• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bless this Mess
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Sides
  • Desserts
  • Snacks
  • Holidays
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Recipe Filter
  • Cookbooks!
  • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Cookbooks!
    • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Breads > Yeasted Breads > Rolls

    Overnight Dinner Rolls

    Published: Jun 27, 2022 · Modified: Nov 30, 2022 by Melissa · Leave a Comment

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    pin text reads "overnight dinner rolls" and baked and buttered croissant shaped rolls on baking sheets and in a pile
    pin text reads "overnight dinner rolls" and baked and buttered croissant shaped rolls in a pile and on a baking dish
    pin text reads "overnight dinner rolls" and baked and buttered croissant shaped rolls on a baking sheet
    pin text reads "overnight dinner rolls" and baked and buttered croissant shaped rolls in a pile on parchment

    Looking for an overnight dinner roll recipe? We'll this is it! This is the perfect option for mixing up your dough the day before, putting it in the fridge overnight, and then letting the dough rise, shaping, rising again, and baking the next day.

    small shiny buttered rolls in a rolled up croissant shape

    Overnight Dinner Rolls

    Looking for a way to get some of your dinner prep done ahead of time (especially when it comes to big busy meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter)? Look no further! These overnight dinner rolls are a perfect make-ahead recipe holidays and they turn out amazing.

    Light and fluffy rolls are the things family dinner memories are made of. These rolls will not disappoint in that department.

    top view of the freshly baked small shiny buttered rolls in a rolled up croissant shape on a baking sheet

    Ingredients in Overnight Dinner Rolls

    • Yeast: this is what gives it the rise and fluffiness, you can use rapid, instant, or active dry yeast
    • Flour: we're using all-purpose flour here, no specialty flours needed
    • Butter: this helps to make the rolls tender and gives them great flavor
    • Eggs: are used to enrich bread which makes them extra soft
    • Sugar: just a bit, gives the rolls a lovely light taste

    How to Make Dinner Roll Dough Ahead of Time:

    1. The day before you plan to use your rolls make the dough.
    2. Store the dough in the fridge for 6-18 hours.
    3. When you are ready to make your rolls, get out the dough and shape your rolls.
    4. Let the rolls rise and then bake them.
    5. Enjoy warm!
    collage of dinner rolls with 4 pictures, the puffy risen dough in a bowl, the dough rolled into a circle, the circle cut into 12 pieces, and shaped uncooked rolls on a pan

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I let rolls rise overnight?

    Sourdough rolls yes! But normal rolls with traditional yeast will "over proof" if you let them rise that long at room temperature. The yeast will exhaust itself and then the rolls will fall when baking and be flat. The key is to let the dough chill overnight in the refrigerator and then shape the rolls and bake them the next day.

    Can you make dinner roll dough the night before?

    Yes with this recipe! That overnight chill in the fridge is what allows you to get perfect rolls the next day and it saves a lot of time on busy cooking day.

    Can I use other types of yeast in this recipe?

    Yes, you can use rapid, instant, or active dry yeast for this recipe. This isn't a recipe for natural yeast or sourdough though.

    top view stack of small shiny buttered rolls in a rolled up croissant shape

    More roll recipes you'll love:

    • Mom's Jumbo Dinner Rolls
    • Grandma Lucy's Famous Clover Rolls
    • Bread Bowls
    • Buttery Garlic Knots

    If you’ve tried this make ahead dinner roll recipe or any other recipe on Bless this Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories AND add your photo to your comment so that other can see your creation.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    small shiny buttered rolls in a rolled up croissant shape

    Fluffy Overnight Dinner Rolls


    • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: Overnight
    • Yield: Makes 24 rolls 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Soft and fluffy overnight dinner rolls that come out perfect each time. Make the dough the night before and finish making them before your meal. Doing a few of the steps ahead of time makes meal day even easier!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 package active dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
    • 1 ¼ cups warm water (around 105 degrees F.)
    • 4 to 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • ⅓ cup sugar
    • ⅓ cup melted butter
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • additional 4 tablespoons melted butter

