Bake a batch of these easy dinner buns to go with dinner tonight – flour, yeast, water, oil, and salt mix for perfectly fluffy, yeasty rolls that are golden brown and delicious!
I think many of us agree that one of the best parts about going out to eat at a steakhouse is the breadbasket they bring while you wait.
It’s no wonder – those soft dinner rolls are light, fluffy, yeasty, and perfect when slathered with whipped honey butter.
My easy dinner buns give you that same warm cozy feeling, and they are fluffy and yeasty and perfect for any dinner you make at home.
And most importantly, they’re EASY!
EASY DINNER BUNS
I don’t think I have to twist your arm to make you want to make yeast dinner rolls, but here’s why THIS recipe is one of our favorites:
- Super, super easy
- FAST – they’re ready in under 2 hours with very little hands-on time
- Simple ingredients you probably already have
- Can be flavored too! Rosemary parmesan? Garlic cheddar? Done!
- Freezer-friendly
And if you’re new to yeast, this is a great recipe to start with. It’s almost as easy as my No-Knead Artisan Bread, but it’s ready much quicker!
INGREDIENTS FOR EASY YEAST ROLLS
You only need 5 simple ingredients for these easy yeast rolls:
- Dry Active Yeast. This is what helps the bread roll recipe rise, giving you fluffy, yeasty rolls.
- Warm Water. You want your water to be between 105-110F to activate the yeast.
- Olive Oil. Just a little bit of fat to help give the rolls flavor. Melted butter would also work.
- Flour. All purpose flour will give you the lightest rolls, while whole wheat flour will give you a little bit of extra protein but will bake up slightly denser.
- Salt. Not all salts are made the same! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!).
That’s it!
HOW TO MAKE YEAST DINNER ROLLS
You can have homemade yeast dinner rolls on your table in just over an hour with a few basic steps:
Step 1. Combine yeast and water in a bowl and allow to bloom.
Step 2. Add the remaining ingredients to the yeast mixture and knead bread (by hand or using a stand mixer with a dough hook) until all the little pieces of dough have been picked up from the sides of the bowl, plus three minutes.
Step 3. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm spot for one hour.
Step 4. Pour out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into a log shape and cut the dough into eight equal pieces.
Step 5. Preheat the oven to 450F.
Step 6. Using your hands, form each piece into a round and place them on a baking sheet or baking dish 2 inches apart. Cover the dough with a towel and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Step 7. Bake yeast rolls for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush the hot rolls with melted butter for that classic shine and extra-rich flavor if desired.
Store leftover dinner buns in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
DINNER BUNS VARIATIONS
If you’re looking to add a flavor boost to this dinner roll recipe, try one of these variations:
- Rosemary Parmesan: Add 1 Tablespoon of fresh or dried rosemary to the dough. Sprinkle the tops of the rolls with grated Parmesan during the final 5 minutes of baking.
- Garlic Cheddar Buns: Add up to 1 teaspoon of garlic powder plus ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese with the dry ingredients when mixing the dough.
- Herby Yeast Rolls: Add 1-2 Tablespoons of finely chopped herbs to the dough itself or add to melted butter and brush on top of the rolls before baking. Try basil, parsley, or thyme.
SERVE WITH DINNER BUNS
Dinner buns are an amazing side that goes well with just about anything. Add a pat of butter and you’re ready to dig in! Enjoy them with:
- Soups like Classic Minestrone Soup
- Salads like Kale Salad with Blueberries, Walnuts, and Feta
- A steak dinner just like at the steakhouse
- Make sliders! Use my Best Burger Recipe but press the ground beef into a 13×9 pan and bake it instead of forming patties. Slice them into small squares and place them on dinner buns with your favorite burger toppings.
- For holidays like Easter or Thanksgiving – your homemade dinner rolls will be the star of the table.
- Leftover rolls even pair well with bacon and eggs for breakfast!
EATING FLUFFY DINNER ROLLS WHEN WATCHING YOUR MACROS
Can you still enjoy dinner buns when you’re trying to meet specific nutrition goals? Absolutely!
- Make smaller buns. Instead of 8 yeast rolls, shape the dough into 12 smaller rounds, and adjust your nutrition tracking accordingly.
- Pair a carb like yeast dinner rolls with lean protein and plenty of lower-carb veggies for a balanced meal. Pairing with protein also helps keep your blood sugar stable.
- Add more protein!
