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 so comforting about warm, soft rolls fresh from the oven, right? This Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe brings exactly that magic to your kitchen — light, pillowy, and perfectly buttery rolls that feel like a warm hug on a plate.

The image shows a white baking pan with twelve golden brown bread rolls arranged in a 4 by 3 grid. Each roll has a shiny, smooth surface with a rich brown top and lighter golden sides, giving them a soft and fluffy look. Some coarse salt flakes are sprinkled on top of the rolls, adding texture and contrast. A woman's hand is seen sprinkling the salt over the bread, while another woman's hand holds a bowl filled with more white salt. The pan is placed on a black cooling rack over a white marbled surface, which adds a clean and bright background to the scene. 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 tried plenty of homemade roll recipes, but this one constantly wins my heart because it’s just so reliable and foolproof. You'll love pulling these golden beauties out of the oven — soft inside with that just-slightly crispy top that melts in your mouth.

Super Soft Texture: The combination of milk, butter, and eggs creates rolls that are incredibly tender and fluffy every single time.
Easy To Follow Instructions: No complicated steps here — I broke it down so you can easily fit this into your day, even if you’re new at bread making.
Customizable: Want garlic butter rolls or a slightly sweet twist? These rolls are a perfect blank canvas for your baking creativity.
Perfect For Any Meal: Whether it’s a holiday feast or a simple weeknight dinner, these rolls elevate your table with minimal effort.

A shiny golden brown bread roll with a soft, fluffy inside sits on a simple white plate in the front. The top of the roll is sprinkled with coarse salt crystals that catch the light. Behind it is a white baking dish full of similarly golden rolls, close together with a slightly glossy finish. To the right, on the white marbled surface, is a small white bowl holding two pale yellow cubes of butter. The whole scene is bright with soft light, showing the warm colors and textures clearly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect soft crumb and beautiful rise. Using bread flour gives the rolls structure, while the milk and butter enrich the dough, keeping it tender and flavorful.

Flat lay of two whole uncracked brown eggs with clean shells, 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, 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, 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

Lukewarm Water: Activates the yeast gently without cooking it—keep it between 100-110°F to ensure a good rise.
Warm Milk: Adds richness and moisture to make rolls tender and soft inside.
Unsalted Butter: Melted and added both in dough and for greasing to bring flavor and softness.
Eggs: Help bind the dough and enrich flavor, contributing to that tender crumb.
Granulated Sugar: Feeds the yeast and adds a slight sweetness that balances the roll’s flavor.
Fine Sea Salt: Essential for flavor balance and to strengthen gluten in the dough.
Instant Yeast: Quick rising and reliable for that perfect fluffy lift.
Bread Flour: Higher protein than all-purpose flour, creating structure for soft-yet-springy rolls.
Egg Wash: Gives rolls a shiny, golden crust that’s beautiful and inviting.
Flaky Sea Salt: Optional finishing touch that adds a little crunch and flavor contrast.

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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

I like to keep these rolls classic, but sometimes I mix things up by adding flavors or toppings that make them feel extra special. Play around and see what you like — you can’t really go wrong!

Garlic Herb Rolls: Before baking, brush with melted garlic butter and sprinkle fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme — it instantly transforms these rolls into something fancy and flavorful.
Slightly Sweet Twist: If you love a touch more sweetness, add a tablespoon of honey instead of sugar for a subtle change that’s absolutely delicious.
Whole Wheat Variation: Swap half of the bread flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor and a bit more fiber.
Kitchen Helper Version: If you have a bread machine, this recipe is a perfect candidate for the dough cycle — it saves you time and effort!

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

Step 1: Bring Ingredients Together

Start by combining the lukewarm water, warm milk, melted butter, eggs, sugar, salt, and instant yeast in your mixer bowl. I like to use my stand mixer with a dough hook for ease, but you can also mix by hand with a wooden spoon until you have a shaggy dough.

Step 2: Add Flour and Knead

Next, add 2 cups of bread flour and stir to combine, then attach your dough hook and start kneading on medium-low speed. Gradually add the rest of the flour while kneading, until the dough starts pulling away from the sides. Knead a total of 4–5 minutes on medium-high speed until you have a soft, smooth, elastic ball — it should be slightly tacky but not sticky.

