Name: Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 2 h 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¼ cup (59 grams) lukewarm water (100 to 110°F); 1 cup (237 grams) warm milk (100 to 110°F); 1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar; 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt; 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) instant yeast; 4 ½ cups (572 grams) bread flour; 1 egg, lightly beaten; Melted butter; Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

There’s something incredibly comforting about the smell and feel of freshly baked rolls straight from the oven, right? These soft, buttery treats melt in your mouth, and that’s exactly why this Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe is so special — it turns a simple side into a warm, inviting experience you’ll want to come back to, time and again.

The image shows a white square baking dish filled with twelve soft, golden-brown dinner rolls arranged in a 3 by 4 grid, each with a shiny, smooth top sprinkled with coarse salt. The rolls have a slightly fluffy and shiny texture with a light golden color fading to a paler yellow near the base where they touch each other. One woman's hand is sprinkling salt on the top right roll, and another woman's hand holds a small bowl filled with more coarse salt in the bottom left corner. The baking dish is placed on a black wire cooling rack over a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made my fair share of dinner rolls, and this one stands out because it’s so reliably soft and fluffy without being complicated. Plus, it’s enriched with just the right amount of butter and milk to keep the rolls tender and full of flavor — like a little hug from your oven.

Perfect Texture: These rolls come out beautifully soft on the inside with a delicate golden crust — fluffy but substantial.
Simple Ingredients: You likely already have everything you need in your pantry, making it easy to bake on any day.
Great for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a family dinner or a holiday feast, these rolls fit right in and impress your guests.
Customizable: You can roll with the basics or gently mix in extras like herbs or cheese for a personalized touch.

A single soft bread roll sits on a small white plate, showing a torn side that reveals its fluffy, light beige interior texture. The top of the roll is golden brown with some coarse sea salt sprinkled on it, giving a slight shine. Behind the plate is a white baking dish filled with more bread rolls, each with a similar golden-brown top. To the right of the plate, a small white bowl holds two pale yellow butter slices. The whole scene is set on a white marbled surface with bright, natural lighting. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here plays a part in making these rolls just right. The balance of liquids to flour creates a dough that’s soft yet holds its shape, while yeast and sugar team up to give the perfect rise and subtle sweetness.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of lukewarm water, a small white ceramic bowl of warm milk, a small white ceramic bowl of melted unsalted butter, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of fine sea salt, a small white ceramic bowl of instant yeast, a small white ceramic bowl of bread flour, another whole brown egg with clean shell, a small white ceramic bowl of flaky sea salt, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Water: Lukewarm water activates the yeast without killing it, helping the dough rise well.
Milk: Warm milk enriches the dough, keeping the rolls tender and adding flavor.
Butter: Melted and added both in dough and for greasing, butter adds softness and a rich aroma.
Eggs: Eggs bind the dough and give it a beautiful color and lovely crumb.
Sugar: Just enough to feed the yeast and add a faint sweetness that balances the salt.
Sea Salt: Enhances flavor, balancing sweetness and bringing out the buttery notes.
Instant Yeast: Fast-acting yeast that saves time and reliably gives a great rise.
Bread Flour: Higher protein content creates the chewy, fluffy texture these dinner rolls are famous for.
Egg Wash & Flaky Sea Salt: The egg wash helps the rolls develop a glossy golden crust, and flaky salt adds that final gourmet touch.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe is how adaptable it is. I love playing around with it, whether adding a sprinkle of herbs or swapping some flour for whole wheat to change up the flavor and texture just a bit.

Herb Rolls: Adding chopped rosemary or thyme right into the dough gives the rolls a lovely savory twist — a crowd-pleaser for sure.
Cheesy Variation: Mixing in shredded Parmesan or cheddar before shaping adds a melty surprise inside every roll.
Gluten-Free Adaptation: While this recipe shines with bread flour, you can experiment with gluten-free blends—just remember the texture might change.
Sweet Rolls: Try brushing the tops with honey butter before baking for an irresistible sweet shine.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Wet Ingredients with Yeast

Start by combining lukewarm water, warm milk, melted butter, lightly beaten eggs, sugar, salt, and instant yeast in the bowl of your stand mixer. This mixture is the base that wakes up the yeast and builds flavor. The water and milk temperatures are key here—too hot and you risk killing the yeast, too cold and the rise slows down. Right around 100–110°F works perfectly every time.

