1 Hour Dinner Rolls

Ever wish you could have fresh dinner rolls without spending hours in the kitchen? These 1 Hour Dinner Rolls deliver soft, fluffy perfection in just 1 hour.

Soft, fluffy 1 hour dinner roll being held.

These 1 Hour Dinner Rolls are the perfect solution when you want fresh, homemade bread without spending all day in the kitchen. Made with simple ingredients and a quick-rising dough, these rolls bake up soft, fluffy, and golden in just about an hour from start to finish. They’re slightly buttery, tender on the inside, and perfect for slathering with butter, dipping into soups, or serving alongside hearty main dishes.

I love adding my Herb Butter Spread, 15 Minute Skinny Spinach Artichoke Dip, or even my Roasted Red Pepper Hummus to these rolls.

Why We Love These Homemade Dinner Rolls

  • Quick-rise dough allows you to save time while still achieving great flavor and texture.
  • Perfect for beginners, this recipe is ideal for those new to bread-making.
  • Easily double the recipe to accommodate larger gatherings or meal prep needs.

Recipe Ingredients

Warm milk mixture in a measuring cup with a thermometer.

Whole Milk – Adds moisture and a tender texture to the dough.

Kosher Sea Salt – A teaspoon of salt enhances the overall flavor of the rolls. Kosher salt works best, but any fine sea salt can be used as a substitute.

For a full list of ingredients and amounts, see the recipe card below.

Variations

Non-Dairy Alternative – Use almond milk or oat milk, and replace butter with a plant-based alternative to make the rolls dairy-free.

Add Grated Cheese – Fold in shredded cheddar or mozzarella for cheesy dinner rolls.

How to Make 1-Hour Dinner Rolls

Step 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, yeast, and salt.

Step 2: In a microwave-safe bowl (or 2-cup glass measuring cup), combine the honey, butter, water, and milk. Heat in the microwave until the mixture is warm and the butter is almost melted (about 1 minute on HIGH). Remove and whisk to melt the butter completely. Let it sit until the mixture reaches 110–115 degrees Fahrenheit (43–46 degrees Celsius) before adding it to the flour mixture.

Step 3: Add the warm milk mixture and egg. Mix on low until a soft and sticky dough forms.

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).

Step 5: Switch to the dough hook and knead on low for 5 minutes or until the dough becomes elastic. Transfer to a lightly floured surface, sprinkle the top with a light dusting of flour, and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.

Step 6: Once the dough has rested, divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place them in a well-buttered quarter sheet pan (lining it with parchment paper is recommended). Butter the parchment and the bare sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Turn off the oven and place the covered rolls inside to rise for 25 minutes. The rolls should double in size, and the sides should touch.

Fully risen soft dinner rolls in a pan.

Step 7: Remove the rolls from the oven and TURN ON your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Once preheated, remove the plastic wrap and bake for 15–20 minutes or until the tops are lightly golden brown. Keep an eye on them, as they may take a bit longer.

Step 8: Remove from the oven and brush with the melted butter. Serve warm.

Golden-brown dinner rolls fresh out of the oven brushed with melted butter.

Expert Tips

Add a Pan of Hot Water in the Oven – While proofing, place a pan of hot water in the oven. The steam will create a humid environment that encourages faster rising.

Brush with Milk Before Baking – For a soft crust, brush the rolls with milk instead of butter before baking. This adds moisture and enhances softness.

A close-up of the fluffy interior of a freshly baked 1 hour dinner roll.

Ways to Serve This Bread

Breakfast – Spread with honey, jam, or butter for a quick and delicious start to the day.

Soups and Stews – Serve these warm 1 Hour Dinner Rolls alongside my Cheesy Cauliflower Soup, Vegetable Beef Stew, Potato Corn Chowder, Chicken Wild Rice Soup, or Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana. The rolls are perfect for soaking up the creamy broth.

Main Course – Pair with Sausage, Mushroom, and Spinach Pasta to balance the savory richness, or enjoy alongside Baked Ziti to scoop up the cheesy, tomato-based sauce.

Appetizers – Enjoy as dipping bread with garlic butter, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, or pair with a cheesy spinach dip for a simple yet flavorful starter.

Holiday Meals – Add these rolls to your festive table with roasted turkey, glazed ham, or creamy mashed potatoes to complete your celebration feast.

FAQs

How can I make my easy Dinner Rolls soft and fluffy?

To achieve soft and fluffy rolls, knead the dough just until it becomes smooth and elastic, and avoid adding too much flour. Add additional flour, ¼ cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is slightly sticky to the touch. A slightly sticky dough helps create a lighter texture.

Can I add flavors like herbs or cheese to the dough?

Absolutely! Incorporating fresh herbs, garlic, or shredded cheese into the dough can enhance the flavor of your dinner rolls.

Storage Information

STORE the leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days, or keep them in the fridge if needed for slightly longer freshness.

To FREEZE, you can either freeze the dough after letting it rise for 20 minutes by wrapping the pan tightly in foil and storing it in the freezer for 4–6 months, or freeze baked rolls in freezer bags for up to 6 weeks.

To REHEAT, wrap the rolls in foil and warm them in a 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) oven for 15 minutes. If baking frozen dough, thaw it in the fridge overnight or defrost for 1 hour at room temperature before baking. Then bake as directed, adding 5–7 extra minutes if needed.

Did you try this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ rating below and share it on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!

A close-up of soft dinner rolls being held.

1 Hour Dinner Rolls Recipe

Ever wish you could have fresh dinner rolls without spending hours in the kitchen? These 1 Hour Dinner Rolls deliver soft, fluffy perfection in just 1 hour.
5 from 22 votes
Pin Rate
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 12 rolls
Calories: 186kcal
Author: Andrea
Print (email required)

Ingredients

  • 2 3/4-3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp instant yeast - quick rise
  • 1 tsp kosher sea salt
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter - cut into tablespoons
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 egg - room temperature
  • 2 tbsp salted butter - melted (for brushing)
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new and favorite recipes from us!

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, yeast, and salt.
  • In a microwave-safe bowl (or 2-cup glass measuring cup), combine the honey, butter, water, and milk. Heat in the microwave until the mixture is warm and the butter is almost melted (about 1 minute on HIGH). Remove and whisk to melt the butter completely. Let it sit until the mixture reaches 110–115 degrees Fahrenheit (43–46 degrees Celsius) before adding it to the flour mixture.
  • Add the warm milk mixture and egg. Mix on low until a soft and sticky dough forms.
  • Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).
  • Switch to the dough hook and knead on low for 5 minutes or until the dough becomes elastic. Transfer to a lightly floured surface, sprinkle the top with a light dusting of flour, and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.
  • Once the dough has rested, divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place them in a well-buttered quarter sheet pan (lining it with parchment paper is recommended). Butter the parchment and the bare sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Turn off the oven and place the covered rolls inside to rise for 25 minutes. The rolls should double in size, and the sides should touch.
  • Remove the rolls from the oven and TURN ON your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Once preheated, remove the plastic wrap and bake for 15–20 minutes or until the tops are lightly golden brown. Keep an eye on them, as they may take a bit longer.
  • Remove from the oven and brush with the melted butter. Serve warm.

VIDEO

NOTES

-If you live in a dry place or have trouble with baked goods drying out quickly, you may want to use a kitchen squirt/mister bottle and lightly spray the tops of the rolls before you let them rise and before they go into the oven to bake.
STORE the leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days, or keep them in the fridge if needed for slightly longer freshness.
To FREEZE, you can either freeze the dough after letting it rise for 20 minutes by wrapping the pan tightly in foil and storing it in the freezer for 4–6 months, or freeze baked rolls in freezer bags for up to 6 weeks.
To REHEAT, wrap the rolls in foil and warm them in a 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) oven for 15 minutes. If baking frozen dough, thaw it in the fridge overnight or defrost for 1 hour at room temperature before baking. Then bake as directed, adding 5–7 extra minutes if needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 218mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Want more inspiration?

More Recipes You'll Love

About the Author

Andrea

Hi I'm Andrea!

Hotelier turned Food Blogger to help make your life simple, one recipe at a time.

5 from 22 votes (11 ratings without comment)

Join the Conversation

Rate and Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please click on the Stars below to share your Rating of this Recipe




Comments:

  1. Followed your directions to the letter and simple and quick dinner rolls were made! Usually I follow a recipe like this and I create great hockey pucks instead. The rolls were lacking in flavor to me so I will have something to play with after you did all the hard work of creating the recipe. Thank you again for a great recipe.

  2. This is the first time I have ever made rolls. Now I’ve made bread before so I knew some things like don’t overwork the dough and how to make them look pretty by rolling sides under and leaving a ball on top. I must say, this is a hands down, super easy, and very delicious roll! My boyfriend and I are in awe of these! Everything is dead on, taste, fluffy, color! Thank you for this recipe! I’m not even gonna look for another one. THIS IS THE ONE!

  3. I made these with bread flour using the same measurements. At first, I thought I’d made a mistake because they weren’t rising, but that was because at first I hadn’t put them in the warm oven as stated. However, once I did, they rose well and rose more as they baked. Then, I thought I wouldn’t like the flavor or texture, but then everyone loved them and so did I. This will be my go-to roll recipe. Thank you

  4. Natalie: I am preparing for a yeast bread class that I am teaching. May I share your recipe for these quick dinner rolls with my class?

    Thank you so much for posting your directions and development of making this recipe. I am certain many of the ladies that I will be teaching will enjoy learning that they can make dinner rolls in about an hour.

  5. I am SO glad I tried this recipe tonight. I did not change one thing. Followed it exactly as written. I DID have some doubts about the dough looking so sticky in the mixer. But did not add more flour. I let the dough hook knead it for the time apecified. It changed to being less sticky but still wasn’t a dry dough. I used a rubber spatula to scrape it out onto the lightly floured counter and just lightly sprinkled the top with a bit of flour. I very gently folded that in just enough so that it wasn’t sticky but still pretty soft. Proofed it and baked exactly as written. Checking at 25 min but it needed 5 min more. They were perfectly browned on top and bottom. They did have a bit more weight to them so I thought they’d be too dense, but they weren’t. They’re wonderful. Especially considering they’re done in an hour. I will definitely make these again. Many mire times I’m sure! Thank you so much! I’ll share my pictures of them if I can figure out how.