Best Dinner Rolls We Found in a Taste Test

The best dinner rolls are soft, squishy, substantial, warm, and hearty. Whether they’re savory or sweet, these yeasty buns make the perfect accompaniment to your dinner. Store bought dinner rolls are an essential part of any big evening meal, and we at Sporked think these are the best dinner rolls to buy at the grocery store.

In our two in-office taste tests, we encountered two different types of dinner rolls: those that require baking and those that do not. Ready-to-bake dinner rolls are warm and comforting, yet crusty, yeasty, and dense. Meanwhile, no-bake rolls are usually soft, squishy, sugary, and buttery. Both have their virtues. But, what broke through and rose above the rest to be named the best dinner rolls of them all? Read this list to find out the best dinner rolls to buy for your next big dinner. And don’t forget the good butter!

Best Sweet

Yes, there are other sweet rolls on this list. These are really sweet, though. One bite and you know you’re eating a sweet roll. But don’t worry—they’re not too sweet. They’re still balanced. They don’t taste like dessert. Sam’s Choice Sweet Hawaiian Rolls are still a solid dinner choice. These would be so good with honey-baked ham. But once again, what wouldn’t these be good with? Dinner rolls are good! —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Already Buttered

These King’s Hawaiin savory butter rolls are high in saturated fat (8% per tiny roll!), and have less sugar than your average King’s Hawaiin sweet roll. For those reasons, they’re the best dinner rolls to eat totally plain. The smooth, fluffy, squishy texture is only further enhanced by the fatty, buttery quality of these no-bake rolls. You can eat these at room temperature or heat them briefly in the oven or microwave. No matter how you eat or heat them, they are undeniably delicious, no condiments, meats, sides, or butter needed. If you like your rolls to be infused wtih butter when you buy them, these are the best dinner rolls for you. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best with Butter

These organic French rolls are soft, crusty, and savory. There’s a ciabatta vibe happening here that I really adore. These buns beg for some creamy, high-butterfat organic butter. The smooth, creamy decadence of the butter complements the fluffy-yet-crispy dinner roll. These aren’t sweet dinner rolls, but because they’re savory, aromatic, and have a tender crumb, they’re the best store bought dinner rolls to have with butter. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best Soft Roll

King’s Hawaiian original sweet rolls are iconic. They’re just so damn sweet and soft but also wonderfully dense. The flavor is exceptional. A sweet roll is the perfect balance to all of the savory options we eat on Thanksgiving. What better way to balance out dark meat turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing? I personally don’t think that a Thanksgiving meal is complete without these store bought dinner rolls. That being said, these are perfect to enjoy with literally any meal, any time of the year. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best for Italian Food

These are  restaurant-quality, chewy, savory, yeasty French rolls. I love their outer crust; the difference in textures is flat out wonderful. A crusty exterior encases a delightfully fluffy and warm center. You could melt a full tablespoon of butter on one of these and indulge in the decadent simplicity. La Brea Bakery’s Take & Bake French Dinner rolls are soft and squishy with a great crust—something that’s hard to come by at the grocery store. They’re savory, salty, and, most of all, comforting. These are, without a doubt, among the best store bought dinner rolls. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Do you have to let these dinner rolls rise for three to five hours before you cook them? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes! They are not the simplest or easiest dinner rolls to snack on in a pinch, but they are absolutely wonderful for a big dinner or holiday where you’ll be cooking with a few hours notice. Once they rise, they cook up quickly. They are so doughy on the inside and have an incredible crust on the outside. Buy these as soon as possible, because these are the best dinner rolls ever. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other products we tried: Starter Bros. Garlic Rolls, Sister Schubert’s, Alfaro’s, Rhodes, Walmart Potato, Member’s Mark Yeast Rolls, Nature’s Own Butter Brioche, Signature Select Artisan Style, Dots Assorted Dinner Rolls, Whole Foods Market Brioche Dinner Rolls, Artesano Bakery Rolls

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