- Add 1 Tablespoon of vital wheat gluten to the rolls for a greater rise and 7g of protein.
- Use whole wheat flour, which naturally has more protein than white flour.
- Add cottage cheese. Just ¼ cup will increase your protein and make for extra fluffy rolls. Check out my homemade Hawaiian Bread Rolls to see this in action.
- Add a scoop of protein powder or collagen. I generally prefer to drink my collagen in a smoothie, but considering it’s a dry ingredient, it should blend in well with the rolls. (This is my favorite collagen)
RECIPE YEAST DINNER ROLLS FAQS
What is the difference between dinner buns and dinner rolls?
They’re similar enough that I use the names interchangeably, but they are technically slightly different. Buttery dinner rolls are typically baked closer together, ending up with a pull-apart result. Dinner buns are usually formed and baked with space in between, giving them a slightly crusty outside with a fluffy middle.
How do you make this recipe yeast dinner rolls rise faster?
Two keys to a fast-rising dough are using active yeast (meaning, it makes beer-foam-like bubbles when combined with warm water) and a warm rise environment. On top of the stove with the oven on is a great place for dough to rise!
What is the best way to freeze bread?
Or better yet – can you freeze these dinner buns? The short answer is yes, and my Ultimate Guide to Freezing Bread and Baked Goods is super helpful for that.
I personally have found the best results when I bake bread FIRST and then freeze. The rises are better, the crumb is better, and all in all, they just taste better. I like to use gallon-size freezer bags because they’re so versatile. I just pop the rolls in the bag and put the bag in the freezer!
How do you heat dinner rolls?
To thaw and heat frozen dinner rolls, just let them come to room temperature. It’s best to do this gradually, as opposed to forcing it with a microwave, which can make your yeast rolls gummy and chewy. I like to pull out any frozen bread the night before or the morning of – whenever I’m pulling out anything else from the freezer that I need for dinner – and let them come to room temperature on their own.
If you want slightly warm yeast dinner rolls, you can place them in an oven preheated to 250F for 5-10 minutes.
OTHER EASY BREAD RECIPES
- Light and Fluffy Hawaiian Bread Rolls
- Cloud Dinner Rolls Recipe
- No-Knead Einkorn Sourdough Bread
- Focaccia Bread
- The Best White Sandwich Bread
- 90 Minute Man Bread
WATCH HOW TO MAKE EASY DINNER ROLLS
Easy Dinner Buns
Bake a batch of these easy dinner buns to go with dinner tonight – flour, yeast, water, oil, and salt mix for perfectly fluffy, yeasty rolls that are golden brown and delicious!
- Prep Time: 90 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 rolls 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine yeast and water in a bowl and allow to bloom.
- Add remaining ingredients and knead (by hand or using a mixer) until all of the little pieces of dough have been picked up from the sides of the bowl, plus three minutes.
- Cover the bowl with a towel and allow to rise in a warm spot for one hour.
- Pour out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into a log shape and cut dough into eight equal pieces.
- Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.
- Using your hands, form each piece into a round and place on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Cover the dough with a towel and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Bake rolls for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Notes
- Make smaller buns. Instead of 8 yeast rolls, shape the dough into 12 smaller rounds, and adjust your nutrition tracking accordingly.
- Pair a carb like yeast dinner rolls with lean protein and plenty of lower-carb veggies for a balanced meal. Pairing with protein also helps keep your blood sugar stable.
- Add more protein!
- Add 1 Tablespoon of vital wheat gluten to the rolls for a greater rise and 7g of protein.
- Use whole wheat flour, which naturally has more protein than white flour.
- Add cottage cheese. Just ¼ cup will increase your protein and make for extra fluffy rolls. Check out my homemade Hawaiian Bread Rolls to see this in action.
- Add a scoop of protein powder or collagen. I generally prefer to drink my collagen in a smoothie, but considering it’s a dry ingredient, it should blend in well with the rolls. (This is my favorite collagen)
It’s usually just my husband and me for dinner, as we are empty nesters. He’s not a big leftovers eater and I like fresh bread so I made half of this recipe, which made 5 dinner rolls. It was the perfect amount for the two us to have with our minestrone for dinner and then a roll to have with bacon and eggs the next morning. Sometimes bread recipes don’t halve well but this one does. Perfect for a weeknight after work since they’re so easy to make. Thanks!
You’re most welcome Andrea! 🙂