These Cheddar Dinner Rolls have a soft and fluffy texture with rich cheddar cheese flavor. These easy pan rolls are the perfect addition to any meal.

For another delicious make from scratch dinner roll recipe, check out my Sweet Potato Rolls.

Making rolls from scratch doesn’t have to be a difficult process. This easy Cheddar Dinner Roll recipe calls for instant yeast which makes them less fussy than regular yeast roll recipes. If you want homemade rolls on your Thanksgiving menu, less fussy is definitely a bonus. The last thing we need are side dishes that stress us out on the big day!

You don’t even need to get your stand mixer dirty. You’ll just need a mixing bowl and wooden spoon for this recipe.

A little shredded cheddar cheese adds flavor and creates a gorgeous golden hue as the rolls bake. Leftovers are delicious stuffed with leftover turkey or ham or for dipping into a big bowl of soup or chili.

Dry ingredients: All-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, and rapid rise instant yeast.
Wet ingredients: Butter and either 2% or whole milk.
Cheese: Shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Egg: The rolls are brushed with a lightly beaten egg before baking to enhance their golden hue.

1. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast.
2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, then add the milk and warm the mixture until it reaches 120- to 130 degrees F. when tested with an instant read thermometer.
3. Add the warm milk mixture to the dry ingredients, and mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
4. Stir in the cheese and ½ cup flour.

1. Start adding the remaining flour, in small increments.
2. Add only as much flour as you need to make a soft, sticky dough. You may not need full amount.
3. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until nearly doubled, about 45 minutes.
4. Once the dough has nearly doubled in size, punch it down by pressing down into it with your fist, to deflate it.

1. Use a bench scraper or sharp knife to cut the dough in half.
2. Then, cut each half in half again for 4 pieces. Then, cut each quarter into 3 even sized pieces for a total of 12.
3. Use your hands to shape the dough into neat balls and place them in a circular pattern in a greased 9-inch round baking dish (like a metal cake pan), leaving a little space in between the rolls.
4. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let the rolls rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the rolls to lightly coat with them with beaten egg. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Fresh yeast: Check the expiration date on your yeast before beginning. Yeast typically has a shelf life of one to two years but sometimes we buy these types of ingredients over the holidays and don’t realize they’ve expired the next time we go to use them.

Use a thermometer: The key to any yeast bread recipe is ensuring the temperature of the liquid added to the yeast is in the range of 120- to 130 degrees F. when tested with an instant read thermometer. In this range, the liquid will do it’s job to activate the yeast properly. An inexpensive meat thermometer will do the trick.

Amount of flour: A lot of variables can affect the moisture of yeast dough so never add the entire amount of flour all at once. Instead, add it in small increments and stop when you have a dough that holds together but is still soft and sticky.

Brush lightly: Use a light hand when brushing the risen rolls with the beaten egg to avoid deflating the dough.

Browning: The addition of cheese enhances the browning of these rolls. If they are browning more than you’d like, lightly lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the pan towards the end of the baking time.

Big batch: This recipe can be doubled and baked in two 9-inch round pans to be sure you’ll have plenty for leftover sandwiches the next day.

Store leftover rolls in an airtight container, like a zippered plastic storage bag, and store at room temperature.

More Yeast Bread Recipes

Homemade Cheesy Breadsticks

Homemade English Muffins

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Sweet Potato Rolls

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