Imagine pulling out a tray of perfectly golden, fluffy dinner rolls that took minimal effort and just 5 ingredients to make. This easy dinner roll recipe is exactly that dream come true… Simple approach that delivers bakery-quality results without any complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why You’ll Love This Easy Dinner Roll Recipe
They’re surprisingly simple to make, even if you’ve never baked bread before. The soft, pillowy texture and buttery flavor will have everyone at your table reaching for seconds (and thirds!).
With just flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and milk as your base ingredients (plus a little butter for richness), you’ll be amazed at how something so simple can taste so incredible. Compare that to store-bought dinner rolls with their 19+ ingredients (many you can’t even pronounce), and you’ll never go back to the packaged version again.
This is the type of recipe that my grandchildren are going to call their grandma’s secret dinner roll recipe one day, but since you’re here, you’re basically family, so I’ll share it with you too!
Ingredients for 5-Ingredient Dinner Rolls
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups milk
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 egg for egg wash
- 1 tablespoon milk for egg wash (optional)
How to Make Easy Dinner Rolls from Scratch
It’s really just mix, shape, and bake, and did I mention these are so dang good? Two short hours is all that stands between you and freshly baked dinner rolls on your table.
Step 1: Mix Your Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. This quick step ensures all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
Step 2: Add Warm Liquids
Warm your milk and butter in a microwave until the butter is just melted. The liquid should be warm but not hot (around 110°F is perfect). If it’s too hot, it could kill the yeast. Add this warm mixture to your dry ingredients and stir until a shaggy dough forms.
Step 3: Knead the Dough
Turn your dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. The dough should spring back when you press it with your finger.
If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook, you can use that instead for easier kneading, but honestly, bread-making is meant to be done by hand… It’s a great arm workout!
Step 4: First Rise
Place your dough in a bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size. I like to turn my oven on at the lowest setting for just a minute, then turn it off and place the dough inside with the door closed to create the perfect warm environment. Or just place it in your microwave, either will work great!
Step 5: Shape Your Rolls
Once your dough has doubled, gently punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough into 9 equal pieces. To shape each roll, pull the edges toward the center and pinch to seal, then place seam-side down and roll between your palms to create a smooth ball.
Step 6: Second Rise
Arrange your dough balls in a lightly greased 8×8 or 9×9 inch square baking dish, placing them so they’re just touching. Cover again and let rise for another hour, or until visibly puffy.
Step 7: Add the Finishing Touch
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). If you want that beautiful golden brown shine on top of your rolls, whisk together an egg and a tablespoon of milk and gently brush this mixture over the tops of your rolls.
Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake your rolls for 10-15 minutes, or until the tops are a beautiful golden brown.
Step 9: Enjoy!
Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter for an extra touch of richness if desired. Allow to cool slightly but serve while still warm for the ultimate comfort food experience!
Tips for Perfect Dinner Rolls Every Time
- Check your yeast: Make sure your yeast is fresh. Old yeast might not activate properly, resulting in rolls that don’t rise.
- Proper kneading matters: Kneading develops gluten, which gives your rolls that perfect chewy texture. Don’t skimp on this step!
- Watch the temperature: If your liquids are too hot, they can kill the yeast. Aim for warm, not hot.
- Be patient: The rising time might seem long, but it’s essential for developing flavor and texture. Don’t rush it!
- Even sizing: Try to make your dough balls roughly the same size so they bake evenly.
Make-Ahead and Storage Options
This easy dinner roll recipe can be prepared ahead of time! After shaping the rolls, cover them tightly and refrigerate overnight. The next day, let them come to room temperature and rise before baking.
Baked rolls will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. To freeze, cool completely, cut in half and place in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature and warm in a 300°F oven for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Perfect Pairings for Your Homemade Dinner Rolls
These versatile dinner rolls are the perfect companion to so many meals:
- Pair with Cheddar and Broccoli Soup for a comforting lunch
- Serve alongside The Easiest Italian Bread Loaf for an impressive bread basket
- Use for sliders with Homemade 4-Ingredient Ketchup
- Perfect for sopping up 3-Ingredient Macaroni and Cheese sauce
Variations to Try
- Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls: For a nutrient-rich version with beautiful color, check out my Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls recipe!
- Herb Rolls: Add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or Italian seasoning to the dry ingredients.
- Garlic Butter Rolls: After baking, brush with melted butter mixed with minced garlic and chopped parsley.
- Whole Wheat Rolls: Substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a heartier roll.
- Cheesy Rolls: Add 1/2 cup of grated cheese like cheddar or parmesan to the dough.
Why Homemade Rolls Beat Store-Bought Every Time
Your family’s health deserves better than store-bought bread, so I’m on a mission to simplify bread-making for everyone. There’s simply no comparison between fresh, homemade dinner rolls and the ones from the store. Not only do the rolls from this easy dinner roll recipe taste infinitely better, but you also control exactly what goes into them, no preservatives or additives, just simple, wholesome ingredients.
Plus, the satisfaction of pulling your very own freshly baked rolls out of the oven is absolutely priceless. Your family and friends will be impressed, and you’ll be amazed at how something so delicious can come from just 5 simple ingredients.
So go ahead and give this easy dinner roll recipe a try, I guarantee it will become a staple in your home baking!
Easy Dinner Roll Recipe With Just 5 Ingredients
EMAIL THIS RECIPE
Enter your email and I’ll send this directly to you.
Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!
Ingredients
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp instant yeast
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1½ cups milk
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 egg for egg wash
- 1 tbsp milk for egg wash
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
- Warm milk and butter in the microwave until butter is melted, then add to your dry mixture. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and allow to rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Once risen, punch down the dough and divide into 9 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball.
- Place all dough balls into a square baking dish, cover and allow to rise for another 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Make egg wash by beating egg with milk. Brush the tops of the rolls with egg wash.
- Bake at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and enjoy!
Notes
Want To Save This Recipe?
Share your email & we’ll send it over! PLUS, you’ll get new recipes from us weekly
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! If using active dry yeast, you’ll need to activate it first. Mix it with the warm milk and a pinch of the sugar, let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy, then proceed with the recipe as written.
Dense rolls usually happen for one of three reasons: not enough kneading (which develops the gluten necessary for that fluffy texture), not enough rising time, or using flour with too low protein content. Make sure to knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, and always allow for a full rise until the dough has doubled in size.
Absolutely! As I always say, bread-making is meant to be done by hand. Simply knead the dough on a clean surface for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. It’s a great arm workout!
Yes! After shaping the rolls, you can freeze them on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, place the frozen rolls in a baking dish, cover, and let thaw and rise at room temperature (about 5 hours) before baking.
The dough should roughly double in size. Another test is to gently press your finger about half an inch into the dough—if the indentation remains, it’s ready!
This recipe contains milk and butter, but you can substitute plant-based milk and vegan butter for a fully vegan version.
Yes! For a heartier version, you can substitute up to half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. You might need to add a bit more milk as whole wheat flour absorbs more liquid.
Store completely cooled rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze them as mentioned above.
Absolutely! Try adding herbs, garlic, cheese, or even cinnamon and raisins for a sweeter version. This 5-ingredient base recipe is incredibly versatile.
Yes! If you love these classic dinner rolls, you might also enjoy my Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls recipe. They have the same fluffy texture but with added nutrients and a beautiful golden color from the sweet potatoes!
Thank you for sharing ????????
so glad you liked it Dalia!!
Love all of your recipes! Extremely easy to follow. I just made dinner rolls and substituted milk (which I was out of) with 1/2 & 1/2 they came out awesome
That sounds absolutely delicious! You’re buns must have been extra fluffy with the half and half (: Thank you so much for sharing!!
Can I reduce the sugar to one tablespoon? I don’t want any sweetness in my rolls.
Yes you can! I wouldn’t add less than that though because the yeast needs to feed on the sugar.
Can you double the recipe?
You absolutely can Theresa!
Yum bread! So easy to make and holds its form, soft, soooo yummy with real butter! Thank you for this recipe Minoo!!
ahh I’m so glad you loved it!! These dinners rolls are my favourite and the dough is so versatile, you can really make anything with it (:
Can I use this recipe for bread.
Yes you can! just shape it into a loaf instead of rolls. but you will have to adjust baking temperture. For loaves I usually do 350 for 30-35 min. You may also have to cover the top with foil if it’s getting too brown while baking.
This is the 3 time that a make it and I really love it, easy , fast and perfect fresh bread !!!
Ahhh so happy to hear that Christine! I’m glad you love it (:
Hi! We loved your roll recipe. However, is there anyway to make it sweeter? Thank you!
Hi Joanna! I’m SO happy to hear that (: And there absolutely is. You have plenty of options. You can just increase the sugar that the recipe already has, but if you want to get creative you can also knead some chocolate chips in the dough, or add cinnamon sugar for a fun variation too!
Thank you for answering my question. To add the sweetness, can I add honey along with the sugar?
You absolutely can Joanna! Maple syrup works great as well if you have access to it.
I followed this recipe to the letter and wound up with soup, not a shaggy dough. How much more flour is needed to have a successful dough? I mixed in my “Kitchen Aid” for fifteen minutes.
Hi Bill! That is very strange. This is not really a wet dough at all and shouldn’t be sticky! Did you by chance use a different flour than all purpose? Using bread flour would require different measurements for your wet ingredients. If that’s not the case, try mixing your dough lightly then letting it sit for a few minutes before mixing with the kitchen aid. Your flour may not have had enough time to absorb the liquid causing it to be overly runny!
Hi can I use bread flour in dates of all-purpose?
You absolutely can Sara! But I will warn you bread flour absorbs water differently than all purpose flour so start with the amounts the recipe suggests but you may have to adjust to get the right dough which should be smooth and easy to knead but not sticky!
I’m unsure if my house is too cold or if I used too much flour or what went wrong. I kneaded my dough by hand, covered the bowl and placed it in the microwave. It didn’t rise. I have it on the stove while the oven is preheating praying that it will rise. All liquids were warm not hot or cold. Should I tru to knead it again? Will it matter this late?
Makayla, don’t panic yet! If it hasn’t risen at all, the most common reasons are either inactive yeast or the room being too cold. The microwave (turned off) is usually fine, but if your kitchen is chilly it can slow things down a lot. I wouldn’t knead it again at this point — that won’t help the rise. Give it more time in a warm (not hot) spot and see if it starts to puff up. If there’s absolutely no movement after a while, the yeast may have been the issue.
What temperature and how long to make into a loaf?
375 for approximately 35-45 minutes! If you see that its getting too dark on the top just add some foil to cover it so it doesn’t burn (: