbonnade
- Brunswick Stew (Slow Cooker or Stovetop)
- Slow Cooker Kielbasa, Cabbage, and Apples
- Slow Cooker Lentil Soup
- Classic Chicken and Rice Soup
- Slow Cooker North Carolina Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Pulled Smoked Pork
How to Store and Reheat
Store: Keep the rolls in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer freshness, refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Wrap the rolls tightly in foil or plastic and freeze in a zip-top freezer bag for up to 2 months.
Reheat: Warm individual rolls in the microwave for about 10 seconds or wrap a batch in foil and heat in a 325°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
Homemade Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water, (8 ounces), 105 F to 110 F
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups milk, lukewarm ,12 ounces
- 1 tablespoon fine sea salt
- 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and the yeast. Let it stand for 10 minutes, until it is foamy. Add the milk, remaining sugar, salt, and 6 1/2 cups of flour to the mixing bowl, then drizzle with the butter. Mix with the dough hook, adding more flour as needed. The dough should be soft and slightly tacky but not overly sticky. Knead with the machine for about 8 minutes.
- Transfer the dough to a large buttered container and let it rise at room temperature for 45 minutes or until doubled.
- Punch the dough down and shape it into 30 uniform rolls. Place them on lightly greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheets, leaving about 1/2-inch between them. Cover with a lightweight kitchen cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bake the dinner rolls for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. They should register about 190°F on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a roll.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
