Perfect for any dinner, these pillow-soft overnight dinner rolls chill overnight in the refrigerator for easy baking the next day and their homemade flavor can’t be beat!
Dinner rolls should be a fixture for more than just holiday meals! And thanks to this overnight recipe I think you’ll quickly find that they’re easy enough for any occasion.
Which is a slight problem because you might feel inclined to make a meal solely out of these fluffy wonders.
If you’ve tried my overnight cinnamon rolls before you’ll recognize the procedure today for these dinner rolls. This involves a first standard rise time after mixing up the dough, shaping the dough into rolls, letting them rise overnight in the refrigerator, and then easy baking the next day whenever you’re ready for ’em!
You’re not ready for this melt-in-your-mouth goodness though, you’re just not.
These pillow-soft rolls have become a favorite in my house and truth be told, I’ve been making them for my family for years most Thursday nights to have for Friday-night dinners. Never any leftovers!
I’m so excited for you to incorporate these rolls into your own family dinner traditions!
These Dinner Rolls feature…
- A soft and fluffy texture
- A perfectly golden exterior
- Easy to proof overnight for quick baking the next day
Making the Dinner Rolls
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Active dry yeast
- Warm water
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Kosher salt
- All-purpose flour
- Unsalted butter
Stand Mixer vs. Mixing Bowl
Both a stand mixer and a mixing bowl + wooden spoon will work for mixing this bread. Obviously, by hand requires a little more elbow grease and arm power, but it will definitely work.
If you choose to go the stand mixer route, make sure you use the dough hook for mixing and let the machine knead the dough on medium speed 5-7 minutes until the dough is stretchy and elastic.
If you are making the dough by hand, use a large bowl and a wooden spoon for mixing the dough. For kneading, turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead about 10 minutes or whenever the dough is stretchy and elastic.
Tips for Perfect Dinner Rolls
- Use water at 110F degrees – I recommend temping the water to ensure it’s not over 110F. If you use water that is too warm, it will kill the yeast and your dough will not rise.
- Measure flour correctly – I use the spoon-and-level technique for measuring flour as this will prevent over-measuring your flour. Use a spoon to scoop flour into the measuring cup, then level with the back of a knife.
- Knead dough properly – this step is where you will develop the gluten in the dough which is crucial for forming the structure of the rolls. You can knead by hand or use your stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.
- Allow dough to rise until doubled – turn the dough into a clean greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
- Let dough rise in a warm place – yeast dough loves warm environments for rising. I recommend 75F-80F for a rising environment in your kitchen.
- Chill shaped rolls 8-16 hours – I recommend an 8-hour fridge rise time at minimum or up to 16 hours. Don’t let the rolls sit in the fridge longer than 16 hours otherwise they may lose their shape.
- Allow rolls to sit at room temp before baking – 30-45 minutes will bring the rolls to room temperature and get them just a little puffy for baking.
- Brush rolls with egg wash – an egg wash will give your rolls a golden sheen during baking.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on these rolls.
- Add herbs – fold 1-2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary, sage, or thyme into the bread dough.
- Top rolls with cheese – top rolls with grated Parmesan, cheddar, or asiago cheese before baking.
Storing and Freezing Rolls
These rolls store well in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days. For best results, I recommend reheating them in a 350F oven 8-10 minutes or individually in microwave before serving.
To freeze rolls, allow to cool completely, wrap well, and freeze up to 2 months. You can heat them straight from the freezer in a 350F oven 15-20 minutes or defrost on the counter first and then reheat.
If you’ve ever been hesitant to try your hand at homemade dinner rolls, let this be the recipe that changes your mind! You won’t find a recipe more low-stress or as good as these.
Pulling these rolls apart and unearthing the incredibly light and fluffy goodness inside is an experience like no other. Enjoying one of these warm from the oven with a pat of honey butter is otherworldly and something everyone needs in their life!
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
More yeast rolls to bake up next!
Overnight Dinner Rolls
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Ingredients
- 1 package (1/4 oz) active dry yeast (2-1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 cup warm water (110F)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon water
- Honey butter or salted butter for serving, optional
Instructions
- Place warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook OR a large bowl. Dissolve yeast in water and let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
- Mix sugar and egg into yeast mixture until smooth. Add salt and 3 cups flour to bowl and mix on low speed OR with a wooden spoon if making dough by hand until dough pulls away from sides of bowl, about 2 minutes of mixing (if dough seems a bit wet, add additional flour by the tablespoon until dough pulls away from sides of bowl)
- Add softened butter by the tablespoon while mixer is running or fold in by hand with a wooden spoon until butter is combined in the dough.
- If making dough in stand mixer, knead dough in mixer on low speed 5-7 minutes until dough is stretchy and elastic. If making dough by hand, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand until dough is stretchy and elastic, about 10 minutes of kneading.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place at room temperature 1 to 1-1/2 hours until dough is doubled in size.
