Whether it’s a big holiday meal or just a weeknight meat loaf supper, it’s nice to have an extra side on the table, especially when that side is a basket full of freshly baked rolls.
But let’s be real: making bread from scratch while you’re also putting together Easter dinner (or just trying to whip up a weeknight dinner) isn’t always in the cards. Frozen dinner rolls, however, are a different story. Pop a few in the oven and you’re on your way to a dinner complete with a breadbasket—bonus points if you pair it with some flavored butter.
What We Were Looking for in Frozen Dinner Rolls
The question is, though, what frozen rolls are actually worth browning and serving on your dinner table? Just because these buns aren’t made from scratch doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor and texture.
That’s why the Taste of Home Test Kitchen snagged five popular frozen rolls, popped them in the oven and let me test them with a handful of carb-loving colleagues. Here are the different rolls that we tried: Pepperidge Farm Stone-Baked Artisan French Rolls, Rhodes French Dinner Rolls, Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls, Sister Schubert’s Dinner Yeast Rolls, Udi’s Classic French Dinner Rolls (these are gluten-free).
While these rolls differ a bit—some are considered French bread, some plain yeast rolls—what we all wanted in a good bun was the same: homemade flavor, good texture and ready for buttering or soaking up that last bit of beef stew.
(A Very Close) Runner-Up: Pepperidge Farm Stone-Baked Artisan French Rolls
Score: 9.2/10
Out of the five options we tested, two types of rolls really rose to the top. Pepperidge Farms’ French rolls were one of our absolute favorites (they came in a fraction of a point below our top pick).
These rolls were so tasty. They were crusty on the outside, like a good French bread should be, and were aerated and a bit chewy on the inside—perfect for serving with one of these soup recipes.
We also loved the appearance. Each roll looked just a bit different than the next, so they didn’t have that mass-produced feel that you can get with a lot of store-bought goods. In fact, they looked so perfectly rustic we bet you could present them as homemade—or at least something you picked up at the local bakery—if you really wanted.
These rolls were a bit pricey for just eight buns (at least in comparison to our first-place winner), but we think they’re just the thing to have in your freezer. They’ll come in handy for entertaining or dressing up a weeknight supper.
And while we’re talking about Pepperidge Farm, check out our favorite Pepperidge Farm cookies.
$3.49 for a package of eight.
Best in Show: Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls
Score: 9.5/10
Rhodes frozen rolls, the brand you think of when you think frozen rolls, won this taste test. This shouldn’t have been much of a surprise, though—Rhodes also took the top spot in our cinnamon roll taste test.
At first blush, we thought that these frozen dinner rolls looked a little, well, basic. Compared to some of the fancier-looking rolls, we were unsure that they’d meet our standards. But rest assured, these Rhodes rolls were everything we were looking for in a good bun and more. These rolls were super light and soft with the perfect crust on the outside. The flavor was yeasty, slightly sweet and ready for all the butter and honey we slathered on top.
We found ourselves going in for an extra roll or two of this batch and discussing how we’d prepare them at home. The consensus was that these rolls would be perfect alongside a cozy stew or anything served with gravy. Simply, as one tester wrote on her score sheet, “the perfect little bun: soft, buttery and fluffy.”
$3.99 for a package of 36.
The Bottom Line
You may think that a simple dinner roll might not differ from brand to brand, but this test proved us wrong! Pepperidge Farm and Rhodes (the classic rather than the French roll option) were the best of the bunch by a mile. The others just fell short for us carb-cravers. They were too sweet or too soft or, in the case of Udi’s, just not satisfying to us.
The good news is that both Rhodes and Pepperidge Farm rolls are easy to find—you can snag them at your local Walmart, Target or major grocery chain. That means a quick basket of dinner rolls—be they for major entertaining or just weeknights—is never far away.
