Easy Pull Apart Dinner Rolls Recipe

There’s nothing better than the smell of freshly baked pull apart dinner rolls filling your kitchen!

This easy pull-apart dinner rolls recipe with yeast is one of my absolute favorites because it takes just six simple ingredients and is incredibly easy to make. In just three hours, you’ll have soft, fluffy delicious dinner rolls that are perfect for any meal.

What I love most about this recipe is its flexibility. You can make the dough ahead of time and bake it when you’re ready, making it perfect for holiday dinners or busy weeknights.

You can also switch things up—bake them as pull-apart rolls in a muffin tin for individual servings, use a bundt pan for a fun twist, or even try a sweet pull-apart rolls version with honey butter!

Whether you’re serving these dinner rolls with a meal or just slathering them with butter straight from the oven, this recipe is one you’ll want to make over and over again. Let’s get baking! 😊

Ingredients for Dinner Rolls Recipe

All-Purpose Flour: I use 200 grams of all-purpose flour, which makes about 6 dinner rolls. You can substitute all purpose flour with bread flour if you’d like, and the result will be similar. I find using all-purpose flour makes the process easier, and the rolls turn out perfect every time.

Water: I use about 140 ml of water (around 135-140 ml). I usually start with 130 ml and add more if needed, depending on how wet or dry the dough looks. The dough should be slightly sticky because it will firm up a little as you knead.

Yeast: I use instant yeast (also known as rapid-rise yeast), which works great for this recipe. You can use active dry yeast(instead of instant yeast), but if you do then you have to activate it in warm water with one tablespoon of sugar before using it. If you use active dry yeast, reduce the amount of water you add to the dough, as it will already be in the yeast mixture.

Salt: I add one tablespoon of salt, though you can go for a bit less if you prefer. The salt is important because it brings out the flavor in the rolls.

Sugar: One tablespoon of sugar is key in this recipe. It makes the rolls a bit sweet, which complements the other flavors perfectly. If you’re using active dry yeast, you’ve already added sugar to the yeast mixture, so you can cut this down to half a tablespoon if you like.

Butter: I use one tablespoon of butter, which I add towards the end to make the dough soft and supple. If you want to make this recipe vegan, you can substitute butter with olive oil . It will give you the same great result!

Roasted Garlic and Herb Butter (optional): I brush the rolls with a garlic parsley butter mixture before baking them. This gives them a delicious flavor. If you want to make the recipe vegan or prefer a simpler version, you can skip the garlic butter and just brush the rolls with olive oil or cooking oil. This helps keep them soft and prevents the tops from becoming too dry.

How I Serve These Buttery Fan Rolls?

These rolls are super versatile! I love having them with pasta, curries, or just warm with butter. They’re also great for sliders, sandwiches, or even mini burgers.

They always turn out soft and fluffy; trust me, once you make them, you’ll keep returning to this recipe!

How I Store Leftover Rolls

Honestly, in my house, these rolls never last long—they’re usually gone the same day!

But if you have leftovers, the best way to store them is in the fridge. Just pop them in an airtight container, and they’ll stay fresh for up to a week.

When you’re ready to eat, microwave them for 30 seconds to a minute, and they’ll be soft and warm again.

I don’t freeze baked rolls, but if you want to make them ahead, I’d suggest freezing the dough instead. That way, you can bake fresh rolls whenever you need them!

Tips for making the best Dinner Rolls at Home

Balance the Sugar and Salt – Always use more sugar than salt. Too much salt can slow down the yeast and make your rolls dense instead of soft and fluffy. Plus, a slight sweetness in the rolls complements savory toppings like cheese or meat really well.

Preheat Your Oven Properly – Make sure your oven is fully preheated to 200°C (400°F) for at least 10 minutes before baking. If the oven isn’t hot enough, your rolls won’t bake evenly, and the texture won’t be as soft.

Don’t Rush the Dough—let it rise properly! If you don’t give it enough time, the rolls will be less airy and light. You have to let the dough rise once after mixing all the ingredients for a minimum of two hours, and then once again after you make them into dough balls(this time for 30 minutes to an hour, not more than that).

Brush with Butter – Brush the rolls generously with butter (or milk/egg wash for a glossy finish) before baking. This helps them brown nicely and adds extra flavor.

Bake on the Lower Rack – If your oven has separate heating elements, bake the rolls using the lower heating element for even cooking.

Recipes that you can make with this dough-
Garlic Knots with Pizza Dough- Easy Homemade Recipe
Easy Calzone Recipe- Quick and easy!!
How to make Parmesan Bread Bites- Copycat Domino’s Recipe
2 Hour Pizza Dough Recipe- Perfect for Lazy Dinners