- Lightly grease a 9-inch square baking dish. Punch risen dough down and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each portion into smooth balls and arrange in baking dish. Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate rolls 8 hours or up to 16.*
- When ready to bake rolls, remove pan from refrigerator and allow rolls to rise at room temperature 30-45 minutes until rolls are slightly puffy. Brush rolls with egg white wash.
- Preheat oven to 350F. Bake dinner rolls at 350F 25-30 minutes until rolls are a deep golden brown and register 190F on a kitchen thermometer. Cool rolls on a wire cooling rack.
- Serve rolls warm or reheated with butter if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 10/23/25.
Joanne says
Dinner roll pillows might just be the best kind of pillows! THey can make or break a meal is all I’m saying. these are in the “make” category.
Heather @ Shards of Lavender says
Yeah, I frequently wish for the metabolism of a man. Or a teenager(where do all those calories go?)… Loving how you compared these rolls to pillows because they do look so soft! A definite must make for our Thanksgiving meal:) Thanks for sharing, Sarah!
Sarah says
Right?! I don’t get why women got the short end of the stick in the metabolism department. LOL. Thanks Heather!
Shashi at runninsrilankan says
Oh heavens – these are gorgeous – so so “pillowy” wow! I NEED these! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sarah says
Thanks so much Shashi!
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says
Yummy! These look and sound fantastic Sarah (pillow-y dinner rolls #FTW)!! And that is a funny story about your brother – you always know if a recipe is good if they go back for more!! Pinned 🙂
Sarah says
Haha! Totally true, Ceara. 😉 Thanks for pinning, girl!
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
Your rolls are perfect! They are so fluffy and soft looking. I wish my metabolism was that of my younger self so I could enjoy loads of carby foods without having to worry about developing “pillows” on my backside.
Sarah says
LOL. I don’t want my own personal “pillows” either, but I think these rolls are worth it. 😀
marcie says
That’s so funny about your brother, and I’d love to have the metabolism of a man! haha These rolls are very timely, because I plan to make my own this Thanksgiving (barring I don’t have too many people). They look so soft and delicious! Pinning. 🙂
Sarah says
Good luck with your own dinner rolls this TG, Marcie! And thanks for the pin. Have a good Friday!
Chelsea+@chelseasmessyapron says
Rolls for thanksgiving are my FAVORITE! I always eat the most of rolls than anything else 🙂 And these look absolutely fantastic!!
Sarah says
Haha! Same deal with me! I don’t know why it is, but dinner rolls just seem to taste better on Thanksgiving. 😉 Thanks Chelsea!!
Annie @Maebells says
Oh man these look good! I love a good yeast roll right out of the oven!
Sarah says
Thanks Annie!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
There is no better feeling that when boys like your cooking. Because they are the real critics, and if they don’t like it, they’ll let you know. But when they like it? They eat it all up! These rolls look so perfect Sarah! Definitely making them the next time I need some good rolls. I love using them to make little sandwiches out of my dinner. Ha!
Sarah says
Um, EXACTLY! Menfolk are like the toughest critics ever. 😉
LMK what you think of these rolls, Natalie!
Levan @ MyWifeMakes.com says
Yup, dinner plans cancelled! These rolls look so darn fluffy and irresistible I can almost taste them through the Internet! Thanks for the recipe share. 🙂 Glad I came here cause I know what I wanna have for next week.
P.S. I’m the only male who commented on this page! I feel so outnumbered, haha I kid. 🙂
Sarah says
Haha! Well, thank you Levan! Definitely let me know if you try these dinner rolls!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
These look so delicious! I just love nice warm bread at holiday meals. Pinned!
Sarah says
Nothing beats homemade bread around the holidays, right?! 🙂 Thanks for the pin, Kelly!
Manali @ CookWithManali says
haha I wish I had the metabolism of a man too especially my man! He eats all the junk and is thin like a stick lol! The dinner rolls look incredible Sarah, so soft and fluffy, wow! I love the 2nd shot, that’s a very beautiful picture! Pinned.
Sarah says
Where does it all go with men?! I don’t get it. 😉
Thanks for the sweet photography compliments Manali and for pinning! Have an awesome Friday. 😀
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen says
So funny about your brother!! I wish I had that kind of metabolism!! These pictures are just gorgeous!! I very much need to make these for Turkey day!! 🙂
Sarah says
Haha I too wish for his metabolism. Unfair. 😉 And thanks for the compliments on my photos! You definitely need to try these rolls on T-day, Renee. 🙂
Isadora says
I love that you make your own bread and rolls!! These pillowy rolls look awesome and delicious and I wish I could go to sleep on one of them tonight! I am lazy and always go for the canned rolls for the holidays, but I think that tradition is going to end this year with these delicious rolls!
Sarah says
Hahaha! I kinda lol’d at the thought of sleeping on one of these rolls. They’re soft enough, though so why not?! 😉
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Wow, these rolls look perfectly soft and pillowy! I am a sucker for rolls and would lose all self control with these babies too! They look absolutely incredible!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly!! Yeaaa…self-control definitely goes right out the window with these rolls around. Fact. 😀
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
These look AWESOME! I’m totally addicted to all breads (carbs!)
Sarah says
Haha! You and me both, girl! 😀