Easy One-Hour Dinner Rolls

These rolls are ready in about an hour and use your oven as a proofing box – no need to wait around for hours. They’re soft, buttery, and perfect alongside pretty much any dinner.

June Arthurs
January 30, 2026
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Ingredients (~10 rolls)

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (scooped and leveled), plus more as needed
  • 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 tsp rapid rise yeast (1 packet)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup cool water
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, diced into pieces, plus more for tops
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

Heat Your Liquids and Preheat Oven to 180F

Preheat your oven to 180F – this becomes your proofing box.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the water, milk, and diced butter.

Microwave on high for about 1 minute until it reaches ~120F on a thermometer.

Stir to soften the butter – it doesn’t need to be completely melted, just warmed through.

Mix the Dough in a Stand Mixer

In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together 2 1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.

Pour the warm milk mixture into the dry ingredients along with the lemon juice.

Using the dough hook, mix on low speed and gradually increase to medium-low.

Knead for ~3 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic, adding extra flour as needed.

The dough should be lightly sticky but manageable – if it’s sticking to the sides of the bowl, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time.

Rest the Dough and Prep Your Pan

Cover the mixer bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let rest for 5 minutes.

While it rests, butter a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Shape the Rolls

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.

Shape it into a roughly 8×8 inch square – doesn’t need to be perfect.

Cut into 12 equal portions using a knife or bench scraper.

Shape 10 portions into balls and place them in your buttered baking dish.

Use the extra 2 portions to add bulk to any smaller rolls so they’re all roughly the same size.

Proof in the Warm Oven

Dampen your hands with water and lightly brush the tops of the rolls – this prevents them from drying out.

Place the pan in the 180F oven, close the door, and immediately turn the oven off.

Let the rolls rise for 20 minutes without opening the door.

Bake the Rolls

Remove the rolls from the oven and preheat it to 375F – this takes about 5 minutes.

Let the rolls sit on the counter while the oven heats up.

Bake for ~14-16 minutes until the tops are golden brown.

Finish with Butter

As soon as they come out, run a stick of butter across the tops to coat them.

Serve warm – they’re best right out of the oven but can be rewarmed in the microwave for ~15-20 seconds if needed.

Easy One-Hour Dinner Rolls

These rolls are ready in about an hour and use your oven as a proofing box – no need to wait around for hours. They’re soft, buttery, and perfect alongside pretty much any dinner.
prep time20 minutes
cook time16 minutes
resting or cooling time25 minutes
total time1 hour 1 minute

Ingredients

Ingredients (~10 rolls)

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, scooped and leveled, plus more as needed
  • 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 tsp rapid rise yeast, 1 packet
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup cool water
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, diced into pieces, plus more for tops
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Microwave water, milk, and butter until warm (120F).
  • Whisk flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in stand mixer bowl.
  • Add warm liquid and lemon juice to dry ingredients.
  • Knead with dough hook 3 minutes, adding flour if too sticky.
  • Rest dough 5 minutes, covered.
  • Butter 9×13 inch baking dish.
  • Cut dough into 10-12 equal portions and shape into rolls.
  • Place rolls in buttered dish.
  • Dampen rolls with water.
  • Proof in 180F oven (turned off) for 20 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 375F.
  • Bake rolls 14-16 minutes until golden brown.
  • Brush hot rolls with butter immediately after baking.

Notes

Best served warm. Reheat 15-20 seconds in microwave if needed.