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Fast and Easy Dinner Rolls made from scratch! No bread machine required! Fresh and warm, right out of the oven, these basic homemade dinner rolls are irresistible!
Dinner rolls are such a perfect side dish for so many recipes ranging from easy weeknight casseroles to the essential accompaniment to Thanksgiving Dinner. If you need a quick, easy dinner rolls recipe, this is about to become your go-to. They’re soft, buttery, fluffy, and come together relatively quickly for a bread recipe.
Fast and Easy Dinner Rolls (Soft, Fluffy, and Ready in about an Hour!)
If you need a quick, dependable bread recipe that is homemade without taking half the day, these fast and easy dinner rolls are about to become your new go-to. For a bread recipe, they are no fuss! The steps are simple and no second rise is required.
Whether you’re serving a holiday meal, a cozy weeknight dinner, or craving something warm and homemade, these rolls are perfect!
What I love most? The dough is pretty forgiving and easy to handle, even if you are not a bread maker.
Why this recipe works:
- Only one rise means faster rolls- most recipes require two rises, but this dough rises after shaping, not in the bowl.
- Gradual flour addition for softer ,tender rolls – adding flour one cup at a time (instead of dumping it all in) keeps the dough light and prevents dense, heavy rolls.
- Foolproof for beginners – this recipe is forgiving. If you’re new to yeast baking, this is a good place to start.
A stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, or a food processor with the dough blade are needed for this recipe.
Let’s go make some dinner rolls! Your house is about to smell amazing. Is there anything better than fresh bread?
❤️ Ashley
ingredients for homemade rolls
Butter, eggs, and sugar create a tender dough that bakes up soft and golden. Only pantry staples are needed. The complete list of ingredients including ingredient amounts is in the recipe card below.
- Warm water – about 105-110 degrees F is the ideal temperature.
- Active-dry yeast
- Sugar
- Butter – melted and slightly cooled
- Eggs
- Salt
- All-purpose flour
You’ll get about 24 rolls from one batch of dough which means there is plenty to serve a crowd! I like to bake them in a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish but you could also use two 8-9 inch pie plates. You’ll either need two packets of active dry yeast, or about 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of active dry yeast if you buy your yeast in bulk. I always have a jar of yeast in my fridge because I go through it so quickly.
make-ahead instructions
These rolls can be made in advance of when you need them.
Overnight option: shape the rolls, place them in the baking dish, cover tightly and refrigerate up t o 24 hours. Remove from the fridge and let rise at room temperature until doubled before baking.
Bake-ahead option: bake rolls, cool, cover tightly with foil, and warm at 300 degrees F for about 10 minutes before serving.
how to freeze dinner rolls
If you would like to freeze your homemade rolls, you have two options:
Freeze before baking: freeze shaped rolls on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag once frozen. Rise from frozen for 3-4 hours, then bake.
Freeze after baking: Cool completely then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months and rewarm in the oven before serving.
troubleshooting homemade rolls
Rolls didn’t rise: check your yeast. Is it expired? Was your water too hot or too cold? Always look for foam during proofing.
Rolls are dense: too much flour is usually the issue. You’ve added enough flour when it s tarts to pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl. The dough should be soft, not firm or dry.
Burning or over-browning: tent the rolls with foil for the last few minutes of baking and keep the pan on the center oven rack if the rolls are getting too brown.
Tip
Make sure to give the rolls the full 60-90 minutes to rise. Skimping on rise time will keep them from becoming the light, fluffy, irresistible homemade rolls you’re expecting!
serving ideas
Homemade rolls are a versatile side for holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but they are so perfect with a variety of things:
- Holiday Ham or Turkey
- Soups and stews – like my Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Pot Roast
- Pulled Pork
- Butter and Jam
Whether you’re serving these alongside dinner during the week, or you are making them for a big holiday dinner like Thanksgiving, they are sure to be a hit and you are just going to love how fast and easy they are to make. Now go get out the butter to slather all over these fresh rolls and enjoy!
Fast and Easy Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (about 105-110℉)
- 1 ½ tbsp active-dry yeast or 2 packets
- 1 tsp granulated sugar (for proofing the yeast)
- ½ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Proof the yeast: in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine 1 cup warm water, 1 ½ tbsp active-dry yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar.Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture becomes foamy and bubbly on top. If the mixture doesn't foam, your water may have been too hot or the yeast may be expired.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: Using a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the melted butter, ½ cup sugar, 3 eggs and 1 tsp salt to the bowl. Mix on low speed until the eggs are broken up and everything is combined.Pour in the foamy yeast mixture and continue mixing just to combine.
- Add the flour: add the flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing on medium-low after each addition. Once you've added about 3 ½ cups of flour, pay attention to the texture:The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl and form a soft, slightly sticky ball. Add the remaining flour as needed, a little at a time. You may need slightly less or slightly more than 4 cups.
- Continue kneading with the mixer for 3-4 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Knead by hand: lightly flour your hands and turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 1-2 minutes to form a smooth, round ball. The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky but should not stick heavily to your hands.
- Shape the rolls: use a pastry cutter or knife to divide the dough into 24 equal pieces. To shape the rolls: cup your hand over the dough piece and. gently roll it in a circle on an unclouded area of your counter until it becomes smooth and round on top.
- Prepare a baking dish: lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray. Arrange the dough balls evenly in the pan, leaving a little space between each one to allow for rising.
- Let the rolls rise: cover the pan with plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel and allow the rolls to rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 60-90 minutes, or until they have doubled in size and are touching each other.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 375℉. Bake the rolls for 15-18 minutes or until they are golden brown on top.
- For extra shine, brush the tops with melted butter immediately after baking.
