Soft Air Fryer Dinner Rolls {from Scratch}
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If you’re new to making homemade rolls, our air fryer dinner rolls recipe is easier than you think. Made with simple ingredients, these soft rolls knock the socks off frozen rolls.
They’re simple to make, and most of the time is hands-off, so it’s an easy recipe for beginners. And nothing beats the smell of freshly baked rolls, right?!
Tasty homemade rolls are a staple for family dinners and holiday dinners when oven space is at a premium. And if you only need a small batch, making these fluffy dinner rolls in the air fryer is the way to go.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
If you need to make a larger batch of rolls, use my yeast rolls for beginners recipe to make these in a regular oven.
You’ll love making bread in the air fryer because it cooks quickly and you don’t have to heat up the house. If you’re looking for more bread recipes to try, check out our air fryer focaccia and air fried naan bread with garlic butter.
In the market for a new air fryer? Get the scoop on all the options to help you choose the right air fryer.
Air Fryer Dinner Rolls Ingredients
- sugar – feeds the yeast and helps keep the dough moist.
- active dry yeast – helps the dough rise. This is not the same as instant yeast.
- whole milk – the milk needs to be warmed to 110 degrees F.
- egg – for best results, allow it to come to room temperature before using.
- salted butter – sit the butter out to soften beforehand.
- salt – helps with flavor and texture.
- flour – for this bread recipe we are using all-purpose and have not tested it with other types of flours.
- oil – this is to grease the bowl and pan.
Unsure which oil to use? Check out our handy guide to the Best Oil for Air Fryers.
How to Make Homemade Yeast Rolls in the Air Fryer
In a large bowl, combine a teaspoon of sugar, the yeast, and the warm milk. Gently stir and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Add the rest of the sugar, half of the flour, the egg, butter, and salt. Use the dough hook attachment on your stand mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Pour in the remaining flour, and continue to work the dough for another 2-3 minutes until a dough ball forms. The dough will be soft, a little elastic, and smooth when it’s ready.
Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and gently knead for 1-2 minutes. Work it into itself and form a ball shape.
Grease a mixing bowl with oil or with non-stick cooking spray. Place the dough in the greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise for 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size.
Once the dough has risen, turn it out on the floured surface and cut into 16 equal pieces. Roll into dough balls by using your hands.
Place the rolls on a greased pan. Fit as many as you can in a single layer while leaving a little room between each dough ball.
Cover and let the dough rise for a second time, for about 1 hour.
Cook in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 300 degrees F until they are cooked through and golden brown.
Let the bread rolls cool a little before serving. We like to brush the rolls with melted butter but that’s optional.
DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
Grab the free guide to Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet & say goodbye to the guesswork.
Tips for Making Soft Dinner Rolls in the Air Fryer
- Before starting, check that your pan fits in your air fryer. A 6-9 inch pan is a good size, depending on the model.
- Check to make sure your yeast is fresh. If the yeast is old or expired the rolls may not rise.
- Don’t overheat the milk beyond 110 degrees F or you risk killing the yeast.
- Check the bottoms of the rolls to ensure they are done. If they’re not quite ready, flip them over and cook for 3-5 minutes longer.
- If desired, use a pastry brush to top the rolls with melted butter.
- If you are cooking rolls in batches, transfer the cooked rolls to a cooling rack then proceed with the next batch.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- If you don’t have a stand mixer with a dough hook, you can do all of the kneading by hand.
- If the yeast rolls are touching in the pan while cooking, they’ll be more like pull apart bread.
- Turn these into slider buns by brushing the tops with butter and sprinkling on sesame seeds before cooking.
- If you don’t have a pan small enough, place the dough balls on a parchment paper liner directly in the air fryer basket.
What to Serve With Fresh Dinner Rolls
Fluffy rolls are the perfect side when it comes to comfort food meals like chicken fried steak and meatloaf. For a meal like that, we pile up the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. They’re also a must-have for your holiday dinners.
New to air frying? Get the low down on maximizing your usage of this amazing small appliance, including easy clean up tips, with our best air fryer tips for beginners.
How to Store Leftover Rolls
Place cooled rolls in an airtight container or ziptop bag on the counter for up to 4 days.
Can you freeze this air fryer roll recipe?
Yes. Wrap the cooked and cooled rolls in a layer or two of plastic wrap then place in a freezer bag where they’ll keep for up to 6 months. Thaw rolls on a wire rack so they don’t become soggy, then reheat in the oven or air fryer until warm at 350 degrees F.
More Easy Bread Recipes
- Cherry Bread with Maraschino Glaze + Video
- Monkey Bread with Pecans – with Video
- Air Fryer Cornbread Muffins – Homemade
- Cranberry Orange Loaf
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Homemade Air Fryer Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sugar, divided use
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 cup whole milk, warmed to 110°F
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, 1/2 stick, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- oil, to coat the bowl & pan
Instructions
- Place 1 teaspoon of sugar, yeast, and warmed milk in a large mixing bowl. Gently stir a few times and let it sit for 5 minutes.2 tablespoons sugar, 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast, 1 cup whole milk
- Add the egg, butter, salt, remaining sugar, and half of the flour. Using the dough hook on your stand mixer, work the mixture on low for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula or scraper.1 egg, 4 tablespoons salted butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3 cups all-purpose flour
- Add the remaining flour and continue to work the mixture for 2-3 minutes until the dough forms. You may need to stop it and scrape down the bowl walls to continue working it into the dough. Dough should be soft, smooth, and slightly elastic.
- Place the dough on a lightly floured flat surface. Gently knead the dough for 2 minutes, working it into itself by forming a ball shape.
- Lightly spray the mixing bowl with oil and place the dough back in the bowl. Cover and let it rise until it’s doubled in size. This will take 1-2 hours depending on the room temperature and humidity.oil
- After the dough has risen, place it on a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 16 equal-sized pieces. Using your hands, work each roll into a ball shape.
- Place the rolls in a lightly oiled pie pan. Fit as many rolls as you can, leaving just a little room between the rolls.
- Cover and let rise a second time for 1 hour.
- Place the pan in the air fryer basket and cook at 300°f for 15 minutes, until rolls are golden brown and cooked through.
- Let the rolls cool before serving. Brush a little melted butter on top if desired.
Notes
- Make sure the pan fits your air fryer basket before starting, 6-9” pans are common.
- Make sure your yeast is fresh or your rolls won’t rise.
- Check the bottoms of the rolls to make sure they are cooked. If they aren’t done, cook for a couple more minutes. If the tops are getting too brown, flip the rolls over before cooking longer.
- Store cooled leftover rolls in a ziptop bag at room temperature for 3-4 days.
- To freeze: cooked rolls can be wrapped in plastic wrap, placed in a freezer bag and stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
