Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe

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Soft dinner rolls are easier than you think to make from scratch! These simple bread rolls take only 7 basic ingredients and a little bit of patience and they are perfect for serving alongside any meal but we especially love them with country fried chicken, Instant Pot beef stew, or Southern fried chicken!

There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the kitchen, especially when it comes to these soft and fluffy dinner rolls. Perfectly golden brown on the outside and irresistibly tender on the inside, these soft dinner rolls are sure to become a staple at your dinner table. Plus, they’re surprisingly easy to make from scratch!

Why I love this recipe

• an easy dinner roll recipe is a must for every home cook
• these rolls are perfect for holidays but easy enough for busy weeknight meals with only about 30 minutes of active cooking time
• yeast rolls are a great side for most dinners but also delicious with butter and jam for breakfast or as a quick snack

Ingredients

• all-purpose flour
• instant yeast
• granulated sugar
• salt
• warm milk
• butter
• egg

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer (affiliate link), combine 3 cups of flour, instant yeast, granulated sugar, salt, warm milk, softened butter, and egg.
2. Mix the Dough: Using a dough hook attachment on the lowest speed, mix until the flour is fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
3. Incorporate More Flour: Add 1/2 cup of flour and blend with the dough hook until incorporated. Repeat this step with another 1/2 cup of flour, mixing at medium speed for an additional 2 minutes until a ball of dough is formed. The dough should be slightly sticky, soft, and pulling away from the edge of the bowl. Add additional flour if needed to achieve the right consistency.

1. Let the Dough Rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a towel or plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes at room temperature.
2. Shape the Rolls: After the dough has risen, remove the towel or plastic wrap and gently deflate the dough by punching it lightly. Pinch off pieces of the dough and form 24 equal pieces. You can use a kitchen scale to measure each dough ball to be about 2 ounces. Roll each piece of dough between your hands to form a smooth ball of dough for each roll.
3. Second Rise: Place rolls in a lightly greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Cover them with a towel or plastic wrap and let them rise for an additional 30 minutes at room temperature.

1. Bake the Rolls: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the rolls for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through. If the rolls start to brown too quickly, tent them with foil.
2. Brush with Butter: Once the rolls are done baking, remove them from the oven and immediately brush the tops with melted butter for a delicious finishing touch.

Flavor variations

• cheddar rolls – add 1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
• garlic herb rolls – add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary and/or dried basil
• rosemary rolls –  add 4 teaspoons dried rosemary
• honey rolls – add 3 tablespoons of honey to the dough to give it extra sweetness

Serving suggestions

Serve these fluffy rolls on the side of many of your favorite dishes. I like to use them to mop up extra sauce when I make Instant Pot spaghetti. They are also good for more than just dinner. Make them into ham and cheese sliders, serve with broccoli cheese soup or salad for lunch, or enjoy for breakfast with butter and jam.

Storage

Store leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Freeze rolls in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature then reheat in the microwave or oven.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

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