Step 2: Add Flour and Knead

Next, stir in 2 cups of bread flour with a wooden spoon until the dough looks rough and shaggy. Switch to your mixer’s dough hook and start kneading on medium-low, slowly adding the remaining flour. Once all flour is added, bump the speed up to medium-high and knead for about 4 to 5 minutes. The dough should be soft, smooth, elastic, and just slightly tacky—but not sticky. This step develops the gluten so you get that perfect fluffy texture.

Step 3: Let the Dough Rise

Lightly grease a large bowl and place your dough inside, covering it with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Let it rise at room temperature for an hour to 90 minutes until it doubles in size and looks puffy. This rest is crucial — your patience here will pay off with fluffy, airy rolls.

Step 4: Shape the Rolls

Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter. Gently deflate the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces using a bench scraper or knife. Shape each piece into a smooth ball — I like to cup my hand over the dough and roll it on the counter to get a tight skin — and place the rolls close together in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap again for the second rise.

Step 5: Second Rise

Let the rolls rise for about another hour, until they nearly double in size again. This second rise works its magic to make rolls light and tender inside.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Before baking, brush the rolls gently with a beaten egg for that shining golden crust. Bake for about 20 minutes or until they’re beautifully browned on top. Once out of the oven, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt for flavor and a touch of elegance.

Top Tip

After experimenting with many dinner roll recipes, I’ve learned the most important secrets for success with this fluffy homemade dough. Getting these right can make all the difference between just “good rolls” and truly dreamy ones.

Measure Ingredients Accurately: I weigh my flour because even small differences change dough texture—this is key to getting fluffy rolls every time.
Don’t Over-Flour the Dough: It’s tempting when the dough feels sticky, but adding too much flour leads to tough rolls instead of tender ones.
Use Instant Yeast: It saves time without compromising rise, and I sometimes proof it first in the warm liquids to speed things up.
Gentle Handling: When shaping balls, be gentle — rough handling can deflate the dough and impact fluffiness.

How to Serve Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

homemade dinner rolls - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep things simple with a brush of melted butter and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, but sometimes I love adding fresh herbs like chopped parsley or thyme on top. It’s a small touch that brightens the presentation and flavor.

Side Dishes

These rolls shine alongside comfort foods like roast chicken, mashed potatoes, or a hearty stew. I also love serving them with soup or a rich pasta dish — their mild flavor makes them a perfect vehicle for soaking up sauces.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I arrange these rolls in a wreath shape with fresh rosemary sprigs tucked in between — it’s festive and inviting. You could brush them with garlic butter for a delicious twist or stuff them with cheese for a surprise bite.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After they cool completely, I store leftover rolls in an airtight container or zip-top bag on the counter. They stay soft for about 3 days, but honestly, I rarely have leftovers because they’re so addictive fresh!

Freezing

I freeze these dinner rolls all the time. After baking and cooling, I wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and pop them in the freezer. When you want fresh rolls again, just thaw at room temperature and warm in the oven for a few minutes — just like fresh-baked!

Reheating

The best way I’ve found to reheat is wrapping rolls in foil and warming them at 300°F for about 10 minutes. This keeps them moist inside while giving the crust a gentle crisp that’s just right.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe without a stand mixer?

Absolutely! You can mix and knead the dough by hand. It just takes a little extra elbow grease — knead for about 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Using your hands helps you learn the dough’s texture, which is a great skill to develop.

What’s the secret to keeping these dinner rolls soft the next day?

Storage is key. Keep rolls in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature to maintain moisture. If they start to dry out, warming them wrapped in foil with a little butter can bring back softness and that freshly baked warmth.

Can I substitute bread flour with all-purpose flour?

You can, but bread flour’s higher protein content gives better structure and chewiness, which helps achieve fluffiness. If you only have all-purpose flour, the rolls will still be tasty, but they might be a little softer and less airy.

How long can I freeze these dinner rolls?

You can freeze the baked rolls for up to 3 months when wrapped tightly. Just remember to thaw them properly and warm before serving to enjoy that fresh-baked texture and flavor.

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing quite like pulling these fluffy homemade dinner rolls fresh from the oven and sharing them with friends or family. I hope this recipe brings you as much joy in the kitchen as it’s brought me over countless dinners. Give it a try — you’ll soon see why it’s become a staple in my baking repertoire and hopefully yours too!