Table of Contents
These quick dinner rolls are our secret weapon for instant comfort food!
Forget those long, drawn-out bread-making processes. This recipe is all about speed and simplicity, meaning you can have warm, fluffy rolls on the table in just over an hour! Seriously, if you’ve ever had a last-minute craving for some soft, buttery goodness, this is your answer. We love to whip these up for Sunday dinner – and LOVE that they don’t take all day!
The magic of these “quick dinner rolls” lies in a few clever shortcuts. There’s only a 20-minute rise time, so they’re ready to bake in no time! No complicated kneading or multiple long rises here. Yet, despite the speed, you still get that wonderful soft, slightly chewy texture and delicious flavor.
When you need a comforting side dish in a hurry, these rolls are your dependable go-to. For more favorites, try our classic dinner rolls or Texas Roadhouse rolls.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Extra easy. Think simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, a quick mix, and a relatively short bake time.
- For weeknights and special occasions. These rolls are perfect for everything from a casual weeknight meal to a holiday.
- Soft and fluffy! These are everything you want in a roll. They are soft and delicious – the perfect easy side!
Quick Dinner Rolls Ingredients and Substitutions
- 1½ cups warm water – The warm water needs to be around 105-115°F to activate the yeast without killing it.
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast – or use instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar – or 1½ tablespoons of honey or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened – We used unsalted butter, softened to room temperature.
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups flour, more or less as needed – We use all-purpose flour. Be sure to measure the flour accurately.
- 3 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing on top
- coarse sea salt for sprinkling on top
How to Make Quick Dinner Rolls
- DOUGH. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water and let stand for five minutes, or until foamy.
- Add the butter, salt, and 3 cups of flour to the yeast mixture, and mix until combined. Add additional flour, ¼ cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is only slightly sticky to the touch.
- Do not add too much flour! Knead 3-5 minutes, until smooth. Cover and let rise 20 minutes.
- BAKE. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
- Gently punch the dough down and divide into 12 equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and space evenly in the prepared pan.
- Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with sea salt, and let rise for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- Bake 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove and brush with butter. Let cool slightly before serving and enjoy!
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Kneading for 3-5 minutes develops gluten, which gives the bread its structure, but over-kneading can make the dough tough.
- Find a warm spot for your dough to rise. This could be on top of a warm oven, a sunny spot, or a proofing drawer.
- Let the dough rise until about doubled in size. If it rises too large, it will cave in and will not be usable.
- We often double the recipe so we have some to bake now and dough balls to freeze and bake later.
Quick Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 1½ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups flour, more or less as needed
- 3 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing on top
- coarse sea salt for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water and let stand for five minutes, or until foamy.
- Add the butter, salt, and 3 cups of flour, and mix until combined. Add additional flour, ¼ cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is only slightly sticky to the touch (be careful not to add too much flour!). Knead 3-5 minutes, until smooth. Cover and let rise 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
- Gently punch the dough down and divide into 12 equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and space evenly in the prepared pan. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with sea salt, and let rise for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- Bake 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove and brush with butter. Let cool slightly before serving and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Kneading for 3-5 minutes develops gluten, which gives the bread its structure, but over-kneading can make the dough tough.
- Find a warm spot for your dough to rise. This could be on top of a warm oven, a sunny spot, or a proofing drawer.
- Let the dough rise until about doubled in size. If it rises too large, it will cave in and will not be usable.
- We often double to recipe so we have some to bake now and freeze some dough balls to bake later.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
After you have shaped the dough balls, do not let them rise a second time; place them in the freezer. Once solid, transfer them to a freezer ziploc and freeze for 1-2 months.
To use, place in a baking pan, cover with plastic wrap, and thaw overnight in the fridge, and then let them rise at room temperature for another 1-2 hours, or until they have doubled their original size. Bake as directed.
Store baked rolls at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days, or freeze in a freezer bag for 2-3 months.
Complete The Meal
Main Dish
Roast Chicken Recipe
1 hr 30 mins
Crock Pot Pot Roast
7 hrs 5 mins
Instant Pot Ham
20 mins
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe
1 hr 35 mins
Dinner Rolls
Dinner Rolls Recipe
2 hrs 40 mins
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls
2 hrs 35 mins
Yeast Dinner Rolls
2 hrs 12 mins
Potato Rolls
2 hrs 30 mins
