If you enjoy dinner rolls made with yeast but don’t always have time to wait for the dough to rise, these No Yeast Dinner Rolls are a great alternative.
They’re quick to prepare, use basic pantry ingredients, and bake into soft rolls. You can skip the yeast and the long proofing time without giving up the comfort of homemade bread.
I like having a recipe like this on hand for busy weeknights or when I need an easy side for soup or a casserole. There’s no need to plan hours ahead, and you can make a batch whenever the craving for warm dinner rolls hits.
Table of Contents
No Yeast Dinner Rolls Recipe
Key Ingredients
Baking powder does the work of yeast here, so the rolls puff up in the oven with no rising time. Make sure yours is fresh, since old baking powder won’t give the same lift.
Cold butter melts in the oven and leaves tiny pockets that make the rolls tender. It also gives them a rich, buttery flavor.
Cold milk keeps the butter from melting into the dough, which helps the rolls bake up soft and tender. I sometimes use buttermilk instead for a slight tang, and it works just as well.
Tips & Tricks
Work the butter in quickly: I rub the cold butter into the flour with my fingertips until the mix looks like coarse crumbs with a few pea-sized pieces. Working fast keeps the butter from warming up.
Add the milk gradually: I start with 3/4 cup and add more 1 tablespoon at a time, because flour can need slightly different amounts.
Handle the dough gently: Knead it just a few times, until the dough comes together. Overworking it can make the rolls tough.
Place the rolls close together: Let the rolls touch or sit close to each other in the pan. This helps keep their sides soft as they bake.
Brush with butter twice: Brushing before baking helps the tops turn golden. Brushing again right out of the oven keeps them soft and buttery.
Here’s how I make the no yeast dinner rolls:
No Yeast Dinner Rolls
Soft, buttery dinner rolls made with baking powder instead of yeast, ready in about 35 minutes with no rising time.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cupsall-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
- 1 tablespoonbaking powder
- 1 tablespoongranulated sugar
- 1 teaspoonsalt
- 6 tablespoonscold unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
- 3/4 to 1 cupcold milk
- 2 tablespoonsmelted butter (for brushing)
Instructions
- 1Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- 2Whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl.
- 3Add the cold butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces.
- 4Pour in 3/4 cup of milk and stir with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. Add more milk 1 tablespoon at a time, just until the dough holds together and is soft but not wet.
- 5Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead gently 5 or 6 times, just until it comes together.
- 6Divide the dough into 9 equal pieces and shape each into a smooth ball.
- 7Place the rolls in the baking pan, don't touch each other, and brush the tops with half of the melted butter.
- 8Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, until puffed and golden brown.
- 9Brush with the remaining melted butter and serve warm.
Nutrition per serving
📌 Notes
- Keep the butter and milk cold for tall, tender rolls.
- Don't knead more than a few times or the rolls will turn tough.
- These rolls are soft and tender like a biscuit, not chewy like yeast rolls.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days and reheat in a warm oven for a few minutes.
How to Pair
No yeast dinner rolls have a buttery, mild, and slightly savory taste. Their tender centers and golden crusts suit comforting meals, hearty entrées, and simple spreads. You can:
- Serve them with chicken noodle soup, beef stew, or creamy tomato soup for dipping.
- Pair them with roast chicken, glazed ham, or meatloaf to complete a homestyle dinner.
- Enjoy them with salted butter, fruit preserves, or honey for breakfast or brunch.
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