So incredibly easy to make and wonderfully delicious, these 30-Minute Dinner Rolls are the perfect addition to any meal!

dinner roll on plate with butter

There is truly no smell as amazing as fresh warm bread or rolls coming out of the oven! I remember coming home from school to the smell of freshly baked buns or bread, ready and waiting as the perfect after school snack! To this day when I smell fresh baking, I am immediately transported to that happy time and place of my childhood.

Fast forward to today with busy work schedules, running to kids activities and trying to simply keep up with life, it is difficult to put together a meal – let alone add on the extras!

This 30-Minute Dinner Roll recipe is wonderful because it is truly so easy to prepare, the buns take a short time to rise and the result is such a delicious treat that it is worth the extra effort! What a great side to enjoy with a hot and tasty bowl of soup or chili!

 

dinner rolls stacked

 

I love the convenience of buying dinner rolls from the store and the quality is very nice. In most cases however, store bought items have additives or preservatives in order to keep a longer shelf life. Making these homemade dinner rolls from scratch ensures that nothing is added except wholesome goodness! And these tasty little buns never last long enough to have to worry about shelf life!

If you are lucky enough to have any left over the next day, they do stay fresh and are so wonderful served with butter and jam in the morning! I love to enjoy this special treat with my morning coffee – it is comfort food at it’s best!

Our sense of smell is one of the most highly acute of all our senses and tends to influence our mood. It is no small wonder that when we smell freshly baked dinner rolls, it makes us feel happy and excited in anticipation of these tender, tasty treats!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
dinner rolls stacked
4.86 from 2015 votes

30 Minute Dinner Rolls

Servings 18 rolls
There is no better smell than freshly baked bread. These 30 Minute Dinner Rolls are easy to make and incredibly tender and fluffy, making them the perfect addition to any meal.
Servings 18 rolls
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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Ingredients  

  • 1 cup warm water
  • cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour I use closer to 3
  • cup milk room temperature

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400*F.
  • In a large bowl, combine 1 cup water, oil, sugar, and yeast. Let sit until yeast is bubbly (about 8 minutes). Stir in beaten egg, softened butter, and salt.
  • With a stand mixer or by hand, add flour, one cup at a time until you have a soft dough that isn’t sticky. Knead by hand 10 minutes or 5 minutes with a stand mixer.
  • Divide dough into 18 even pieces, and form into balls. Place in a greased pan and cover with parchment paper and a kitchen towel.
  • Let rise 10 minutes in a warm place. (You can allow them to rise up to an additional 30 minutes if time allows).
  • Lightly brush with milk and bake on the middle rack for 10-12 minutes or just until browned.

Video

Notes

Note: 
If baking in a 9x13 pan, I make 15 rolls.
If baking in a 10x15 pan, I make 18 rolls.
 
To make with instant yeast:
  1. Combine 2 cups of flour with 2 packets of instant yeast (about 4½ teaspoons), sugar, and salt in a large bowl or stand mixer.
  2. In a large measuring cup, whisk together warm water, vegetable oil, melted butter, and egg. Add to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
  3. Add the remaining 1 to 2 cups of flour, half a cup at a time, until you have a soft dough that isn’t sticky (you may not need all of it). Knead by hand for 10 minutes or 5 minutes with a stand mixer.
  4. Form dough into balls. Place in a greased pan and cover with parchment paper and a kitchen towel. Let rise for 30-40 minutes or until dough is double in size.
  5. Brush tops with milk and bake as directed.
4.86 from 2015 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 134 | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

Whether it’s a special occasion or you simply want a delicious addition to your weeknight meal, 30-Minute Dinner Rolls are perfect! Absolutely delicate, delicious and simple to make, you will want to bake them often. And your family will ask for them even more!

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collage of dinner rolls, one cut open with butter and a whole bun
dinner rolls with text

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
See more posts by Holly

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4.86 from 2015 votes (1,431 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Wow! I’ve been baking bread, rolls etc. for over 50 years lol. Didn’t feel like taking the whole day today to make rolls to go with a pork stew so did a search for “ quick easy dinner rolls” and yours popped up. So fast and easy and absolutely delicious. They didn’t make it out of pan, we were at the counter buttering them up and “testing” them. Definitely a keeper. (I’m a retired restauranteur , chef) Thanks for this recipe. I let them rise for 30 min on top of oven @ 400, they rise well and doubled up over the pan when baked. Wish there was a place to post a photo!
    Bon Apetit ~5 stars

    1. So happy to hear that, Marcia! We would love to see a photo, be sure to tag us at @spendpennies on instagram!

  2. The last two times I made these rolls, Hubby EXPRESSLY forbade me make them again. But when I told him I was making a batch to go with our St. Patty’s Day Corned Beef spread, his eyes lit up like a little boy on Christmas Eve.5 stars

  3. Wow! I am new to making breads. Made these twice now and they were AWESOME both times! I did allow a longer rise time before baking. About 45 mins was the sweet spot for my house elevation, climate and temperature! The smell of freshly baked buns in the house can NOT be beat!
    Thank you for this recipe! It’s a winner in my books!5 stars

  4. I’ve loved making dinner rolls with your recipe for years and I would love for more people to try it out.5 stars

  5. i am so sad because I wanted to love these rolls – so easy, so fluffy – but mine tasted so bland. anything you’d recommend to help them taste better? Maybe just more salt?

  6. Easy to follow recipe with simple steps! Delicious results. Have made this 3x now. I did use a full teaspoon of salt based on personal preference.5 stars

    1. Wondering if I could bakthis dough in a bread pan. Perfect batch if rolls. I made the larger and ha perfect size buns for sandwiches5 stars

  7. If you want to taste the absolutely worst dinner rolls you ever eaten, make these. I’m a bread baker, and this seemed too preposterous to believe, so I made them. Threw them out. Not even bread crumb material.

    1. Yikes! If you’re a bread baker and these didn’t work, I’d love to know what happened. They’ve works so well for so many other readers!

  8. My hubby made a pot of soup so I thought I would make dinner rolls. I added about 3 1/2 cups of flour. They turned out absolutely delicious. Will make them again. Thanks Holly for a great recipe5 stars

    1. I made these and they turned out more like biscuits -very firm on the outside and dense inside. They weren’t burnt and tasted OK but they weren’t soft and fluffy like I’d hoped. Any idea where I went wrong? Perhaps too much flour or too much or not enough kneading?! I want so badly for these to work!

      1. Hi Amanda, it could be a couple things. To ensure the yeast activates properly you will want to make sure it is fresh and use warm water. Avoid adding too much flour, and make sure you knead it for 10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes with a stand mixer to ensure they are fluffy and soft. I hope that helps!

  9. I thought I would try making dinner rolls…since my hubby made a pot of soup. The recipe calls for 3-4 cups of flour. I added about 3 1/2 cups. They were absolutely delicious…nice & fluffy. Thanks for a delicious recipe Holly. Will be making them again5 stars

  10. I wanted to make some dinner rolls to go with dinner last night and came across there because I was low on time. For this beginning baker, they were not only super easy to make but they were DELICIOUS!! My kids demanded that I make them again tonight. They’re baking as I typeThis recipe is one we’ll use again and again!5 stars

  11. Husband (serious pro bread maker) and 5 kids said these were crack. I made them with our four year old. Easy ans delicious!! Great job on the recipe!!5 stars

    1. Oh no, I am sorry to hear that Sammy! I have never had that problem with these buns, so I am not sure what happened.