These Buttery Dinner Rolls are the easiest rolls ever! Once they rise, all you need is 5 minutes of prep time and a short bake in the oven. Out pops perfectly golden brown, buttery, soft pillows of dough. It's magic! With so many flavor variations these are irresistible.
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Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh bread baking? It brings out all the feels. But sometimes I need a shortcut to get me there. Enter these rolls. Since the day I saw the inspiration for these on the Pioneer Woman, they have made a regular appearance. Sometimes I have to stop adding them to the weekly meal plan so that the family doesn’t get burned out on them.
When I serve these at a family gathering of about twenty I can easily go through three skillets worth. I'm telling you, they are delicious. I don't want you to miss out so, please, do me a favor... make them as soon as you get a chance. Before you know it you will have a new family favorite.
Not only have these been served for big holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, but they have also been served to the extended family during our weekend Sunday dinners. Mostly though I serve them when I need more carbs to fill up bottomless pits a.k.a. teenage boys. With so many different flavor options they compliment any main dish.
🧈 Ingredients
Frozen rolls: I use Rhodes Frozen Rolls. 57 grams (smaller ones are 38 grams).
Butter: Adds that irresistible flavor and helps the rolls brown.
Herbs: Fresh herbs are the best. Feel free to mix a few together.
Salt: Kosher is the best option.
Garlic: Mince your own or use jarred. Either are delicious.
🔪 Instructions
Pull out a trusty 12 inch cast iron skillet for every dozen rolls, but feel free to use a 9x13 pan if that is what you have. Place the rolls evenly throughout the pan. Take a piece of plastic wrap and cover the skillet. Spray the outside of the plastic wrap with non-stick spray, then turn the plastic wrap over so that the sprayed side is closest to the rolls.
Place in a warm location for 3-5 hours, until they have doubled in size. The length of time varies depending on how warm it is. They should be soft and fluffy. They remind me of a perfect baby’s bottom. Sorry. It’s true.
If they rise too much from being left too long or in too warm of a location, they won’t turn out quite as well. It’s a good idea to watch them carefully after the 3 hour mark. Once they are looking ready, gently remove the plastic wrap and melt the butter.
Pour the butter over the tops of the rolls making sure to include the outside edge of the pan. It should be evenly distributed all around the pan. Sprinkle with herbs and salt.
When it is time to bake turn the oven to 350 degrees. Once the oven is at temperature bake for 15-20 minutes. If you are using a different brand of rolls check the back of the bag for cooking time. I'm sure they are all pretty similar.
👨👩👧👦 For a crowd
Buttery Dinner Rolls are such a great bread option for serving a crowd! We have served them for large holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas time and time again. The biggest consideration is oven space - I can barely fit three 12-inch skillets in my oven, so I only ever triple the recipe. Test how many skillets fit in your oven before deciding how many to make. Or bake in batches.
🧄 Flavor options
Fresh herbs: thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, or parsley.
Dried herbs: Fresh are better but these can be used in a pinch.
Salt: Kosher, Garlic salt, sea salt
Garlic: Fresh minced is best.
🙋 Questions & Answers
My experience is mainly with Rhodes Rolls in the orange bag, but I have used the Kroger brand a few times. Honestly, either turn out delicious.
The Gourmet size rolls (57 grams) are sold at Sam’s and Costco. Usually the smaller size roll (38 grams) can be found in Walmart or Smith’s (a Kroger brand store).
Yes. I have used them many times. A couple things to note. You will need 15 per pan. Also, they won’t rise quite as tall as the ones in the picture, but they will have the same soft and fluffy “baby’s bottom” look. They also might thaw and rise a bit more quickly, closer to the three hour mark than the five hour mark.
It is always the least risky to thaw slowly, but life doesn’t always present us with that option. When I am in a hurry I turn on the oven to 175 degrees for 5 minutes, and then immediately turn it off. While the oven is getting warm I get the rolls into the pan. As soon as the oven is off, the rolls go into the oven. This is where things get tricky. Just to be safe begin checking on them after an hour. Then continue to check every 30 minutes until you see that they have doubled. If they are left in a warm place too long they will over rise. Once they cook they deflate. At that point they are edible but not as delicious if you let them rise perfectly.
Yes, but after 8-10 hours in the refrigerator they need to be put in a warm place for at least an hour. Again, you are looking for the rolls to be soft and fluffy.
📖 Recipes to serve with rolls
- Slow Cooker Fall Apart Pot Roast: A tender, flavorful roast made in the slow cooker for the perfect comforting meal.
- Chicken Breasts in Lemon Sauce: An easy one skillet dinner with fresh lemon, garlic, and white wine flavors.
- Best Ever Grilled Chicken: A fast marinade that makes the most flavorful grilled chicken!
- 5 Ingredient Honey Butter Pork Tenderloin: An easy pork tenderloin made in a cast iron skillet or Instant Pot. Rave reviews every time!
👨🏼🍳 Tips & Tricks
- Spray plastic wrap with nonstick spray. If not the rolls will deflate when the plastic is removed.
- For the perfect texture do not let them over rise. They will still be worth eating but not quite as good. Wonder how I know? 😉
- Pour the butter over the tops of the rolls paying special attention not to miss the outside edge.
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📋 Recipe
Buttery Dinner Rolls (using frozen rolls)
Ingredients
- nonstick spray or oil for greasing
- 12 frozen rolls 57 gram size
- 5 tbsp butter melted
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh herbs chopped
Instructions
Regular Method
- Spray a 12 inch skillet with nonstick spray or lightly grease with oil. Place 12 rolls evenly around the pan leaving equal space in between them. Take a piece of plastic wrap and drape it over the rolls. Spray the top of the plastic warp with the nonstick spray. Turn over the plastic wrap so that the sprayed side is towards the rolls. Allow them to rise 3-5 hours until the rolls have doubled in size.
- When the rolls have are ready preheat oven to 350°. Pour melted butter over tops of rolls. Top with herbs and salt of your choice. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
In A Hurry Method
- Preheat oven to 175° while you prepare rolls as stated in step 1 above. Before placing the rolls in the oven be sure to turn it off. After the first 1 hour begin checking the rolls every 30 minutes until they have doubled in size. Continue as directed above.
Notes
- Spray plastic wrap with nonstick spray. If not the rolls will deflate when the plastic is removed.
- For the perfect texture do not them them over rise. They will still be worth eating but not quite as good. Wonder how I know? 😉
- Pour the buttery over the tops of the rolls paying special attention not to miss the outside edge.
Karen says
Like biting into a well seasoned buttery cloud.
Kelsey says
I was really surprised at how easy these were. I don’t know if I’ll ever make dough from scratch again 😂. We ate all 12 in one night.
Misty says
Aren't they so easy?! I love them. So glad you gave them a try.