Easy Salted Butter Dinner Rolls

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There is something about a freshly baked dinner roll that sets the tone for the entire dinner. Everyone needs a good dinner roll recipe, so if you’re on the hunt for a simple but solid dinner roll to pair with your meal, these salted butter dinner rolls will check all the boxes. 

A pillowy soft yeast dough is baked to golden perfection. And as soon as they pop out of the oven, they are brushed with salted butter and finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. These dinner rolls are simple and reliable, and the kind of roll that can turn an ordinary dinner into something that is memorable.

Every bite is buttery, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth good. They’re perfect for weeknight dinners, Thanksgiving or Christmas Holiday dinners, or anytime you want a homemade bread that feels bakery-worthy.

Why You’ll Love These Salted Butter Dinner Rolls

• They complete the meal. A dinner roll has two superpowers. It can tie an entire meal together and also make everything else taste better.
• They have a pillowy soft dough. A good dinner roll always starts with the dough – they’re soft, tender, and not dry and chewy. And these check all the right boxes!
• The best comfort side dish. Not only do these rolls taste delicious, but they bring a sense of warmth and comfort to any dinner table. The cozy smell of the baked bread, the soft dough, and buttery flavor – it’s everything you want in a side dish.

How to Make Salted Butter Dinner Rolls, Step By Step

Step 1. Make the yeast dough.

There is a simple three-step process to making this dough that involves activating yeast, forming the dough, and kneading the dough. 

1. Start by activating the yeast. To do this, add warm milk, instant yeast, and sugar to a bowl and whisk to combine. The yeast will start to bubble as it activates. Make sure the milk is between 105-115ºF. If it’s too cold, the yeast will not activate. If it’s too hot, the heat will kill the yeast.

2. Next, form the dough. Add the flour, salt, and butter to the yeast mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix until a dough is forms. Using an electric stand mixer with the dough hook attachment is the easiest way to do this. If you do not have a stand mixer, you can bring the dough together with your hands. It will just take more time and muscle.

3. Final knead and first rise. Lastly, knead the dough for about 5 additional minutes, cover in plastic wrap and let it rise for an hour to double in size.

Step 2. Punch dough, separate into pieces, and roll the buns.

Once the dough is done rising, punch the dough to release any excess gas that has built up in the bread dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and separate the dough into 12-14 equal pieces. Roll the dough pieces into balls and line them in the baking dish.

Step 3. Quick dough rise in pan, milk wash, and bake.

After the dinner rolls are lined in the casserole dish, they will need to sit for the second rise. This rise will be quicker – about 30 minutes.

While they are rising, preheat your oven to 350ºF. Brush the tops of the rolls with milk and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Tip: The milk wash will give the dinner rolls a nice bronze finish.

Step 4. Brush with melted butter, add flaky salt, and serve.

While the rolls are hot, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and brush the tops of the buns with the melted butter. Finish with a sprinkle of flaky salt. Let them cool to set for about 10-15 minutes and serve warm.

Tips for making dinner rolls

• Don’t over-knead the dough. It will result in a tougher, chewier bread. There are a couple of ways to test whether your dough is ready to rise. See our tips below on how to know when to stop kneading the dough. 
• Add a milk and butter wash to give the rolls a browned glazed finish. Brushing the tops of the dinner rolls with milk before baking will give them a golden brown, slightly glossy finish. You can go the extra mile and brush with butter to make them super buttery and add an even glossier finish.
• Place the dough in the microwave to rise. The microwave is one of the best places to let yeast dough proof because it’s low draft, warm, and climate-controlled. An environment that’s too cold or too hot can kill the yeast.

How to know when to stop kneading the dough

It should take about 5 minutes to knead this dough. But sometimes your can’t rely on time alone. 

To be sure your dough is ready, you can use one of these methods to test its readiness. If it passes one of these tests, you can stop kneading and let it rise.

• Poke test: Poke the dough. If it bounces back, you’re done kneading.
• Window pane test: Pull off a small piece of dough and stretch it until it is very thin. Hold it up to the light. If you can see light through the dough before it tears, you are done kneading. 

How to store leftover dinner rolls

Make sure the rolls are completely cooled before storing. Store in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag at room temperature for 2-3 days for optimal freshness. We don’t recommend storing them in the fridge. They could lose some moisture and become dry.

For convenience… Bake and freeze for later!

If you like to meal prep for a holiday dinner or have an easy side on hand, bake these rolls, freeze and reheat when you’re ready to eat.

Follow the steps to make the dough and bake the rolls (SKIP the butter wash and flakey salt at the end).  Let the rolls cool completely, wrap them in an airtight freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat in the oven and brush with butter and finish with sea salt before serving.

Can I use these rolls to make sandwich sliders?

Absolutely! These rolls would make delicious buns for sandwich sliders.

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