These Garlic Butter Rolls are soft, buttery, and irresistibly fragrant. With a brioche-like crumb and a garlicky herb butter brushed on top, they make an impressive side for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or any special dinner.
Add these show-stopping rolls to your holiday table and watch them disappear. They are richer than basic dinner rolls because I increased the butter in the dough, giving them a tender, slightly brioche-like texture. After baking, a quick brush of garlic, melted butter, and parsley adds the finishing touch.
Table of Contents
- The Best Garlic Butter Rolls!
- Ingredients For Garlic Butter Rolls
- How To Make Garlic Butter Rolls
- Variations
- Equipment
- Make Ahead
- More Holiday Recipes
- Garlic Butter Rolls Recipe
The Best Garlic Butter Rolls!
These rolls are tender, fluffy, and rich — likely the fluffiest dinner rolls you’ll make. The dough is enriched with butter and egg, and the quick garlic herb butter makes them extra addictive. They pair perfectly with roasted meats, stews, and mashed potatoes.
I developed this from an easy dinner roll base and boosted the butter to achieve a more tender, brioche-like crumb. Brushing the hot rolls with garlic, melted butter, and parsley delivers a flavorful, glossy finish.
Ingredients For Garlic Butter Rolls
Below are the ingredients for the rolls and for the garlic butter topping. Quantities are in the recipe card further down.
For the rolls:
- All-purpose or bread flour
- Salt
- Sugar
- Instant (rapid-rise) yeast
- Butter (use good-quality butter for best flavor)
- Egg
- Evaporated milk (or whole/2% milk)
For the garlic butter topping:
- Minced garlic
- Melted butter
- Minced parsley (or dried parsley)
Optional: freshly grated Parmesan for a savory finish.
How To Make Garlic Butter Rolls
Make these rolls in a few straightforward steps. The dough is mixed, divided, shaped, allowed to rise once, baked, and finished with garlic butter.
1. Combine ingredients to form the dough.
2. Divide the dough into 18 equal pieces.
3. Shape each piece into a smooth ball and place in a greased baking dish.
4. Let the rolls rise in a warm spot until doubled, about one hour.
5. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
6. While the rolls bake, mix the minced garlic, melted butter, and parsley.
7. As soon as the rolls come from the oven, brush them generously with the garlic butter.
8. Serve the rolls warm.
Tip: Optional grated Parmesan adds a savory, salty note that pairs beautifully with the garlic butter.
These rolls go especially well with roast chicken, beef stew, or creamy mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
Variations
Try different twists to suit your taste:
- Different herbs – swap parsley for fresh rosemary or thyme for a bolder, holiday-style aroma. Mince fresh herbs before adding.
- Cheese – grate Parmesan or Asiago over the hot rolls for a nutty, salty finish.
- Bread flour – use bread flour for added structure and chew; all-purpose flour still works fine.
Equipment
Helpful tools:
- Stand mixer or sturdy mixing bowl and strong hands
- 9×13 baking dish or a baking sheet
- Basting brush to apply the garlic butter
Make Ahead
To prepare in advance: shape the rolls and refrigerate them overnight. Bake the next morning, allowing extra time since cold dough takes longer to reach full doneness.
More Holiday Recipes
- Herb roasted turkey
- Buttermilk mashed potatoes
- Baked turkey drumsticks
- Cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting
- Baked turkey wings
Garlic Butter Rolls
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 1 ½ cups evaporated milk (from a 12 oz can) warmed to about 110–115°F
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (reserve to add after mixing dough)
Garlic Butter
- 3 large cloves garlic, finely minced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley (or 2 teaspoons dried parsley)
- Grated Parmesan, optional
Instructions
- Prepare pan. Grease a 9×13 baking dish or line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Heat milk. Warm the evaporated milk to about 110–115°F (about 45 seconds in the microwave); stir to even temperature.
- Make dough. In a stand mixer bowl or large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, yeast, warmed milk, melted butter, and egg. Mix on low with the dough hook until a soft dough forms. (You can mix by hand if preferred.)
- Add softened butter. Add the 2 tablespoons softened butter one tablespoon at a time, mixing until incorporated.
- Shape dough. Turn dough onto a floured surface. Divide into 18 equal pieces, roll each into a smooth ball, and place them in the prepared dish.
- Let rise. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) while the dough is rising.
- Bake. Bake for about 20 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Make garlic butter. While the rolls bake, mix the minced garlic, melted butter, and parsley in a small bowl.
- Brush & serve. Remove rolls from oven and immediately brush with garlic butter. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
Cheese: Parmesan is optional but recommended for added savory flavor.
Make ahead: Shape the rolls and refrigerate overnight. Bake the next morning, allowing extra time for cold dough.
Flour: Bread flour gives more structure; all-purpose works well if that’s what you have.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 26 g |
Protein: 5 g |
Fat: 6 g