If you’ve ever found yourself without yeast but still dreaming of homemade bread, you’re not alone. These Dinner Rolls No Yeast are a game-changer. With zero proofing time and just basic pantry staples, you can whip up soft, buttery rolls in under 30 minutes.
Perfect for busy weeknights, last-minute guests, or even holiday meals, these Dinner Rolls No Yeast are everything you love about fresh bread—minus the hassle.
Whether you're a seasoned home baker or a kitchen newbie, this foolproof recipe makes it easy to serve warm, golden rolls straight from your oven. Dinner Rolls No Yeast might just become your new favorite side.
Why You'll Love These No-Yeast Dinner Rolls
These Dinner Rolls No Yeast flip the script on traditional baking. Instead of yeast, they rely on baking powder for lift—meaning no rising time, no waiting, and absolutely no stress.
From mixing bowl to oven in minutes, these Dinner Rolls No Yeast are soft, golden, and ready in just 30 minutes. You get that fresh-from-the-oven taste without the fuss.
They’re perfect for those “oops, I forgot the bread” kind of days, or when your pantry is running low on ingredients. Simple, reliable, and always satisfying.
Serve these Dinner Rolls No Yeast with hearty soups, cozy stews, your favorite pasta dish, or just slathered in butter and jam. However you enjoy them, they’ll quickly become a go-to favorite.
The Secret Behind Quick Homemade Dinner Rolls
What if you could enjoy warm, homemade rolls without waiting for dough to rise? That’s exactly what these Dinner Rolls No Yeast deliver—fast, fluffy, and irresistibly soft.
Most traditional dinner rolls rely on yeast for that signature airy texture. Yeast ferments sugars in the dough, slowly creating gas bubbles that make the bread rise. It’s a beautiful process—but it takes time.
These Dinner Rolls No Yeast take a smarter shortcut. Instead of yeast, they use baking powder as the leavening agent. When baking powder meets liquid and heat, it instantly reacts—producing a quick rise right in the oven.
The result? Soft, golden Dinner Rolls No Yeast with a tender crumb and slightly biscuit-like texture. While they may differ from classic yeast rolls, the ease and speed make them the perfect backup—or even a new favorite.
Whether you're pressed for time or out of yeast, these Dinner Rolls No Yeast are a reliable, delicious solution.
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Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cold butter
- Cold milk
- Melted butter for brushing
- Optional: herbs like rosemary, thyme, or garlic powder
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
- Flour: For a whole wheat version, substitute up to half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
- Milk: Buttermilk creates tangier rolls, or use non-dairy milk for a vegan option
- Butter: Replace with cold coconut oil for dairy-free rolls
- Add-ins: Mix in ¼ cup grated cheese, 2 tablespoons chopped herbs, or 1 teaspoon of your favorite spice blend
Instructions
Prepare the Dough
- Preheat your oven and mix the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt) in a large bowl.
- Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add cold milk and stir just until the dough comes together, being careful not to overmix.
Shape the Rolls
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll it to about ½-inch thickness.
- Cut the dough into equal portions or pinch off pieces to form balls.
- Place the rolls in a greased baking pan, allowing them to touch slightly.
Bake the Rolls
- Brush the tops with melted butter for a golden finish.
- Bake until the tops are golden brown, about 15-18 minutes.
- Brush with additional melted butter if desired, then allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Prepare Dough: Mix the dry ingredients and cut in cold butter until crumbly.
- Shape Rolls: Shape the dough into small, imperfect balls and place them in a pan.
- Bake Rolls: Bake until golden, then brush with melted butter for extra softness.
Equipment For Dinner Rolls No Yeast
- Mixing Bowl: A large glass or ceramic bowl gives you plenty of space to work
- Pastry Cutter: Makes cutting butter into flour quick and easy, but two forks work too
- Cast Iron Skillet: Creates beautiful crusty edges, but any baking pan works fine
- Bench Scraper: Helpful for cutting and handling dough, but a knife works as well
- Pastry Brush: For applying melted butter to the tops (a clean paintbrush or folded paper towel can substitute)
Expert Tips for Perfect No-Yeast Dinner Rolls
- Keep ingredients cold: Similar to making biscuits, cold butter and milk create the best texture in these quick dinner rolls.
- Don't overwork the dough: Minimal handling keeps these rolls tender. Too much mixing develops gluten, making tough rolls.
- Use a light touch: When shaping, avoid compressing the dough too much.
- Check your baking powder: Make sure it's fresh! Baking powder loses potency over time. To test it, place a teaspoon in hot water - it should fizz vigorously.
- Arrange strategically: Placing rolls close together in the pan helps them rise upward instead of spreading out.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using room temperature butter (keeps rolls from being flaky)
- Overmixing the dough (results in tough rolls)
- Not preheating the oven (prevents proper rising)
- Opening the oven door during baking (causes temperature fluctuations)
Recipe Variations
Flavor Variations
- Garlic Herb: Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 tablespoon mixed herbs to the dry ingredients
- Cheesy: Fold in ½ cup shredded cheddar or parmesan cheese after cutting in the butter
- Sweet: Increase sugar to 3 tablespoons and add 1 teaspoon cinnamon for breakfast rolls
- Drop-style: For even quicker dinner rolls, skip shaping and simply drop spoonfuls of dough into the pan
Dietary Modifications
- Gluten-Free No Yeast Dinner Rolls: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend containing xanthan gum
- Vegan: Use plant-based milk and coconut oil or vegan butter
- Dairy-Free: Replace butter with coconut oil and use almond, soy, or oat milk
- Lower-Calorie Option: Reduce butter to ⅓ cup and brush tops with egg wash instead of butter
Storage
Fridge Storage
These quick dinner rolls no yeast will stay fresh at room temperature in an airtight container for 1-2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to 5 days.
Freezing Instructions
- Cool rolls completely
- Wrap individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag
- Freeze for up to 3 months
- Reheat frozen rolls in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes, or microwave for 20-30 seconds
Make-Ahead Option
While these rolls are designed to be quick, you can prepare the dry ingredients and butter mixture ahead of time. Store this mixture in the refrigerator, then simply add milk when you're ready to bake.
Grandma’s 5-Minute Secret to Perfect No Yeast Rolls
I’ll let you in on a little secret passed down from my grandmother—the kind of tip that isn’t always written in recipe books. When making Rolls No Yeast, she’d always shape the dough, place the rolls on the tray, and then... walk away. “Just five minutes,” she’d say with a wink. That short rest, just 5 to 10 minutes before baking, was her magic trick. It gave the baking powder a head start and let the dough relax, making the rolls unbelievably soft and tender. It’s a tiny step—but it makes a big difference. And now, it’s yours too.
FAQ
Can you make bread rolls without yeast?
Yes, you can absolutely make bread rolls without yeast! Quick dinner rolls no yeast use baking powder or baking soda as leavening agents instead. These ingredients create carbon dioxide through a chemical reaction rather than fermentation. The result is fluffy, delicious rolls ready in 30 minutes instead of hours. They have a slightly different texture—more like biscuits—but are perfect for last-minute meals when you need homemade bread quickly.
What is a substitute for yeast in dinner rolls?
Baking powder is the best substitute for yeast in dinner rolls. One tablespoon of baking powder replaces one packet of yeast in most rolls no yeast recipes. Other alternatives include a combination of baking soda and an acid (like buttermilk or lemon juice), self-rising flour (which already contains baking powder), or sourdough starter discard. These substitutes work through chemical reactions that produce carbon dioxide, creating rise without fermentation waiting time.
What kind of bread is made without yeast?
Many delicious breads are made without yeast. Quick breads like banana bread, cornbread, and soda bread don't require yeast. Rolls no yeast (often called biscuit-style rolls), flatbreads like naan and tortillas, and indigenous breads like Native American fry bread also use alternative leavening. Sourdough discard breads, pancakes, and certain regional specialties like Irish soda bread all rise beautifully without commercial yeast while offering unique flavors and textures.
Are there any breads that don't contain yeast?
Yes, many breads don't contain yeast! Traditional options include Irish soda bread, Australian damper, and various flatbreads (pita, roti, tortillas). Rolls no yeast recipes use baking powder or baking soda instead. Quick breads like banana bread, zucchini bread, and beer bread rise without yeast. These breads have been staples across cultures for centuries, offering faster preparation than yeast breads while still providing delicious results for soups, stews, and meals.
From Dough to Delicious in 30 Minutes—No Yeast Required
These Dinner Rolls No Yeast are proof that homemade bread doesn’t have to be complicated. In just 30 minutes, with basic pantry ingredients and zero rise time, you’ll have warm, buttery rolls ready to serve. Whether it’s a busy weeknight, a last-minute dinner, or a holiday surprise, this recipe has your back—no yeast, no problem.
What makes it even better? You can pair these quick rolls with cozy soups, hearty mains, or even enjoy them solo with a slather of jam. They’re a true go-to for anyone craving comfort in a hurry.
Tried and loved this Rolls No Yeast recipe? We’d love to hear your take! Drop your experience or favorite twist in the comments below.
And if you're in the mood to keep baking, don’t miss our Rustic Artisan Whole Wheat Bread Recipe—perfect for a slow, satisfying baking day. Or try our sweet and fluffy Heavenly Strawberry Banana Bread Muffins for a breakfast treat that’s as dreamy as it sounds.
Happy baking—and remember, delicious doesn’t have to wait!
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Dinner Rolls No Yeast
Easy Rolls No Yeast
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl Large, for mixing dry ingredients
- 1 Pastry cutter Or two forks, to cut in butter
- 1 Baking Pan or Cast Iron Skillet For baking the rolls
- 1 Pastry brush To brush butter on top
- 1 Bench Scraper or Knife To portion dough
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 cup Cold butter Cubed
- 1 cup Cold milk Dairy or non-dairy
- 2 tablespoon Melted butter For brushing
- – – Optional herbs Rosemary thyme, or garlic powder to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven
- Mix dry ingredients
- Cut in cold butter
- Add milk and stir to combine
- Shape the dough into rolls
- Let shaped rolls rest 5–10 minutes
- Brush tops with melted butter
- Bake for 15–18 minutes
- Cool for 5 minutes before serving
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