These Air Fryer Dinner Rolls are delicious homemade yeast rolls that are ready in a fraction of the time it takes to make traditional dinner rolls. Not only are they fast and easy to make, but they also come out perfectly golden brown on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.
Have you ever made rolls in the air fryer? If you haven’t then trust me you are going to want to make these asap. The air fryer gives the outside a nice crunch, while the inside stays soft and fluffy. You won’t be able to resist these homemade rolls.
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Why I Love This Recipe
The air fryer does an amazing job at giving the outside of these air fryer roils a nice crisp texture with golden-brown color, while allowing the inside to stay soft and so fluffy.
- So easy to make that even beginners can make this recipe.
- These homemade dinner rolls pair well with most meals.
- You can make a large batch and freeze for later.
If you love making homemade bread then next time give this Air Fryer Corn Muffins recipe a try.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to help you make these homemade rolls. All of these ingredients are basic kitchen staples, but if you don’t have them on hand they are easy to find at your local grocery store on your next trip.
- whole milk – You will need to use whole dairy milk for this recipe, the fat in the milk is really what gives these rolls their fluffy texture and delicious flavor.
- active dry yeast – Active dry yeast helps the rolls to rise and become fluffy.
- sugar – Adding sugar to these dinner rolls helps enhance the flavor of the rolls, as well as feed the yeast and help them rise.
- all purpose flour – All purpose flour is used in this recipe because it gives the rolls a nice texture and helps them hold their shape.
- egg – The egg helps add structure to the rolls and gives them a nice golden-brown color when they are cooked.
- butter – Butter adds flavor to these dinner rolls as well as richness. Salted butter really works best in this air fryer recipe.
- salt – Salt helps balance out all of the flavors in this recipe. I like to use table salt, but you can use kosher or sea salt instead.
How to Make Air Fryer Dinner Rolls
Making this homemade dinner roll recipe is so simple. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a simple and delicious dinner roll in no time.
Step 1: Proof the yeast
In a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon of sugar, yeast, and warmed milk. Gently stir a few times and let sit for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Make the dough
Add the egg, butter, salt, remaining sugar, and half of the flour. Using a dough hook on your stand mixer, work the mixture on low for 30 seconds. Using a spatula or scraper, remove the mixture from the walls of the bowl.
Step 3: Knead the dough
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 mixture from the walls to continue working it into the dough. Dough should be soft, smooth, and slightly elastic.
Step 4: Shape the dough and let it rise
Remove the dough onto a slightly floured flat surface. Gently work the dough into itself forming a ball for 2 minutes. Lightly spray the mixing bowl with some oil and return the dough. Cover and let rise for 1-2 hours depending on the room temperature and humidity. The dough should double in size.
Step 5: Cut the dough into balls
After dough has risen, place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 16. Work each roll into a ball. Place the rolls in a lightly oiled pie pan. We use a 9” pan as it fits our air fryer. Fit as many as you can leaving very little room between rolls.
Step 6: Preform a second rise and then air fry
Cover and let rise a second time for 1 hour. Place pan in the air fryer basket and cook at 300°f for 15 minutes until rolls are golden brown.
Step 7: Serve and enjoy
Let the rolls cool and you can brush some butter on top if you like.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve these rolls with a main course like this Instant Pot French Onion Chicken or this Instant Pot Penne A La Vodka.
Pro Tips
Here are a few tips to help make sure that your air fryer dinner rolls turn out perfectly every time that you make them.
- Make sure your milk is warmed before adding it to the yeast. I use a candy thermometer to make sure that it reaches the right temperature.
- Be careful not to overwork the dough as this can cause the rolls to be dense.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake these in a preheated oven at 350°f for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- If you want a softer roll, brush them with melted butter as soon as the rolls come out of the air fryer.
- For best results I recommend that you weigh out the flour, one cup of flour is equal to 120 grams.
- If you don’t have a kitchen scale to weigh the flour, I suggest that you use the spoon method. Which means that you should spoon the flour into your measuring cup. Don’t scoop with the measuring cup as that packs too much flour in it.
- Don’t skip the rise time, it’s very important for these rolls to turn out nice and fluffy.
- Different air fryers may require different cooking times. Check the rolls after 12 minutes and if they are not done, continue to cook them in 2 minute increments until they are golden brown.
Storage
Storage – These rolls can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature.
Freezing – They can also be frozen for up to one month.
Reheating – To reheat, just place the rolls on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350°f oven for about 5 minutes or until warmed through.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this air fryer dinner rolls recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Active dry yeast needs to be “proofed” by combining it with warm water and sugar before using. Instant yeast does not need to be proofed and can just be added directly to the other ingredients. You need active yeast for this recipe.
I like to use a flour sack towel to cover my dough while it’s rising. But, you could also use plastic wrap. Just make sure to spray the inside of the plastic wrap with nonstick cooking spray so that he dough doesn’t stick to it.
I like to use a round cake pan, but you can also use a foil disposable pan or pie plate to make these fresh rolls.
More Bread Recipes
If you like bread, give these recipes a try:
Want to make this delicious recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin it so that you can come back to it later.
Air Fryer Dinner Rolls
Equipment
- large bowls
- stand mixer with dough hook
- oven-safe baking dish
- plastic wrap or light weight towel
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk 110°F
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg
- 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour or 360 grams
Instructions
- Ina a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon of sugar, yeast, and warmed milk. Gently stir a few times and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Add the egg, butter, salt, remaining sugar, and half of the flour. Using a dough hook on your stand mixer, work the mixture on low for 30 seconds. Using a spatula or scraper, remove the mixture from the walls of the bowl.
- 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 mixture from the walls to continue working it into the dough. Dough should be soft, smooth, and slightly elastic.
- Remove the dough onto a slightly floured flat surface. Gently work the dough into itself forming a ball for 2 minutes.
- Lightly spray the mixing bowl with some oil and return the dough. Cover and let rise for 1-2 hours depending on the room temperature and humidity. The dough should double in size.
- After dough has risen, place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 16. Work each roll into a ball.
- Place the rolls in a lightly oiled pie pan. We use a 9” pan as it fits our air fryer. Fit as many as you can leaving very little room between rolls.
- Cover and let rise a second time for 1 hour.
- Place pan in the air fryer basket and cook at 300°f for 15 minutes until rolls are golden brown.
- Let the rolls cool and you can brush some butter on top if you like.
Notes
- Make sure your milk is warmed before adding it to the yeast. I use a candy thermometer to make sure that it reaches the right temperature.
- Be careful not to overwork the dough as this can cause the rolls to be dense.
- If you want a softer roll, brush them with melted butter as soon as the rolls come out of the air fryer.
- For best results I recommend that you weigh out the flour, one cup of flour is equal to 120 grams.
- If you don’t have a kitchen scale to weigh the flour, I suggest that you use the spoon method. Which means that you should spoon the flour into your measuring cup. Don’t scoop with the measuring cup as that packs too much flour in it.
- Don’t skip the rise time, it’s very important for these rolls to turn out nice and fluffy.
- Air fryers may require different cooking times. Check the rolls after 12 minutes and if they are not done, continue to cook them in 2 minute increments until they are golden brown.