So incredibly easy to make and wonderfully delicious, these 30-Minute Dinner Rolls are the perfect addition to any meal!
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!
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!
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- ⅓ 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
- ⅛ 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
- Combine 2 cups of flour with 2 packets of instant yeast (about 4½ teaspoons), sugar, and salt in a large bowl or stand mixer.
- In a large measuring cup, whisk together warm water, vegetable oil, melted butter, and egg. Add to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
- 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.
- 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.
- Brush tops with milk and bake as directed.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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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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At what point does the 1/8 cup milk go in?
Produced inedible hockey pucks as hard as rocks. Threw them out without serving them. Followed the recipe, even gave them a full half hour to rise. Save your flour.
I can’t say for sure what went wrong as most readers have had great success with this recipe. Is your yeast fresh?
Hi there! Could I make these a day ahead of time, let the dough rise for 15 min, refrigerate, then bake the next day?
Hi Ali, we have never tried preparing this dough ahead of time. But if you were to try this, I would suggest making the dough, then refrigerating, and bringing it out of the refrigerator to rise the next day before baking. Let us know how it turns out!
Can I used margarine as a substitute for the butter? Thanks
That should work just fine.
Hi! My daughter has to make rolls at school, and we’ve searched far and wide for a quick, easy recipe that produced delicious rolls. This recipe was one of many attempts, and was the first success! The rolls are soft and baked thoroughly, we couldn’t resist eating them straight away!
Many thanks :)
That’s a fun school activity! So glad you enjoyed them!
Does this work with non-dairy milk? It’s not much, so would an almond or soy give the same result?
Thanks so much!
Hi Maude, we have only made this recipe as listed. But since the milk is just brushed on top it should be fine. Other readers have used soy milk with great results.
Mine tasted ok but weren’t “pretty” and smooth across the top; looked more like drop biscuits. Any tips for a prettier roll like your pics?
Hi Alicia, once kneaded we roll them into smooth dinner rolls and they usually rise quite nicely. Good luck!
Tried this recipe today very easy rolls very tasty I believe I will add to my scroll!
I have made these rolls more than 30 times and it just occured to me i haven’t commented on how amazing this recipe is. Thank you for this awesomeness!!! It is my go to and so quick and easy to make. I normally tweak recipes but with this i make as is and it comes and just perfect and fluffy everytime. I have also tried making it into a loaf and using whole whear flour. Still perfect.
So happy to hear that Stephanie. I am so glad you love it!
I had to bake 25 minutes but they were delicious. Also let them rise for 30 before baking and brushed tops with butter once they came out of the oven. Served with homemade beef stew on a cold, rainy day! Real comfort food!
Sounds like a perfect dinner on a rainy day Bobbe! So glad you enjoyed the rolls.
Thank you for your post .I sent this recipe to my friend who made home made stew. Cant wait to see how she likes it. Ty! Sincerely Carol Shupp
I just followed this recipe (super easy and quick!) and have let the buns sit for over a half an hour and they don’t appear to be “rising”. I’m concerned about putting them in the oven, but I just did it, so hopefully they turn out. Otherwise, I guess I’ll be running to the store.
I hope they turned out well for you CJ!
just made the recipe and disappointed. Dough still sticky after 4 cups flour; too little salt and too dark on bottom by the time the tops were brown. am a semi-experienced bread maker but will not try this again.
Sorry to hear that the rolls didn’t turn out for you Dianne. We haven’t had those issues so can’t say for sure why. Thank you for trying the rolls.
Well this is the first time I made these and my mom said great job .
And yes I am a male that loves to bake so yes easy peasy great recipe for a first timer or anyone . J B Wellman
So happy you loved it John!
Love these rolls!
Actually forgot the butter the first time and they still turned iut delicious!
Do you think this recipie would work as a loaf of bread?
So happy you loved it Kim! We haven’t tried this recipe as a loaf but would love to hear how it turns out for you.
I have tried it several times and it works. I leave it to really rise in the loaf pan first before baking and then of course baking time is longer.
I actually have a question. Can these rolls be frozen and reheated and still be good?
Hi Becky, we haven’t tried freezing them. I think it would work but can’t say for sure. Other readers have had success, let us know if you try it!
Looks super easy can’t wait to try it
I hope you love it Joan!
I attempted this recipe on a chance & I am so happy I did!!! Seriously quick, easy & so yummy!!! I will be making this again & again & again! Thank you for sharing
Thank you so much Katie! I am thrilled that you liked the rolls!
My rating for these 30 minute dinner rolls are based on a combo based on-
EASE of making- 4 stars
TIME: Recipe Title “30 minute”- 3 stars
(Actual time incl. Knead, rise & bake exceeds greatly) This should be intro noted.
TASTE- 3 stars
(Comparable to generic low taste pkg bread vs homemade bread/rolls that are tasty even without butter or other spread)
TEXTURE- 4 stars
It could be a 4 star IF this was closer to what was personally expected in a dinner roll. But, for me, time & flavor for a “quick” recipe made the difference. I rather know actual or approx times & flavor where its great by itself. These rolls are good dressed up & noted to take more total time.
Thanks for your review Miss V! Hope you enjoyed them.
These are the best rolls. They are so quick compared to normal yeast rolls. I can have them done in no time. I thought they would be great as slider buns, too. Excellent recipe.
I am so glad you liked the rolls Cynthia!
I made these last night to go along with dinner, followed the recipe exactly, and was not impressed. They are pretty tasteless. The texture was okay straight out of the oven, but the next day they are so crumbly that they fall apart when I try to spread soft butter on them. My toddler, who typically loves dinner rolls, spat out the first bite I gave her and now just shakes her head whenever I try to offer her another bite of these rolls. Won’t be making these again.
So sorry to hear that Kati, we have never had that problem with this recipe.