Garlic Herb Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate comfort side, this Garlic Herb Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe is going to become your new kitchen favorite. I absolutely love how these rolls come out—pillowy soft with that beautiful buttery garlic herb glaze that makes everyone go crazy. Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a holiday feast, these rolls are the perfect cozy companion, and the best part? You’ll have them ready in about an hour, tops.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this Garlic Herb Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe plays a key role in creating that soft, flavorful bread you’ll want to eat straight from the oven. I’ve learned that using potato flakes really changes up the texture for the better, and fresh herbs make all the difference.

• Butter: Divided use to incorporate into the dough and for the topping glaze.
• Whole Milk: Adds richness and tenderness, but 2% works fine if that’s what you have.
• Water: Warm water helps activate the yeast and hydrate the potato flakes.
• All-purpose Flour: The base for the dough; be ready to add a little more if your dough feels sticky.
• Instant Potato Flakes: This might surprise you but they keep the rolls soft and moist without extra effort.
• Rapid-rise Yeast: Speeds up the rising process, so you don’t have to wait forever.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds just enough sweetness to balance the savory herbs and garlic.
• Salt: Enhances all the flavors so your rolls won’t taste flat.
• Garlic Powder: Provides a deep garlic flavor blended throughout the dough.
• Fresh Rosemary: Gives a lovely woodsy flavor—use less if dried to avoid overpowering.
• Fresh Parsley: Brightens the herb mixture with its fresh, clean taste.
• Egg: Adds richness and helps with dough structure for a tender crumb.
• Garlic Cloves: For infusing the butter topping with fresh garlic punch.

Variations

I love customizing this Garlic Herb Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe depending on the season or what I have on hand. You can easily switch up the herbs or add cheese to change things up and keep it exciting.

• Cheesy Herb Rolls: Adding shredded Parmesan or cheddar into the dough gives an extra savory twist—my family goes crazy for these on game day.
• Spicy Kick: Mix in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or swap parsley for fresh basil for a bright, peppery flavor.
• Garlic Lovers’ Dream: Use roasted garlic instead of raw in the butter glaze for a mellow, sweet garlic hit.
• Gluten-Free Version: Experimenting with a gluten-free flour blend and slightly longer rising times worked well for me, but you may want to test your blend.

How to Make Garlic Herb Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe

Step 1: Warm Your Liquids and Melt Butter

Start by placing 4 tablespoons of butter, the milk, and water in a microwave-safe measuring cup. Heat for about a minute until it’s warm to the touch—about 110-115ºF is perfect. Too hot? Let it cool a bit—this step is crucial for activating your yeast properly without killing it.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In your mixer bowl fitted with a dough hook, stir together 4 cups of flour, potato flakes, yeast, sugar, salt, garlic powder, rosemary, and half the parsley. This dry mix is where all the flavor starts to come together.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Turn your mixer to ‘stir’ and slowly pour in the warm milk mixture along with the egg. Once combined, raise the speed to medium-low and knead for 4-5 minutes. The dough should pull away cleanly from the bowl sides. If it’s still sticky, add flour in ¼ cup increments, but don’t overdo it—you want a soft dough that’s just firm enough to handle.

Step 4: First Rest and Oven Prep

Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, set your oven rack in the center and preheat the oven to its lowest temperature, 180ºF. Also, grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray—this is where your rolls will take their final shape.

Step 5: Shape the Rolls

Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and roll it into a 15-inch circle. Using a floured pizza cutter, slice the dough into 12 or 16 wedges depending on how big you want your rolls. I usually eyeball this because it’s faster, but you can weigh the dough if you want perfection. Then, fold the seam side inward and roll each wedge into a smooth ball—this technique gives the rolls that beautiful, uniform top.

Step 6: Proof Rolls in the Oven

Place your rolls seam side down in the prepared pan, brush the tops lightly with water to keep them from drying out, then turn off the oven and put the pan inside. Let the rolls rise for 20 minutes without opening the oven door—that warmth creates the perfect environment for a soft rise.

Step 7: Bake and Prepare Garlic Butter

After the rolls have risen, remove the pan and preheat the oven to 375ºF. Bake the rolls for 18 to 22 minutes (slightly less if you made 16 smaller rolls) until golden brown and irresistibly fragrant. While they bake, melt butter with garlic in a small saucepan—when the butter bubbles and the garlic aroma fills your kitchen, stir in the remaining fresh parsley and a pinch of salt for that perfect finishing touch.

Step 8: Brush with Garlic Herb Butter and Serve

As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, generously brush the garlic herb butter all over the tops. This step takes the flavor to a whole new level and adds that glossy, irresistible finish you’ll want to bite into immediately. Serve warm and watch how fast these disappear!

How to Serve Garlic Herb Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe

Garnishes

I love finishing these rolls with a sprinkle of extra freshly chopped parsley or a light dusting of flaky sea salt for added texture and color. It brightens them up visually and gives a fresh pop that complements the garlic butter perfectly.

Side Dishes

These rolls are my go-to side for everything—from soups like creamy tomato bisque to rich meals like roast chicken or beef stew. I’ve even paired them with pasta dishes, and they soak up sauce beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like to serve these rolls in a pretty basket lined with a colorful cloth napkin, sprinkled with more fresh herbs on top. Sometimes I make small roll towers or individual pull-apart servings for a fun presentation that guests love to tear into.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually store leftover rolls in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want to keep them soft, adding a small piece of bread in the container helps maintain moisture—something I only learned recently but always do now!

Freezing

These dinner rolls freeze beautifully. After they cool, I wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before tossing into the freezer. When I want them, I thaw overnight in the fridge or let sit at room temp for a few hours.

Reheating

To reheat, I pop them in a 350ºF oven for about 8-10 minutes, wrapped in foil to keep them soft and warm. If you want to revive that garlic butter flavor, I’ll brush some melted garlic-herb butter on top right before serving.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Garlic Herb Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe has become one of those kitchen staples that always brings a smile to my family’s faces. I used to struggle with getting dinner rolls soft and flavorful in under an hour, but this recipe changed the game for me. The combination of herbs and garlic in the butter glaze is just heavenly, and the soft texture thanks to the potato flakes is unbeatable. I’m excited for you to try this out and make it your own—you really can’t go wrong with a warm, buttery roll fresh from the oven.

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