Garlic Bread Rolls

 Garlic bread rolls are soft and fluffy dinner rolls brushed with delicious garlic herb butter. They make a perfect side to any dish, especially for Thanksgiving and the holidays!

My favorite part of the holidays is making these garlic bread rolls! They are super soft, fluffy, and so easy to make. They are a must for the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion dinner!

The best part of these dinner rolls is the dough is full of fresh herbs and garlic butter and they are brushed with more straight out of the oven for the best garlic flavor. They turned out so delicious, that I even made a mini parmesan bread bite version!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Homemade bread: This is the BEST garlic roll recipe! Made with homemade bread dough, they taste super fresh and beat any store-bought or frozen variety.

Soft rolls: These rolls are ridiculously soft and fluffy!

Delicious side dish: Add these rolls to the top of your grocery list for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or to accompany any hearty meal. Just like my baked mac and cheese and cheesy green bean casserole, they are perfect for sharing!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Instant yeast: I love using instant yeast for bread recipes, as it cuts the rise time in half without compromising flavor! You can use active dry yeast in equal parts. Although, you will need to let the dough rise after kneading for 15-20 minutes before shaping.

Garlic: I recommend fresh garlic cloves for the best flavor.

Parsley: You can also use fresh thyme or oregano instead of parsley.

Granulated sugar: Substitute the sugar for honey if you don't have any on hand.

Milk: I recommend using whole or 2% milk for this recipe as it gives the garlic rolls the best flavor and structure.

Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!

Step-By-Step Instructions

Here's how to make these homemade garlic rolls! You will need a stand mixer to make the dough and a 9x13 baking pan. Before you start, lightly butter your baking dish and set it aside.

STEP ONE: Make the garlic herb butter. In a small saucepan, cook the butter and garlic for 1-2 minutes or until the garlic is sizzling and fragrant. Set it aside to cool for 5 minutes.

STEP TWO: Knead the dough. Add the warm milk, yeast, and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Then add the all-purpose flour, salt, melted butter, parsley, and egg.

Knead the dough with the dough hook attachment on low speed for 8 minutes. The dough should clean the sides of the mixing bowl and come together into a single ball. It should look smooth and feel soft and tacky.

If yours is sticky or not cleaning the sides of the bowl, add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until you have a workable dough, similar to the photo in step 3.

STEP THREE: Portion and shape the rolls. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces. This is best done with a kitchen scale for accuracy! Each dough ball should weigh 67 grams.

Then cup your hand over each ball of dough and roll it clockwise until it forms a smooth ball. Pinch the bottom together to seal it, then place the dough balls in the prepared baking dish.

STEP FOUR: Let the dough rise. When all of the rolls are in the baking dish, cover the top with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and set it aside to rise for about 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 F/180 C.

STEP FIVE: Bake! Lightly brush the tops of the rolls with egg wash. Then bake for 23-25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.

STEP SIX: Brush with garlic butter. Straight out of the oven, brush the tops of the baked rolls with the garlic herb butter. Let the rolls cool for 10 minutes, then serve!

Expert Baking Tips

• Use a stand mixer. Kneading the dough in a stand mixer is much easier than kneading by hand, but it can be done! To do it by hand, first, mix the dough in a large bowl with a wooden spoon, then transfer it to a clean surface and knead until a smooth dough ball forms.
• Follow the recipe. Read the recipe once before you start and ensure you have everything on hand. Following the recipe as instructed will ensure a successful bake!
• For best results, measure carefully. Baking with a kitchen scale is much more accurate than cup measurements. To convert this recipe, click the "metric" button next to the ingredients title on the recipe card. If you don't own a scale, fluff the flour first then spoon it into your measuring cup.
• Serve with your holiday meal- alongside your Thanksgiving turkey or savory bread pudding, it's the perfect side dish!

Storage and Freezing

Room temperature: Store any leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for 1-2 days.

Freezer: You can freeze them after baking! Remove them from the pan and wait until they are completely cool. Then transfer them to an airtight container for 2-3 months.