These are the BEST dinner rolls for Thanksgiving that you’ll find! They are fluffy, slightly sweet and delicious and they go great with any meal, whether it is a large turkey dinner or a simple weeknight meal.
Original post: December 2017 | Updated: October 2020
Why This Recipe Works
A few years ago we visited some friends in Louisiana and I still have vivid memories of the food they made for us. The gumbo was mind-blowing, but the dinner rolls are what I remember most.
I recall my oldest son eating five, yes FIVE, rolls in a row without taking a single breath. They were light, fluffy, slightly sweet and dreamy. I grabbed the recipe from my friend and recreated them back at home.
Here’s the deal. These homemade dinner rolls always turn out GREAT. I’m talking, life-changing great. But it took me three tries before the dough and I were speaking the same language.
Now we have a common understanding and we’re good. We worked through our issues. And thanks to my trial and error, I can keep you from having to make three batches. But if you want some delicious crunchy bread as a side and need something quicker, check out my easy garlic bread recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
Active dry yeast – If you bake a lot, you might buy this in bulk, but they also come in easy packets that are pre-measured. I use Red Star brand but any brand works.
Flour – For a healthier dinner roll, exchange out the all purpose flour with wheat flour.
Warm water – You want to encourage the yeast and sugar to grow in a warm space so make sure your water isn’t too hot or cold. If you have a thermometer, it should be between 105-115°F.
Sugar – White sugar will help the yeast to produce carbon dioxide so it can then help the dough to rise.
How To Make Homemade Dinner Rolls For Thanksgiving
Step 1
Pour the water into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let sit for 5 minutes, or until mixture becomes cloudy. Whisk briefly. Add the salt, sugar and vegetable oil. Whisk until the salt and sugar have dissolved, about 1 minute.
Step 2
Using a wooden spoon, add the cups of flour 1 cup at a time, stirring after each addition. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough for approximately 3 minutes, or until soft and pliable. It shouldn’t be more than slightly sticky.
If you have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer with a dough hook, use this. Lightly grease a clean, large bowl with vegetable oil and add the dough, coating it completely with the oil from the bowl.
Cover the bowl with a kitchen cloth or plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place for 1 hour rise time, or until the dough has doubled in size.
Step 3
Coat a 9×13 baking pan generously with cooking spray and set aside. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and lightly knead for 3-5 minutes, or until dough is soft and pliable.
Divide dough into 15 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball with your hands. Place the balls of dough into the prepared baking dish, making five rows of three.
Cover the baking dish to let the rolls rise and let it sit in a warm place for 2 hours, or until the dough balls have doubled in size.
Step 4
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Gently brush the tops of the dough with the beaten egg. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until rolls are golden-brown. Cut at the seams and serve immediately or at room temperature.
Recipe Notes
- Add a pinch of sugar on top of the yeast and warm water to help encourage activity with the yeast before adding in the rest of the ingredients.
- Be sure to cover your dough and let it sit in a warm spot (on top of a warm oven or running dishwasher or sitting near a sunny window).
- The dough should be soft and pliable after rising. It should feel like a soft, fluffy cloud in your hands. Handle it with what I call gentle-firm love. Respect the dough, people.
- Serve with maple syrup, honey butter or homemade apple butter for an amazing experience!
What To Serve With Homemade Dinner Rolls
These fluffy gems go great with a big turkey dinner or even a weeknight meal like Lasagna or Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken or Chili Mac!
Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving – 13 Delicious Ideas!
Mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving staple! Read on for some scrumptious mac and cheese recipes for Thanksgiving that you can make this year! You’ll find a ton of options to choose from in this roundup.
Can I Freeze The Dough?
Once you have shaped the dough into rolls and placed them in the pan, you can freeze the dough. When ready to eat, remove them from the freezer and allow them to thaw and rise to double their size before baking.
It could take anywhere from 1-2 hours, depending on how warm your home is.
Can I Prepare the Dough and Bake Later?
Yes, prepare the dough and once it is in roll shape, cover it and place it in the refrigerator up to 24 hours. Remove them from the fridge about 30 minutes before ready to bake to come to room temperature and rise again.
FAQ About Yeast Rolls
There are two types of yeast – active yeast and instant yeast. Active dry yeast works great but needs more time for rising than instant yeast.
Yes, yeast rolls can rise too long. Then when they bake, the dough can fall and end up with a tough roll that won’t be delicious.
If you plan to make dough and then bake it the next day, place the dough in an airtight container and tuck it in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge the next day and allow it to rise in a warm spot and then bake.
If yeast rolls don’t rise, there are a couple of tips to check. Old yeast won’t help bread to rise. Yeast is best kept in a cool, dry place unopened for two years. Once it’s open, it has needs to stay in the fridge and good for up to 4 months.
If the rolls are dense and heavy, this is usually due to not spending enough time kneading the dough. If the dough is allowed to rise too long the second time after it’s all prepared, the bread may be tough.
Delicious Thanksgiving Side Dishes
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Dinner Rolls For Thanksgiving Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water (between 105-115°F)
- .5 oz active dry yeast 2 packages
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil plus extra for coating bowl
- 5 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for kneading
- 1 egg beaten
Instructions
- Pour the water into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let sit for 5 minutes, or until mixture becomes cloudy. Whisk briefly. Add the salt, sugar and vegetable oil. Whisk until the salt and sugar have dissolved, about 1 minute.
- Using a wooden spoon, add the flour 1 cup at a time, stirring after each addition. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough for approximately 3 minutes, or until soft and pliable. Coat a clean, large bowl with vegetable oil and add the dough, coating it completely with the oil from the bowl. Cover the bowl and let it sit in a warm place for 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Coat a 9×13 baking dish generously with cooking spray and set aside. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and lightly knead for 3-5 minutes, or until dough is soft and pliable. Divide dough into 15 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball with your hands. Place the balls of dough into the prepared baking dish, making five rows of three. Cover the baking dish and let it sit in a warm place for 2 hours, or until the dough balls have doubled in size.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Gently brush the tops of the dough with the beaten egg. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until rolls are golden-brown. Cut at the seams and serve immediately.
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