Fluffy Easy Dinner Rolls Recipe

Navigating the dinner table can be a daily challenge, but one thing that always earns a smile is a basket of warm, fresh-from-the-oven bread. There’s a special kind of magic in serving easy dinner rolls that you made yourself. I’m Patricia, and on Patricia Universe, I believe that the best meals are built on simple, reliable foundations. These easy dinner rolls are exactly that—a foolproof recipe that yields soft, buttery clouds of bread with a hint of garlic, ready to complement any meal. They’re a staple in my home, and I’m thrilled to share this simple joy with you.

Table of Contents

• Why This Recipe Works
• The Key to Fluffy Dinner Rolls
• Garlic Butter vs. Classic: The Finishing Touch
• Perfect for Beginners and Busy Cooks
• Make It Your Own: Variations to Love
• The Full Recipe at a Glance
• Notes and Pro Tips

Key Takeaways

• Effortless Elegance: This recipe transforms basic ingredients into impressively soft and fluffy rolls with minimal hands-on work.
• Time-Smart: With clear rising and baking times, you can plan these rolls to be ready right as your main dish is finishing.
• Endlessly Adaptable: The base dough is perfect, and the garlic butter topping can be customized with herbs or swapped for a sweet glaze.
• Crowd-Pleasing Side: These easy dinner rolls are a guaranteed hit for weeknight dinners, holiday feasts, or potlucks.

Why This Recipe Works

As someone who values both flavor and simplicity in the kitchen, I developed this recipe to be utterly dependable. It strikes the perfect balance between a rich, tender crumb and a recipe that doesn’t require a culinary degree. The combination of milk, butter, and a touch of sugar creates an environment where the yeast thrives, guaranteeing a good rise every single time. For anyone looking for a straightforward dinner roll recipe, this is your new go-to.

The Key to Fluffy Dinner Rolls

The quest for the perfect texture ends here. The secret lies in the kneading and the rise. Adequate kneading develops the gluten just enough to give the rolls structure without making them tough. Then, allowing them a proper, undisturbed rise in a warm spot is non-negotiable. This patience rewards you with dough that’s light as air and bakes into those irresistibly soft, pull-apart rolls that make any meal feel special.

Garlic Butter vs. Classic: The Finishing Touch

While a classic dinner roll is wonderful on its own, I adore the extra layer of flavor a simple glaze provides. Brushing the warm rolls with a mixture of melted butter, fresh garlic, and parsley does two things: it adds a savory, aromatic punch, and it gives the tops a beautiful, glossy sheen. If you’re in the mood for something simpler, a brush of plain melted butter with a sprinkle of flaky salt is equally divine. This step is what elevates a great homemade dinner roll to an unforgettable one.

Perfect for Beginners and Busy Cooks

Don’t let the thought of yeast bread intimidate you. This recipe is designed with clarity and success in mind. The instructions walk you through each stage, from proofing the yeast to shaping the dough. For those with a hectic schedule, the dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for its first rise, or the shaped rolls can be frozen before their final proof. This flexibility means you can have freshly baked, warm quick dinner rolls on the table with impressive ease, no matter how busy your day has been.

Make It Your Own: Variations to Love

The beauty of a foundational recipe like this is its adaptability. Once you’ve mastered the basic easy bread recipe, feel free to play. Fold in some shredded cheddar cheese and chives into the dough for a cheesy twist. For a sweet breakfast version, skip the garlic and brush the baked rolls with a honey butter glaze. You can even shape them into knots or braids for a more festive look. These simple dinner roll recipes are a canvas for your creativity.

The Full Recipe at a Glance

Find the complete, detailed recipe card below for all measurements, step-by-step instructions, and baking times. It’s formatted for easy printing and includes all the specifics you need to bake with confidence.

Notes and Pro Tips

For the most successful bake, here are a few final pointers. Always ensure your liquid is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast without killing it. If your kitchen is cool, create a warm rising spot by placing the dough in an oven with the light on. And remember, the garlic butter should be brushed on while the rolls are piping hot from the oven so it soaks in beautifully. For more kitchen tips and recipe inspiration, be sure to explore Patricia Universe.

Fluffy Easy Dinner Rolls Recipe

This Fluffy Easy Dinner Rolls recipe yields soft, buttery rolls with a garlic butter glaze. They are the perfect side for any meal and come together in no time.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Keywords: easy bread recipe, easy dinner rolls, Fluffy Dinner Rolls, garlic dinner rolls, homemade dinner rolls, quick dinner rolls

Servings: 12 rolls

Author: Patricia

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (one packet)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 3 1/2 – 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

For the Garlic Butter Glaze

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Make the Dough

1. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
2. Add the melted butter, salt, and egg to the yeast mixture. Mix until combined.
3. Gradually add 3 1/2 cups of flour, mixing on low speed with a dough hook (or by hand) until a soft dough forms.
4. If the dough is too sticky, add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl but is still slightly tacky.
5. Knead on a lightly floured surface (or with the mixer on medium speed) for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.

First Rise

1. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel.
2. Let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.

Shape the Rolls

1. Punch down the risen dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
2. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball.
3. Place the balls into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan, spacing them evenly. Cover and let rise for another 30-45 minutes, until puffy.

Bake the Rolls

1. While the rolls are rising, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Bake the rolls for 18-22 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
3. While the rolls bake, prepare the garlic butter glaze. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, and salt.

Glaze and Serve

1. As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush the warm garlic butter glaze generously over the tops.
2. Let the rolls cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before serving warm.

Notes

For the best rise, ensure your milk is warm but not hot (around 110°F). If you’re short on time, you can let the shaped rolls do their final rise in a warm oven that has been turned off. The garlic butter can be substituted with plain melted butter and a sprinkle of sea salt if preferred.