Easy Dinner Roll Recipe

This easy roll recipe with yeast needs just 5 ingredients. They are the perfect side dish to any dinner, much more delicious and fluffy than store bought or frozen rolls and they save well for leftovers the next day too.

Easy Homemade Rolls Recipe

If you aren’t a really big from scratch person, like me, I will tell you right now that these are totally worth it! Taking the time to make these foolproof rolls will impress both your guests and family members for sure.

We started baking bread at home with this bread in a bag recipe. It was a fun experiment I could do with my girls and it turned out really yummy too. Honey wheat is how I’d describe those loaves.

Then we went on to bake other homemade bread recipes with yeast, this one we made into dinner rolls. During the holidays I want buttery fluffy white rolls. Store bought is okay. I’ll stop at that. There’s just nothing like these babies though.

Remember I said you’d need just 5 main items?  It is totally true. I am assuming you just want them plain or else you’d want to integrate a bit of seasonings or diced fresh herbs like rosemary. Below is just the basic dough you can then tweak a number of different ways from there if you like. As is though just buttered is our favorite.

Ingredient Notes

Instant yeast is the base to make it fluffy and rise. You can find large bags at the store or small glass jars that should be kept in the fridge after opening. It is in it’s raw form and has to be activated and “fed” with warmed liquid and sweetener.

Sugar, just a bit makes it sweet but also is necessary to make the yeast bloom they call it which means it is activated enough to make the baked goods fluffy and rise well in the oven.

Milk should be heated so you have slightly warmed milk in order to once again, activate the yeast properly.

All purpose flour is the base for the dry ingredients. You always want to make sure to measure flour properly, not scooping with your measuring cup, or the end result will be dense.

Oil, vegetable is typical, to keep it moist and pliable. If you want that shiny look at the top of each one it is made with a light egg wash, added at room temperature

Salt and slightly warm water are added too but I don’t really count those as ingredients since we all have them at home. Thus, 6 main ingredients are necessary.

Tips to Making Quick Dinner Rolls

Just like any other baking project you’ll need to combine all the dry ingredients into a bowl with our cups of flour. Then make a well in the center and add your oil and milk, then knead as you add in the water slowly.

You may use all of the water listed in the recipe card, or leave a little left over. You’ll want to knead it until it is well combined and forms a ball of dough like you see here. You could use a stand mixer and a dough hook on medium speed if you’d rather. Just make sure you scrape the sides of the bowl while you’re mixing.

Instead of rolling the dough you’ll want to roll similar pieces into balls and place them into a springform or round pan. Make sure to spray it with non stick spray first so they lift out easily when done.

Let dough rise and ideally double in size. This will typically take 40 minutes to an hour. Don’t rush it, 30 minutes usually won’t do.  Just find a warm spot in your kitchen and put a towel over your pan, then find something else to do. 

Differences will come depending on your altitude and the humidity in your kitchen. Thus, the variance. Using your hands is best so you can really feel the consistency of the bread dough.

How do you make dinner rolls rise faster?

Proof dough in Instant Pot if you have one! OR preheat your oven to 400 degrees (the temp. your rolls will be baked at), rinse a kitchen towel under warm water until it is barely damp. Lay the towel over your dough that has been placed in a dish. (do not use plastic). Place your covered dough near, but not on your preheated oven. Let the dough rise until it’s doubled in size. You’ll want to check every 15 minutes until this occurs.

Once they’re nice and fluffed up like you see here you will want to brush some egg over the top so they get golden brown. Of course you can skip this step but this is the trick to making them glossy and pretty when you pull them out. Now preheat your oven to 400 degrees. And you’re ready to bake your homemade rolls.

What do you do if dough doesn’t rise?

Try turning up the heat, yeast loves a warm moist climate. If that doesn’t work and it hasn’t risen after 30 minutes try adding a bit more to your dough kneading it really well. Here are 10 other ways of how to fix dough that won’t rise.

Other easy bread recipes you’ll love

Our pull apart bread using refrigerated rolls and garlic and yummy  This is the 3 ingredient beer bread recipe is simple and quick Here’s how to make Bunny Bread Recipe for the holidays You can even wrap them around smokies and make pull apart pigs in a blanket

Can you freeze fresh baked rolls?

Yes!! Make a double batch and throw half of them in the freezer for later! Just allow them to cool completely. Wrap them in foil, then place inside a freezer gallon bag, they will last up to a month for best results

How do you keep rolls fresh the next day?

This is great to make if you don’t have yeast or need a quick bread in a jiffy. What if you have leftovers? Just wrap individual rolls tightly in plastic wrap. Store them in an airtight container. They can be stored like this for up to two days for best results For the freshest taste bring the homemade rolls to room temperature before eating.

Olive oil and balsamic bread dip

1. 1/2 cup olive oil
2. 2 tbsp. garlic, minced and dried or fresh oregano
3. 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese & balsamic vinegar

Serve this in a small dish for a burst of added flavors. So good when served with our 5 ingredient chili recipe.