Easy Dinner Rolls Recipe (Soft Homemade Rolls for the Holidays)

This easy dinner rolls recipe makes 12 soft, fluffy, buttery rolls with simple pantry ingredients and one bowl. You do not need a bread machine or a stand mixer, and you can shape the rolls the night before, so they are ready to bake on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.

Why you will love this dinner rolls recipe

• Soft and fluffy. Warm milk, an egg and butter give the rolls a tender, pull-apart crumb.
• Simple ingredients. Flour, milk, butter, sugar, an egg, salt and instant yeast.
• One bowl. Mix and knead by hand or with a mixer. Both work.
• Make ahead. Shape the rolls, chill them overnight, and bake them fresh the next day.
• Freezer friendly. Baked rolls freeze well for up to 3 months.

Homemade rolls are on our list of easy Thanksgiving side dishes and on the table in our easy Christmas dinner ideas.

What you need for this dinner rolls recipe

• Whole milk: 1 cup (240 ml), warmed to about 110°F. Warm, not hot.
• Granulated sugar: 1/4 cup (50 g). It feeds the yeast and adds a little sweetness.
• Instant yeast: 2 1/4 teaspoons (one 1/4-ounce packet). Active dry yeast also works (see the FAQ).
• Egg: 1 large, at room temperature.
• Unsalted butter: 1/4 cup (57 g), melted and slightly cooled, plus 2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing.
• Salt: 1 teaspoon.
• All-purpose flour: 3 1/2 cups (about 440 g), plus a little more if the dough is very sticky.

How to make homemade dinner rolls

1. Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, stir the warm milk, sugar and yeast. Whisk in the egg and the 1/4 cup melted butter.
2. Add the dry ingredients. Add the salt and 3 cups of the flour. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, then add the last 1/2 cup of flour a little at a time.
3. Knead. Knead on a lightly floured counter for 6 to 8 minutes (or 5 minutes with a dough hook) until the dough is smooth, soft and only a little tacky.
4. First rise. Put the dough in a greased bowl, cover and leave it in a warm spot for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in size.
5. Shape. Punch the dough down and divide it into 12 equal pieces (about 2 1/2 ounces / 70 g each). Roll each piece into a smooth ball and place them in a greased 9×13-inch pan.
6. Second rise. Cover and let the rolls rise for 30 to 45 minutes, until puffy and touching each other. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
7. Bake. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until golden brown on top. The center of a roll should read about 190°F on a thermometer.
8. Butter. Brush the hot rolls with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Cool for 5 minutes, then pull apart and serve warm.

Tips for the softest dinner rolls

• Check the milk temperature. About 110°F is right. Very hot milk can kill the yeast.
• Do not add too much flour. A soft, slightly tacky dough bakes into soft rolls. Too much flour makes them dry and heavy.
• Weigh the dough pieces. Rolls that are the same size bake evenly.
• Use a warm spot. A turned-off oven with the light on is a good place for the dough to rise.
• Butter them hot. Brushing the rolls right out of the oven keeps the tops soft and shiny.

For more help with yeast, the King Arthur Baking guide to active dry and instant yeast explains the difference.

Make-ahead and freezing

• Overnight rolls: Shape the rolls in the pan, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 18 hours. The next day, leave them at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours until puffy, then bake as above.
• Freeze baked rolls: Cool completely, put them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then warm at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes, wrapped in foil.
• Day-old rolls: Keep them in a sealed bag at room temperature for 2 days. Warm them briefly in the oven before serving.

What to serve with homemade dinner rolls

These rolls go with almost any holiday meal. Serve them with our brown sugar glazed ham or easy whole roast chicken, next to garlic mashed potatoes and green bean casserole from scratch. Leftover rolls make great little ham sandwiches the next day.

Frequently asked questions

Easy Dinner Rolls

Soft, fluffy homemade dinner rolls made in one bowl with milk, butter, an egg and instant yeast. Shape them the night before if you like.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Rising 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Servings: 12 rolls

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup whole milk warmed to about 110°F (240 ml)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar 50 g
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast one 1/4-ounce packet
• 1 large egg room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled (57 g)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour about 440 g, plus a little extra for kneading
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, for brushing

Method

 

1. In a large bowl, stir together the warm milk, sugar and yeast. Whisk in the egg and the 1/4 cup melted butter.
2. Add the salt and 3 cups of the flour and stir until a shaggy dough forms. Add the remaining 1/2 cup flour a little at a time.
3. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 6 to 8 minutes (or 5 minutes with a dough hook) until smooth, soft and only slightly tacky.
4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until doubled.
5. Punch the dough down, divide into 12 equal pieces (about 70 g each) and roll into smooth balls. Place in a greased 9×13-inch pan.
6. Cover and let rise for 30 to 45 minutes, until puffy. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
7. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until golden brown and the center of a roll reads about 190°F.
8. Brush the hot rolls with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Cool for 5 minutes and serve warm.

Notes

• Make ahead: shape the rolls, cover and refrigerate up to 18 hours. Let them sit at room temperature 1 to 2 hours, then bake.
• Freeze baked rolls up to 3 months. Warm wrapped in foil at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Active dry yeast: use the same amount and let it foam in the warm milk for 5 to 10 minutes first.

This recipe was developed with the help of AI tools and reviewed before publishing. It may not have been independently kitchen-tested — use your judgment, check for allergens, and cook to safe temperatures. See our AI Content Disclosure. Spotted an issue? Tell us.