Dinner Rolls

With only six ingredients anyone can make these easy homemade Dinner Rolls! This recipe make soft, light, buttery rolls that are perfect for a holiday dinner or anytime you want them.

Learn how to make dinner rolls that are light, fluffy and so good everyone will beg you for the recipe! There is nothing better for a special dinner than a batch of homemade rolls and this is my favorite recipe because you don’t need to be an expert baker to make them!

You Will Love this Recipe!

• These are yeast rolls and I am sharing tons of step-by-step photos plus my best tips so they turn out perfectly!
• You only need six ingredients – you probably already have most of them on hand!
• They are not difficult to make – they just take time and it’s so worth it when you take that first bite. They are so soft and fluffy and so much better than store-bought rolls.

I’ve made these dinner rolls for so many holidays and they go with everything – honey baked ham, crockpot beef stew, pork loin, and turkey! Trust me, you’ll want a basket of these on the table for your next holiday dinner!

Ingredient Tips!

For this recipe, you will want to use instant yeast. It’s not the same as dry active yeast so double check the package when you buy it.

Also, double-check the expiration date on the yeast. If it is expired toss it and use a fresh one otherwise the yeast won’t work properly and your rolls won’t rise.

You will also need shortening which gives the rolls the softest texture once they’re baked. The rolls will also stay softer longer when you use shortening!

You will need warm water to activate the yeast. The temperature should be between 105° and 110°F. If it’s too cold the yeast may not activate. If it’s too hot it can kill the yeast which means it won’t make your rolls rise. So, I recommend using a thermometer to check the temperature of the water, especially if you’ve never made yeast rolls before.

The sugar sweetens the rolls, but it’s also used to feed the yeast, which causes the yeast to emit a gas that makes the rolls to rise. It’s probably more scientific than that, but that’s it in a nutshell!

There’s some salt to flavor the rolls and, of course, all-purpose flour! When you measure the flour be sure to lightly spoon it into the measuring cup and then level it off. This will ensure you don’t end up with too much flour in the dough which can make your rolls too dense.

How to Make Soft Dinner Rolls

Activate the yeast: Combine the yeast with the warm water and a small amount of sugar in a small bowl and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. When it’s activated it the mixture will be a little bubbly and foamy.

Mix the dry ingredients: Start by fitting the mixer with the whisk attachment. Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the shortening and mix until it’s worked into the dough. The dough will look crumbly at this point.

Add the yeast: Switch the whisk for the dough hook attachment and pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture. Mix on low for two minutes and then increase the speed and mix for 10 more minutes. It is during this time that the hook will knead the dough which will develop the gluten in the flour. That’s what gives the rolls their structure.

You can tell when it’s ready when the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. The dough will also be elastic and pliable.

First Rise

Grease a large bowl and place the dough in it. Turn it so it is evenly coated in the oil. Cover it with a damp kitchen towel or a piece of plastic wrap and leave it in a warm place to rise for two hours or until it’s doubled in size.

Depending on the temperature where you leave it, it could take longer or less than two hours, so be sure to check on it. If it’s very warm (or hot) it will take less time. If it’s chillier it will take more time for it to double.

Second Rise

Once it’s done rising, punch it down and divide it into pieces. I like to weigh each dough piece so they are equally sized (50 grams each). If you don’t have a scale, divide it into 1 1/2-inch pieces.

Shape each one into a smooth ball and place them on a greased baking sheet. Cover dough balls with a towel and leave them to rise for 30 minutes.

Bake Them!

Before you bake them you can brush them with melted butter, but this is optional. Bake the rolls for about 20 minutes or until they are golden brown on top.

Cool them in the pan for a few minutes and then transfer them to a baking rack to cool completely.

Dinner Rolls Recipe FAQs!

I hope these tips and tricks are helpful and that you give these soft dinner rolls a try! You will wow your family when you pull a pan of fresh-baked dinner rolls out of the oven!

If you’re looking for recipes to go with your homemade rolls you have to give these a try:

• For a cozy dinner make my easy Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff to go with your rolls. They are perfect for soaking up all of the delicious sauce!
• Soft rolls are perfect for dunking in my hearty Hamburger Soup. It’s a super comforting dinner your family will love!
• My family loves Pot Roast! It’s an easy slow cooker recipe that is perfect with homemade bread rolls!
• When it’s cold I love to make a batch of Wild Rice Soup with dinner rolls on the side for dipping. It’s so good!