Step 3: First Rise

Lightly grease a large bowl with butter or cooking spray and place your dough ball inside. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise at room temp for about 1 to 1.5 hours, until it’s doubled in size — this is where the magic of yeast really shows!

Step 4: Shape the Rolls

Gently deflate the dough and transfer it to a buttered 9×13 baking pan. Using a bench scraper or knife, cut the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball — I find dampening my hands helps to create a nice surface without tearing the dough. Arrange the balls neatly in the pan.

Step 5: Second Rise

Cover the rolls lightly with plastic wrap and let them rise again for about an hour until they puff up nicely — almost doubling. This step is key for fluffy rolls, so don’t rush it!

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Just before baking, brush the tops with a beaten egg for that shiny golden finish. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the rolls are beautifully browned on top.

Step 7: Butter & Serve

As soon as they come out of the oven, brush the rolls with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if you like that salty contrast. Serve warm and enjoy!

Top Tip

Through my baking adventures, I’ve learned little tricks to make this Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe come out perfect every single time, and I’m excited to share them with you!

Don’t Over-Flour: It’s tempting to add extra flour if the dough feels sticky, but I promise that only leads to denser rolls. Instead, dampen your hands to handle the dough — it stays soft and airy this way.
Use Lukewarm Liquids: If your water or milk is too hot, it can kill the yeast. When I learned to check the temp with a kitchen thermometer, my rises became much more consistent.
Let It Rise Properly: Patience is your friend here — skip any shortcuts on the rising times, and your rolls will thank you with that perfect fluffiness.
Egg Wash for Shine: Brushing the rolls with beaten egg right before baking makes them look bakery-level beautiful and adds a slight crisp to the crust.

How to Serve Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe

homemade dinner rolls - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with a bit of flaky sea salt on top to contrast the buttery softness. Sometimes, I sprinkle freshly chopped herbs like parsley or chives for a fresh pop of color and flavor — it feels more upscale that way!

Side Dishes

These rolls are my go-to alongside hearty meals like roast chicken, beef stew, or a big bowl of homemade soup. They’re perfect for mopping up gravy or sauces. Trust me, they elevate just about any dinner.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday dinners or brunches, I arrange the rolls in a round basket lined with a cozy linen napkin, maybe even served alongside small pots of flavored butters — think honey cinnamon or garlic herb. It always impresses guests without much extra fuss on my part.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I wrap leftover rolls tightly in plastic wrap or an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to three days. This keeps them soft and fresh — though they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

These rolls freeze beautifully. After baking and cooling, I freeze them in a zip-top bag. When I want one, I just pop them in the oven wrapped in foil at 350°F for about 10–15 minutes, and they come back to life almost like fresh baked.

Reheating

For reheating, I always prefer the oven to the microwave to keep that lovely crust from getting soggy. A few minutes at 350°F wrapped in foil restores softness and warmth perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour?

You can substitute all-purpose flour, but the rolls might be slightly less soft and have less chew. Bread flour gives better structure due to its higher protein content, but all-purpose flour still works in a pinch.

Do I have to use instant yeast?

Instant yeast is great for this recipe because it works quickly and doesn’t require proofing. However, you can use active dry yeast if you proof it first in the lukewarm water until foamy, which takes about 5-10 minutes.

Why are my rolls dense instead of fluffy?

Dense rolls usually mean too much flour was added or the dough wasn’t kneaded enough. Avoid adding extra flour beyond what’s called for. Kneading develops gluten which traps air bubbles that make rolls light and fluffy. Also, make sure to let the dough rise fully both times for best texture.

Can I make this dough in a bread machine?

Yes! Add ingredients in the order your bread machine recommends and use the dough cycle. After the first rise, shape the rolls and let them rise again outside before baking according to the recipe instructions.

Final Thoughts

This Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe has become my go-to when I want something special that’s actually doable on a busy day. They bring that cozy homemade touch that everyone appreciates, whether it’s a regular weeknight or a holiday dinner. Honestly, once you’ve mastered these, I bet you’ll keep coming back for more — and that’s exactly what I want for you!