Soft Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe — Fluffy Yeast Rolls in 1 Hour

Easy Dinner Rolls are soft, buttery, and ready in one hour. These one-hour dinner rolls are perfect when you want fresh yeasted bread without spending hours in the kitchen.

close up of a dinner roll in a basket

These rolls are no-knead, low-effort, and exceptionally tender. If you need bread quickly—without long kneading sessions or extended rises—this is the recipe to use.

Easy Dinner Rolls in a basket

With only about 10 minutes of active prep, 30 minutes rising, and 20 minutes baking, these rolls come together fast. The result is fluffy, buttery rolls that make a great side for any meal, excellent sandwich rolls, and a lovely breakfast option.

Photo showing opened dinner roll to show fluffiness

Easy Dinner Rolls Ingredients

Evaporated milk – adds richness and flavor; you can substitute whole milk if preferred.

Instant yeast – for reliable rising. Active dry yeast can be used with a slightly longer proofing time.

Sugar – a touch of sweetness to feed the yeast and enhance flavor.

Salt – balances and rounds the taste.

Egg – adds richness and helps with color and structure.

Flour – all-purpose or bread flour both work well.

12 Dinner Rolls in a Baking Sheet

How To Make Easy Dinner Rolls

1. In a large bowl, combine the evaporated milk (or warmed whole milk) with the instant yeast. Add sugar, salt, melted butter, and the egg, then whisk until combined.

2. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon until the liquid is absorbed, then finish mixing by hand. The dough will be sticky—that’s normal.

flour in a bowl with wet ingredients for dinner rolls

3. Generously flour a work surface, transfer the dough, and fold it 2–3 times to make it easier to divide. Cut into 12 equal pieces: halve, then quarter each half, then cut each quarter into three pieces.

Hand placing balls of dough into a baking dish

4. Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Shape each piece into a smooth ball and arrange them in the dish.

5. Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) during the last 5 minutes of rising.

6. Beat the remaining egg and brush it over the risen rolls for a glossy, golden finish.

7. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with a little extra melted butter if desired. Serve warm.

freshly baked golden brown dinner rolls in a baking dish

More Bread Recipes You Will Like

If you enjoy these one-hour dinner rolls, try other simple bread recipes such as easy sandwich bread, milk bread, or a softer sweet dinner roll for variety. For a show-stopping option consider challah-style rolls when you want an elevated presentation.

Happy baking!

bread rolls in a basket landscape picture

Watch How To Make Easy Dinner Rolls

Watch a demonstration of these Easy Dinner Rolls in the video below for a visual guide on shaping and timing. The method shows how straightforward these rolls are and how quickly you can have fresh bread on the table.

close up of a dinner roll in a basket

Easy Dinner Rolls

These one-hour rolls are easy to make and wonderfully soft and buttery. Enjoy them warm for the best texture.

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Rising Time: 30 mins
Total: 1 hr
Servings: 12 rolls

Ingredients

  • 12 oz evaporated milk (354 ml or 1 can) — or 1 1/2 cups whole milk, slightly warmed (110°F)
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour (about 500 g)
  • Additional butter for greasing the pan
  • 1 egg for egg wash

Instructions

  1. Pour milk into a large mixing bowl. If you prefer, warm the milk to about 110°F to help activate the yeast; instant yeast will also work with room-temperature milk.
  2. Add sugar, salt, melted butter, and the egg. Whisk to combine.
  3. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon until the liquid is absorbed, then mix with your hands. The dough will be sticky.
  4. Generously flour your work surface, transfer the dough, and fold it 2–3 times to make it easier to divide. Cut into 12 equal pieces.
  5. Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Shape each piece into a ball and place in the dish.
  6. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) during the last 5 minutes of rising.
  7. Beat an egg and brush it over the risen rolls.
  8. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

  • Evaporated milk gives a richer flavor, but whole milk works well too.
  • You can substitute all-purpose flour with bread flour for a chewier texture.
  • Nutritional information is per roll.

Nutrition

Calories: 222 kcal | Carbohydrates: 38 g | Protein: 8 g | Fat: 4 g

Additional Info

Course: Bread | Cuisine: International