Easy One-Hour Dinner Rolls

Published November 11, 2023. Updated November 15, 2023

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Fast and easy Dinner Rolls that are perfectly soft and tender, beautifully fluffy and ready from start to finish in just 1 hour! No more waiting forever for dough to rise with this simple dinner side staple!

Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls in a bread basket with a blue cloth.

The Fastest Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe!

Who doesn’t love a freshly baked homemade roll warm from the oven?

It’s amazing that something made up so few of the most basic ingredients, that’s so reasonably easy to make can create something so supremely delicious!

These dinner rolls have the best melt-in-your-mouth texture with a light chew, a rich buttery flavor and just a faint hint of background sweetness. They’re the perfect side to homemade Vegetable Soup or Minestrone Soup!

I’ve shared so many soup recipes so of course it only makes sense to have some delicious rolls to serve with them. These rolls also double as great base for sliders or sandwiches (pulled pork, holiday ham and turkey etc), or use leftovers the next day for a breakfast casserole (like French toast or a strata).

These easy dinner rolls are the ultimate upgrade to a cozy, comforting meal especially when slathered with a fair layer of creamy whipped butter or homemade freezer jam.

Dinner Roll Recipe Ingredients

All-purpose flour – preferably unbleached, but bleached will work as well.
Granulated sugar – this adds just a hint of sweetness that isn’t overpowering.
Rapid rise yeast – using this specific type of yeast which is more powerful is what makes it possible for the rolls to rise so quickly and be ready in 1 hour. See notes below on subsitutes.
Salt – just stick with standard table salt. And please be careful not to forget it. I’ve done this and the rolls taste so incredibly bland.
Water – this (along with milk and butter) will be heated to 120 degrees to help activate the yeast.
Milk – I like to use anything but skim milk.
Butter – if you only have salted butter on hand just reduce salt by 1/8 tsp.
Lemon juice – this encourages more rapid rising, so it’s great for quick rolls. In a pinch plain vinegar will work too.

How to Make Dinner Rolls in just 1 Hour!

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
2. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer whisk together 3 1/2 cups flour, the sugar, yeast and salt.
3. To a medium bowl add water, milk and butter and heat in microwave on HIGH power until it reaches 120 degrees on a thermometer, about 1 minute 15 seconds. Stir to partially melt butter.
4. Pour milk mixture into dry mixture in bowl of electric stand mixer along with lemon juice.

5. Set mixer with a hook attachment then set mixer on low speed and gradually increase to medium-low, knead about 3 minutes until smooth and elastic while adding additional flour as necessary (dough should be lightly sticky but manageable).
6. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and rest 5 minutes. Meanwhile butter a 13 by 9-inch baking dish.

7. Drop dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into an evenly level square, about 9 by 9-inches.
8. Cut into 16 equal portions (don’t have to be exact).
9. Shape dough into 15 balls, while using excess dough from the 16th portion to add to smaller rounds as needed, and place shaped dough portions into prepared baking dish.
10. Dampen hands with water and brush tops of dough with the water (just so they don’t dry while rising in oven).

11. Transfer to oven, close oven and turn oven off, allow rolls to rise 20 minutes (don’t open oven door).
12. Remove from oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees (this should take about 5 minutes, so just allow rolls to rest on counter while oven preheats).
13. Bake in preheated oven 14 – 16 minutes until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and run the top of a stick of butter along tops of rolls just to coat.
14. Serve warm. Store in an airtight container (I recommend rewarming cool rolls in microwave for best results.

Helpful Tips for the Best Soft Dinner Rolls

Killing the yeast: Be careful not to overheat liquids or this will kill the active live yeast and prevent rolls from rising.
Don’t over-knead roll dough: Roll dough does’t need to be kneaded for very long for soft and tender rolls. Over-kneading can also dry the dough out and make it less soft and supple to work with.
Quick rise rolls in just warm oven: Rise dinner rolls quickly in a low heated oven, just don’t forget to turn oven off before placing them in there. If you leave oven on while rolls rise in there this will start to cook the rolls rather then quick rise them in a warm environment.
Golden brown tops: Every oven bakes a bit differently if your oven tends to brown less then position the oven rack up a level before preheating the oven. Pasty white rolls aren’t as appetizing.
Buttery tops: Don’t forget to butter tops after baking for rich flavor and a pretty finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Best Way to Store Dinner Rolls?

Let rolls cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Store homemade rolls at room temperature 1 to 2 days, in the fridge up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months.

How do You Reheat Dinner Rolls?

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Wrap rolls with aluminum foil and heat until warmed through, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Or reheat individual rolls on microwave safe plate for about 15 seconds.

Can I Make Rolls in Advance and Bake Later?

1. Yes, if doing so use active dry yeast (follow mixing directions above to do so).
2. Shape into rolls, place in baking dish.
3. Cover and refrigerate rolls overnight.
4. The following day remove from fridge and let rise until doubled in volume. Uncover and bake as directed.
5. Rolls can be baked a day or two in advance but they are most delicious just after baking.

Can I Use a Different Type of Yeast?

Active dry yeast can be used as well:

You’ll want to proof it first.
To do so mix 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees), active dry yeast and 1/2 tsp sugar, mix in stand mixer bowl, let rest 10 minutes (it should bubble up).
Warm milk, remaining water and butter to 110 degrees. Mix liquids into mixer bowl.
Mix in dry ingredients, knead and proceed as directed.
Rise time will be about 1 hour for the dough, then 1 hour or so for the shaped rolls, or until doubled in volume.

Instant yeast will work too:

Prepare as directed replacing rapid rise yeast with instant yeast.
Increase rise times until dough doubles in volume with 1st and 2nd rise.

Can I Make Smaller Dinner Rolls?

These rolls are a pretty generous size, for smaller rolls make 20 portions (laying in 5 rows of 4 in pan, shape into a rectangle to cut portions).

How Many Calories are in a Dinner Roll?

These homemade dinner rolls have an estimated 167 calories per roll (per automated nutrition calculator).

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Close up photo of homemade dinner roll showing soft and fluffy texture and golden brown tops.

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