There's nothing quite like warm, homemade Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls fresh from the oven. Soft, fluffy, and slathered with a rich garlic-herb butter, these rolls are the perfect accompaniment to any meal – from holiday feasts to simple weeknight dinners. Once you taste a homemade roll, you'll never go back to store-bought.
This recipe yields pillowy soft dinner rolls that are surprisingly easy to make. The dough comes together quickly, and the garlic butter brushed on after baking adds a wonderful savory finish. Whether you're serving them alongside pasta, soup, or a holiday roast, these rolls are guaranteed to disappear fast.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Soft, fluffy, and buttery – the perfect dinner roll
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
- Topped with a rich garlic-herb butter that's absolutely irresistible
- Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or everyday meals
- Freezer-friendly – make ahead and bake when needed
Tools You'll Need
- Stand mixer with dough hook (or large mixing bowl and wooden spoon)
- 9x13-inch baking dish or large baking sheet
- Small saucepan for garlic butter
- Pastry brush
- Plastic wrap or kitchen towel
Ingredients
For the Rolls:
- 1 cup whole milk, warmed to 110°F
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour
For the Garlic Butter Topping:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Make the Dough:
- In a small bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or large mixing bowl), combine remaining sugar, melted butter, egg, salt, and the yeast mixture. Add 3½ cups of flour and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead with the dough hook on medium speed for 5-7 minutes, adding more flour as needed, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. (If kneading by hand, turn onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes.)
- Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1-1½ hours, until doubled in size.
Shape the Rolls:
- Punch down the dough and turn it onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 12 equal pieces (about 2 ounces each). Shape each piece into a smooth ball.
- Place the rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish or on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely and let rise again for 30-45 minutes, until puffy.
Bake:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the rolls for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown on top.
Make the Garlic Butter:
- While rolls bake, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan. Add minced garlic and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in parsley and salt.
Finish and Serve:
- As soon as rolls come out of the oven, brush generously with the garlic butter mixture.
- Let cool slightly in the pan, then serve warm. (The garlic butter will soak in as they cool.)
Pro Tips
- Use fresh yeast: Check the expiration date on your yeast. If the mixture doesn't foam, the yeast is dead – start over with fresh yeast.
- Don't add too much flour: Add flour gradually; the dough should be soft and slightly tacky, but not sticky.
- Warm place for rising: If your kitchen is cool, let the dough rise in the oven with the light on, or in a microwave with a cup of hot water.
- Brush generously: The garlic butter topping is what makes these rolls extra special. Don't skimp!
- Make ahead: You can shape the rolls, cover, and refrigerate overnight for the second rise. Let them come to room temperature and rise for about 1 hour before baking.
Recipe Variations
- Herb Butter: Add fresh thyme, rosemary, or chives to the garlic butter.
- Cheesy Garlic Rolls: Sprinkle grated Parmesan or mozzarella over the rolls before baking.
- Honey Butter: Replace garlic with 2 tablespoons honey for sweet rolls.
- Whole Wheat: Substitute up to half the flour with whole wheat flour for a heartier roll.
- Rosemary Sea Salt: Omit garlic and add fresh rosemary and flaky sea salt.
- Bacon Garlic: Add crumbled cooked bacon to the garlic butter.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend (the texture will be slightly different).
FAQs
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry?
Yes. Use the same amount (2¼ teaspoons) and add it directly to the dry ingredients; no need to proof. You may need a little more liquid.
How do I store leftovers?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
Can I freeze these rolls?
Yes! Bake and cool completely, then freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes. You can also freeze unbaked, shaped rolls; let them thaw and rise before baking.
Why didn't my dough rise?
The yeast may have been expired, the milk too hot (over 120°F kills yeast), or the room too cold. Use a thermometer for the liquid temperature (110-115°F is ideal).
Can I make these rolls dairy-free?
Use unsweetened almond or oat milk, vegan butter, and skip the egg or use a flax egg. The texture may be slightly different.
What can I serve with these rolls?
They're perfect alongside pasta, soup, salad, roasted meats, or as part of a holiday feast. Also delicious on their own as a snack!
Can I use this dough for breadsticks?
Absolutely! Shape the dough into ropes instead of balls, bake, and brush with the same garlic butter.
Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls
Prep Time: 20 mins | Rise Time: 2 hrs | Cook Time: 18 mins | Total Time: 2 hrs 38 mins
Yield: 12 rolls
Calories: 210 per roll
Ingredients:
- Rolls: 1 cup warm milk (110°F), 2¼ tsp active dry yeast, ¼ cup sugar, 4 tbsp melted butter, 1 egg, 1 tsp salt, 3½-4 cups all-purpose flour
- Garlic Butter: 4 tbsp butter, 3 cloves garlic (minced), 2 tbsp fresh parsley, ¼ tsp salt
Instructions:
- Proof yeast in warm milk with 1 tsp sugar (5-10 min until foamy).
- Mix with remaining sugar, butter, egg, salt, and 3½ cups flour. Knead until smooth and elastic (5-7 min).
- Let rise in greased bowl until doubled (1-1½ hours).
- Punch down, shape into 12 balls. Place in greased 9x13 dish. Rise again until puffy (30-45 min).
- Bake at 375°F for 15-18 minutes until golden.
- Melt butter with garlic, stir in parsley and salt. Brush over hot rolls.
- Serve warm.
These Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls are pure comfort – soft, pillowy, and topped with a rich, fragrant garlic butter that makes them completely irresistible. They're the perfect addition to any meal, from holiday feasts to simple weeknight dinners. The dough comes together easily, and the aroma while baking is absolutely heavenly.
Make them for your next gathering and watch them disappear. The leftovers (if there are any) are delicious reheated, and they freeze beautifully for future meals. Once you've tasted homemade dinner rolls, you'll never want store-bought again!
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