These Easy Dinner Rolls are light, fluffy, and slightly buttery, making them perfect for pairing with soups, stews, or enjoying warm with a pat of butter. They're simple to make and a great addition to any dinner table.
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What are dinner rolls?
Dinner rolls are small, individual yeasted buns that are typically baked together in a pan.
The rolls have a soft and pillowy texture that pulls apart easily, with lightly golden tops.
Sometimes the tops can be dusted with additional flour for a more rustic look.
Why you'll love this recipe
Soft & fluffy: similar to my purple sweet potato buns, with a tender crumb that pulls apart easily.
Easy to make: uses minimal pantry ingredients.
Versatile: these dinner rolls can be served as a side dish, made into mini sliders, or enjoyed warm on its own with a slab of butter.
Ingredients you'll need
- all-purpose flour: regular flour, or bread flour
- granulated sugar: adds a little sweetness and balances the flavor
- active dry yeast: the leavener that will give the bread rise
- warm milk: adds moisture to the dough
- large egg: adds richness and moisture
- unsalted butter: or salted butter (decrease the salt); or vegetable oil; adds moisture
- sea salt: for flavor
How to make easy dinner rolls
In a stand mixer bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
Add warm milk, egg, and melted butter. Mix until a dough forms.
Knead with a dough hook for 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft but not too sticky. *This dough can be a little tacky -- it will come together.
Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal pieces.
Shape each into a ball and arrange in a greased 9" x 13" baking pan.
Cover and let rise again until puffy, about 20-30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
Remove from oven and brush warm rolls with melted butter (optional). Cool slightly before serving.
How to serve
Enjoy the dinner rolls fresh and warm with butter, jam, or honey.
Serve as a side for soups, stews, or roasts.
Slice and fill for mini sandwiches or sliders.
Variations
Use bread flour: for a chewier texture.
For dairy-free: substitute milk with an alternative milk such as oat or soy milk and use vegan butter.
Make it your own: add a sprinkling of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, everything but the bagel seasoning, cheese, or herbs.
Make-ahead: shape rolls, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bake the next day after letting them rise at room temperature.
Expert tips
This dough tends to be a little tacky, depending on the humidity -- resist the urge to add more flour, unless it is really too sticky to work with. Continue kneading and it will come together.
How to tell if the dough is properly kneaded?
When the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky.
It should pass the "windowpane test" -- gently stretch a small piece between your fingers; if it forms a thin, translucent sheet without tearing, it's ready.
How can I tell if the dough is properly proofed?
Use the poke test -- if the dough:
- the bounces back right away when you poke the dough, it's not ready yet; give it some more time.
- leaves an indentation and bounces back slowly, it's ready to go.
- leaves an indentation and doesn't bounce back, it may be overproofed -- time to get it in the oven ASAP.
If you don't have a 9" by 13" pan, you can use a 9" round pan.
Other delicious bread recipes you may like
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know if you try out this recipe -- I love seeing your creations! Tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer and be sure to leave me a comment/rating below!
Dinner Rolls
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 250 ml whole milk lukewarm
- 30 g granulated sugar
- 6 g active dry yeast
- 400 ml all-purpose flour or bread flour
- 60 ml unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
Make the dough:
- In a small bowl, combine warmed milk, granulated sugar, yeast and give it a stir. Set aside until the yeast starts to activate and become bubbly.
- In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour, melted butter, egg, salt and yeast mixture and knead until a dough starts to form.
- Continue kneading (about 10-15 minutes) until the dough comes together and is elastic and smooth. It will be a little on the sticky side, but it will come together as you knead it.
- Remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place into a lightly greased bowl.
- Cover and leave in a warm location until doubled in size.
Shape:
- Once risen, punch down the dough, divide and shape into 12 round balls, about 60g each.
- Place the shaped dough balls onto a parchment lined 9" by 13" baking tray.
- Cover and leave to proof until almost doubled in size, about 20-30 minutes, depending on how warm your kitchen is.
Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C.
- Bake at 350°F/177°C for 18-20 mins, or until an instant-read thermometer reads 200°F in the middle of the buns.
- Remove from oven and cool slightly on a wire rack. Serve warm and fresh.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Christie
Whoa I've never tried or heard of these little buns! They sound so amazing Michelle! I love the chimichurri flavour with the crispy panko!
Michelle
Thanks Christie! Chimichurri is such a delicious explosion of flavour!
Heidi
Your fabulous dinner rolls really are the quintessential dinner side. They literally go perfect with everything! Thank you for making the instructions so easy with your step-by-step photos! These are such a snap to make thanks to your easy recipe!
Michelle
Thank you Heidi! They're really such a great bun to pair with anything! 🙂
David @ Spiced
I absolutely love a good soft dinner roll, and these sound fantastic, Michelle! This post makes me want to run into the kitchen and start a batch of these ASAP!
Michelle
Thanks David, it's always a good time for dinner rolls! 😉
Healthy World Cuisine
You making baking with yeast so simple and fool proof with your helpful hints. These rolls are fluffy like clouds.
Michelle
Thank you Bobbi! Glad to hear that the tips are helpful! 🙂
Tasia
They came out so soft and fluffy! I made ours a little larger and we used them as sandwich buns.
Michelle
Thanks for your feedback, Tasia! They're really great as sandwich buns for lunch, especially for the kids! 😀