    Instructions

    1. In a large bowl add the yeast and warm water and stir to combine.
    2. Add 1 ½ cups of the flour, sugar, the ⅓ cup melted butter, egg, and salt and stir well to combine.
    3. Mix together for 1 minute (you can make these by hand or use a stand mixer).
    4. Add enough of the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time and stirring well after each addition, until it forms a soft and slightly sticky dough that starts to pull away from the side of the bowl.
    5. Place the dough in a well greased 3 quart container and flip it over once so that the top of the dough is also greased.
    6. Cover the container tightly and place it in the fridge overnight.
    7. When you are ready to make your rolls the next day, take the dough out of the fridge, remove it from the container onto a lightly floured surface and cut the two into two pieces. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
    8. Prepare 2 rimmed baking sheets by greasing them well or lining them with a baking mat.
    9. On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into a 10 inch circle.
    10. Brush each circle with melted butter (use about half of the remaining 4 tablespoons, you'll use the other half when they come out of the oven).
    11. Cut each circle into 12 wedges (I like to use a pizza cutter for this step).
    12. To shape the rolls, start at the widest part of the wedge and roll it up to the point.
    13. Place them with the point of the wedge down on the prepared baking sheets 3 or so inches apart.
    14. Cover and let rise in a warm place until the rolls nearly double in size, about 1 hour.
    15. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
    16. Bake the rolls when they are done rising, one pan at a time, for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
    17. Brush them with additional melted butter on the tops and serve warm.

    Notes

    • Recipe from The Better Homed and Gardens Cookbook (17th edition)
    • I've played with the timing of this dough a little and I've had good luck with letting it stay in the fridge for up to 18 hours. It started to not rise as well when baked the farther from 18 hours I got. The rolls after 24 hours in the fridge were fine but they were better with shorter chilling times.
    • Store leftovers in an air-tight containers.
    • Prep Time: 20 min
    • Cook Time: 15 min
    • Category: side
    • Method: bake
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: overnight dinner rolls, make ahead dinner rolls, refrigerator rolls, dinner roll recipe, overnight dinner roll recipe, how to make dinner rolls ahead of time

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

    pin text reads "overnight dinner rolls" and baked and buttered croissant shaped rolls in a pile on parchment

    You'll love all the time you'll save on big cooking days with this overnight dinner roll recipe! Make the dough the day before, stick it in the fridge, shape the rolls and let them rise the next day. Fresh hot dinner rolls even on the busiest days.

    « Divinity Candy
    Cornbread Salad »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Craving More

    Take the hassle out of meal planning with: Dinner Made Easy, a FREE 1 week meal plan with full shopping list, easy dinners, nutrition information, serving suggestions for each meal, and more!

    Subscribe Now
    about me

    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I’M MELISSA, AND I WANT TO HELP YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY WHOLESOME FOOD.

    As a hobby farmer and mom of five, I’m all about keeping it simple in the kitchen. I want healthy meals that feed my family well, and then I want to get back to my (messy) life. Let’s work together to find something yummy for your dinner table.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • bowl of hummus with red spice on top
      How to Make Hummus
    • close up of a slice of french silk pie
      French Silk Pie
    • top view of a sliced loaf of cinnamon bread sliced half way
      Cinnamon Babka
    • slow cooker and a ladle with taco soup
      Slow Cooker Taco Soup
    Dinner Made Easy

    Get Recipes & More for Free!

    Get my FREE Dinner Made Easy meal plan, exclusive recipes, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes updates! Get my newsletter or a new recipe every day! Unsubscribe if you aren’t into it.

    Subscribe Now

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Tools.
    • Terms Of Service.
    • Accessibility.
    • Bylaws.

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Us
    • Cookbook FAQ
    • Find A Recipe!

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 blessthismessplease.com. All rights reserved.

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter