The best dinner rolls are soft, squishy, substantial, warm, and hearty. Whether they’re savory or sweet, the best bread rolls 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 worth picking up from the grocery store.
Across several 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 of the best store bought dinner rolls to be named the best dinner rolls of them all? Read this list to find out the best dinner rolls for Thanksgiving (or any ol’ night).
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- Kirkland Artisan Rolls
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If you have guests to impress, these massive, striking, ciabatta-esque dinner rolls from Costco look and taste like something on display at a fancy bakery. They have a thick, sturdy crust that’s cut neatly down the middle (perfect for sticking a slab of garlic herb butter) and robust, tangy, sourdough bread quality that elevates them above your standard pack of store bought dinner rolls. Now, that said, Kirkland bakery products typically rank higher for us, but I found these to be pretty tough at room temperature, so make sure to warm them up. And be warned they don’t stand the test of time. Ours went bad in under four days. My family has bought these in the past for holiday hosting, so I know they make some of the best dinner rolls for Thanksgiving and other big gatherings all the same. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Sam’s Choice Sweet Hawaiian Rolls
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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 saccharine or dessert-y; they’re well balanced. 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? If you like the idea of some sweetness to counteract all the salty foods on your dinner plate, these are some of the best bread rolls to buy. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Against the Grain Gourmet Original Rolls Cheese Baked Recipe
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Yes, for a gluten-free option, Against the Grain’s cheese-baked dinner rolls taste pretty good. But that’s not really the point. These stand out for being unique. Our editor-in-chief Justine Sterling likened them to the Brazilian cheese bread pão de queijo. The dough is stretchy, chewy, and a little bit cheesy. They aren’t the best dinner rolls to buy if you’re looking for something classic—but if you want a first course that’s interesting, a real conversation starter, we highly recommend them. (Also, make sure to eat them while they’re still warm! Otherwise, it becomes a little too obvious that you’re eating gluten-free bread.) —Ariana Losch
Read our full ranking of the best gluten free dinner rolls
Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs
- King’s Hawaiian Savory Butter Rolls
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These King’s Hawaiian 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 with butter when you buy them, these are the best dinner rolls for you. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted Brioche Butter Rolls
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As soon as I opened this bag of brioche butter rolls from Nature’s Own, I didn’t even bother with the toaster oven. I just tore right in. Without being warmed, these are still incredibly tender and soft—not a cloudlike softness, since the dough is dense and substantial, but a squishy, buttery softness that’s quite filling and flavorful. Each roll carries a subtle brioche sweetness to balance the tangy wheat, calling for a spread of honey butter like a siren song. I know we’re ranking the best store bought dinner rolls here, but these would make the perfect buns for fried chicken sliders, too. Just sayin’. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Trader Joe’s Organic French Dinner Rolls
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These organic French rolls from Trader Joe’s 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. They’re some of the best store bought dinner rolls to load up with butter, especially if you’re a regular Trader Joe’s shopper. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Bridgford Parkerhouse Style Rolls
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Like our #1 best dinner rolls, you do have to prep these dinner rolls by letting them rise at room temp for a few hours. But good things come to those who wait, because these are pretty heavenly. They strike a great balance between buttery, mildly sweet, decadent yeast rolls and the more classic fluffy dinner rolls, giving the best of both worlds. They’re incredibly soft on the inside, with a thin, delicate crust on the outside that’s oddly satisfying to bite into. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls
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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 complement to all of the savory dishes 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 the best soft dinner rolls to buy for literally any meal, any time of the year. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Sister Schubert Yeast Rolls
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Like our #1 best dinner rolls, you do have to prep these dinner rolls by letting them rise at room temp for a few hours. But good things come to those who wait, because these are pretty heavenly. They strike a great balance between buttery, mildly sweet, decadent yeast rolls and the more classic fluffy dinner rolls, giving the best of both worlds. They’re incredibly soft on the inside, with a thin, delicate crust on the outside that’s oddly satisfying to bite into. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- La Brea Take & Bake French Dinner Rolls
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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
- Rhodes Thaw, Rise & Bake Dinner Rolls
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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
Best for Dinner Party
Best Sweet
Best Gluten Free
Best Already Buttered
Best Brioche Rolls
Best with Butter
Best Classic Dinner Rolls
Best Soft Roll
Best Frozen Yeast Rolls
Best for Italian Food
Best of the Best
Other products we tried: Starter Bros. Garlic Rolls, 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
The texture of Rhodes rolls are a 10/10 but has anybody noticed how bland they are? Not sure if dinner rolls are supposed to be bland to soak up all the flavor of the gravy, as well as butter being added to them…
You put the same commentary for #5 and #3
Don’t sleep on pepperidge farm frozen french rolls!
Okay but Mrs. Shuberts…. That stuffs bomb
Exactly. We have Sister Shubert rolls for every Thanksgiving for the last 15 years. Nothing comes close
Pepperidge Farm Country Dinner Rolls are so good and easy.
I agree the Rhodes rolls are delish!
Sister Schubert’s rolls are fantastic also .