Soft & Fluffy Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls — Homemade Perfection!

Introduction

Nothing complements a Thanksgiving feast quite like a basket of soft, fluffy dinner rolls fresh from the oven. These homemade rolls are tender, buttery, and pillowy—perfect for mopping up gravy or cradling that extra slice of turkey. They’re a simple yet essential addition to your holiday meal, setting a warm, inviting tone for family and friends as they gather around the table.

Why You’ll Love These Soft & Fluffy Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls

Classic dinner rolls are a crowd-pleaser, but this recipe guarantees next-level softness and gentle sweetness that keeps everyone reaching for “just one more.” With their golden crust and melt-in-your-mouth texture, these rolls are both comforting and impressive, elevating your Thanksgiving spread with homemade perfection.

The Secret to Perfectly Soft and Fluffy Dinner Rolls

A combination of warm milk, just the right amount of butter, and a balance between yeast and sugar yields a dough that rises beautifully and bakes up light and airy. Letting the dough rise twice ensures an airy crumb, while a final brush of melted butter straight out of the oven imparts irresistible richness and sheen.

Serving Suggestions for the Perfect Dinner Roll Experience

Pile these rolls high in a napkin-lined basket and serve warm with extra butter or honey on the side. They double as the best vessels for leftover sandwiches the next day. For extra flair, offer flavored butters—think honey cinnamon or herb garlic—for guests to customize their rolls.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe makes 16 rolls. Each roll contains approximately 170 calories, 5g fat, 25g carbohydrates, and 4g protein. They’re a comforting treat rich enough for a holiday, but light enough to let the rest of your Thanksgiving meal shine.

Soft & Fluffy Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls — Homemade Perfection! (Recap)

With cloud-like centers and golden, buttery tops, these rolls are the addition your Thanksgiving table deserves. Their homemade charm and irresistible texture make them an instant classic—and a dish guests request every year.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in the warm milk. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining sugar, melted butter, eggs, and salt. Stir in the yeast mixture.
3. Add flour, one cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 8 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and allow it to rise in a warm spot until doubled, about 1 hour.
5. Punch down the dough and divide it into 16 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and place on a parchment-lined baking pan, spaced slightly apart.
6. Cover and let rise again for 30–40 minutes, until puffy.
7. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until golden brown.
8. Brush again with butter and serve warm.

Weekly Meal Planning

These dinner rolls work beautifully for prepping ahead, either for Thanksgiving or for adding fresh-baked bread to your weekly menus. Save and schedule this recipe to your meal plan. You’ll generate a smart grocery list that consolidates overlapping ingredients from all your planned dishes, minimizing waste and maximizing convenience.

Planning benefits include:

• Automatically sums ingredient amounts across your entire menu
• Sorts items by grocery store sections for fast shopping
• Reduces duplicate buys and forgotten items
• Keeps you organized for big holiday meals or regular weekly prep

Pro tip: When planning Thanksgiving and other meals together, schedule your recipes in CookifyAI—ingredients like eggs or milk will be totaled across all recipes automatically, so you can shop confidently and avoid those last-minute runs to the store.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Bake Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes