While baking fresh rolls traditionally takes time, using an air fryer to make Air Fryer Dinner Rolls can speed up the process without sacrificing that soft, pillowy texture. This recipe uses pantry ingredients to make delicious dinner rolls from scratch!
These air fryer dinner rolls come together with simple ingredients, perfect for holiday meals, family dinners, or any time you crave freshly baked bread. Plus, making them from scratch means you can control the ingredients for a wholesome, delicious result!
Air Fryer Dinner Rolls will use pantry-style ingredients that are likely already in your pantry or cupboard. These rolls are a classic that is a must at Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or on your holiday table.
Why you’ll love this Air Fryer Dinner Roll Recipe:
- Pantry Ingredients!
- Ready in minutes!
- Pillowy, soft texture!
- Easy to make in advance and store until ready to serve!
What ingredients do you need for Air Fryer Dinner Rolls?
- Water
- Active Dry Yeast
- Granulated Sugar
- Olive Oil
- Large Eggs
- All-Purpose Flour
- Kosher Salt
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Mix slightly until the yeast activates.
- Once activated it will foam, then add in the oil and egg, mix well to combine.
- Add in the flour and salt.
- Mix the flour until it’s incorporated, you can use a stand mixer or a dough whisk to mix this together. A regular whisk does not work as well because the dough gets trapped. This needs to be mixed until well combined and all the flour is in a nice ball, you can use hands to mix this and finish it as well.
- Once you have a nice dough ball, place it into an oiled bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 hour or at least double in size.
- Place the dough on a working surface and cut it into 7 pieces about 3oz each.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper, then place the rolls on the parchment.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water.
- Use a pastry brush to brush onto the dough, giving an egg wash to each roll.
- Air Fry at 320 degrees F for 10-11 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches at least 190°F.
- Carefully remove the rolls and place on a cooling rack.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Can you make these in the Ninja Foodi?
This recipe can be made in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer or Multi-Cooker the same way as listed in these instructions, just use Air Crisp instead.
They can be made in ANY Air Fryer Machine using the same cooking times and temperature. As always though, remember to watch them closely the first time that you make them as some machines tend to heat differently than others.
What parchment paper works best for the Air Fryer?
It’s best to make these using parchment paper so that they do not stick to the bottom of the basket.
Regular parchment paper that’s rolled up on the sides will work as long as air can still circulate; however, it’s even better to use one that is made for the air fryer.
Check out these round or square parchment paper packages, these come with holes in the bottom to keep the air circulating.
Tips for Making Air Fryer Dinner Rolls from Scratch:
If you just need to know how to heat dinner rolls in the air fryer, be sure to check out this dinner rolls recipe this recipe uses Sister Schubert’s Rolls, whereas the one I’m writing about today features from scratch rolls.
To make these warm dinner rolls it’s important to closely follow the full recipe instructions that are listed in the recipe card below.
The most important part is to get your yeast fully activated, so it’s best to have a thermometer to be sure the water you use is warm enough to cause the yeast to get foamy and activate the yeast.
The dough will be combined in a large mixing bowl and kneaded. The dough will need to rise for up to 1 hour to double in size, this will be the longest part of the prep time. Once the dough is ready to cook, it will only take 10-11 minutes at 320 degrees F.
Use a dough whisk to get the flour incorporated as this is best. The dough whisk will keep the flour from getting stuck. Alternatively, a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment can also be used. Remember that it’s best to get the dough incorporated but do not overmix the dough or it will make the rolls dense. It’s best to keep the mixer at a low speed.
A food thermometer is also beneficial to have on hand. This will allow you to be sure the dinner rolls are fully cooked in the middle. These need to reach an internal temperature of 190 degrees F to be considered done.
To get that brown, golden top, an egg wash will be brushed on top of the dough.
Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, this recipe makes 7 dinner rolls. If they do not fit in yours, then do the cooking in batches to make your air fryer rolls.
The rolls will expand so be sure to leave a little bit of room for them to expand during the cooking time.
How do you store leftover dinner rolls?
Store the leftover dinner rolls in an airtight container for up to 2 days. When ready to serve reheat at 300 degrees F for 2-3 minutes in the air fryer. This will make the rolls taste freshly baked all over again.
These homemade air fryer dinner rolls offer that bakery-quality softness with a fraction of the cooking time. These rolls are perfect for a small-scale holiday dinner, freeing up oven space for your ham or turkey!
Air Fryer Dinner Rolls from Scratch
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup Warm Water (95-100 Degrees F)
- 1 Tbsp Active Dry Yeast
- 2 Tbsp Cane Sugar or Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Large Egg
- 2 1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
Egg Wash
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 Tbsp Water
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Mix slightly until the yeast activates.
- Once activated it will foam, then add in the oil and egg, mix well to combine.
- Add in the flour and salt.
- Mix the flour until it's incorporated, you can use a stand mixer or a dough whisk to mix this together. A regular whisk does not work as well because the dough gets trapped. This needs to be mixed until well combined and all the flour is in a nice ball, you can use hands to mix this and finish it as well.
- Once you have a nice dough ball, place it into an oiled bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 hour or at least double in size.
- Place the dough on a working surface and cut it into 7 pieces about 3oz each.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper, then place the rolls on the parchment.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water.
- Use a pastry brush to brush onto the dough, giving an egg wash to each roll.
- Air Fry at 320°F for 10-11 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches at least 190°F.
- Carefully remove the rolls and place on a cooling rack.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Eliese says
My new air fryer has a baking function – should I air dry or bake? It’s nifty, I just am not sure how to use the other functions since everything usually says to air fry 🙂
Kristy says
You’d use air fry for any of these recipes.
Mary Chevalier says
Do you not preheat before cooking the rolls
Kristy says
I do not, thanks!