Got Some Time? Try These From-Scratch Rolls
I remember my mom making these rolls almost every Saturday so they'd be ready to bake on Sunday for company or someone just dropping by. Although they take a little time to prepare, they're really not all that difficult to make. And there's nothing in the stores that can compare to them! —Jean Fox, Welch, Minnesota
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Even though these are whole wheat rolls they have a light texture and are soft and tender. This recipe reminds me of lots of happy meals with my family.—Wilma Orlano, Carroll, Iowa
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These light, pleasant-tasting rolls complement almost any entree. With the chive filling swirled through the golden bread, they're attractive enough for special occasions. -Ann Niemela, Ely, Minnesota
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These four-ingredient rolls from Glenda Trail of Manchester, Tennessee are ready in no time. And they taste great with herb butter or jam. —Glenda Trail, Manchester, Tennessee
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This roll recipe is easy and versatile. I like to mix up the dough beforehand and let it rise in the refrigerator. The rolls brown nicely and are wonderful served warm. —Sharon Mensing, Greenfield, Iowa
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After I discovered this recipe, it became a mainstay for me. I make the dough ahead of time when company is coming, and I try to keep some in the refrigerator to bake for our ranch hands. Leftover mashed potatoes are almost sure to go into these rolls. —Jeanette McKinney, Belleview, Missouri
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These light, golden rolls have a heavenly homemade flavor and aroma. Mom never hesitates to whip up a batch of these from-scratch rolls, since they're a delightful way to round out a meal. —Debra Falkiner, St. Charles, Missouri
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Most people tell me what they like best about these rolls is they're so moist. I like them because they're simple to make, freeze well and because I grew up on oatmeal and still love it! —Jeanette Fuehring, Concordia, Missouri
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These puffy dinner rolls take on rich color when you add squash to the dough. Any squash variety works. I've even used cooked carrots. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida
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Big pizza flavor comes through in these rolls, thanks to the peppers, mushrooms, olives and pepperoni. This recipe makes two pans of rolls, and you can make the dough in a bread machine. —Barb Downie, Peterborough, Ontario
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Most of the farmers in our area grow wheat, so this recipe definitely represents my region. I bake these rolls often, especially when I'm making soup or stew. —Celecia Stoup, Hobart, Oklahoma
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These versatile rolls are so welcome served warm alongside any dinner. I always make a big batch since my family enjoys them after they're cool, too, stuffed with a filling like egg salad or ham salad. —Mary Bickel, Terre Haute, Indiana
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This dinner roll, slightly sweet and so very flaky, was my mother’s recipe. It’s simple to prepare because you don’t need to have any kneading skills, and the dough is easy to handle. My grandchildren have renamed them Grandma’s Croissants! —Bernice Smith, Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota
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These tender rolls are a family favorite, and we sometimes have more than 20 people around the table. Make the dough in advance and bake when you're ready. —Barb Linnerud, Boiling Springs, South Carolina
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People tend to snap up these fluffy, golden rolls, in a hurry whenever I take them to a potluck. It's a nice contribution since rolls are easy to transport, and one batch goes a long way. — Carol Forcum, Marion, Illinois
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These wholesome rolls are a pleasant addition to any entree. I get so many requests for them at holiday time. I make about 100 dozen in December! —Ula Kessler, Liberty Center, Ohio
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I received this recipe from an email pen pal in Canada. The dough is so easy to work with, and it makes the lightest yeast rolls. I haven't used another white bread recipe since I started making this one. -Carrie Ormsby, West Jordan, Utah
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These rolls are golden and have a subtle cornmeal flavor.—Carol Forcum, Marion, Illinois
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My grandma (I called her Baba) made these in her coal oven. How she regulated the temperature is beyond me! She always made extra rolls for the neighbors to bake in their own ovens. At lunchtime, my mom and aunts delivered the formed rolls. —Charlotte Hendershot, Hudson, Pennsylvania
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These delightful golden rolls are always requested at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The recipe is one we’ve enjoyed for years. —Vivian Eccles, Gridley, Kansas
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Since receiving this easy-to-prepare recipe from a dear friend, I've made these rolls often for the holidays. —Geraldine West, Ogden, Utah
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These rolls have been a favorite of ours for nearly 25 years. I even baked them in an old wood stove when we lived on a farm. I developed the recipe using several techniques I learned while studying the art of bread making. The recipe won a blue ribbon at our county fair. —Mary Ann Evans, Tarpon Springs, Florida
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These rolls melt in your mouth. I loved them as a child, and I'm happy to make them for my kids because I know I am creating those same wonderful memories my mom made for me! —Gayleen Grote, Battle View, North Dakota
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Whenever we have rolls and coffee after church, these come along with me. Here on the high plains, we've been raising cattle, wheat and daughters for 30 years. Our two oldest are grown, and our youngest just began college. —Betty Ann Wolery, Joplin, Montana
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My family loves these rolls and requests them often. They don't take long to make because you use quick-rise yeast. —Connie Storckman, Evanston, Wyoming
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My mom, Velma Perkins, loved to serve these light, golden rolls when I was growing up on our Iowa farm. They're extra nice since they require no kneading. The dough rises in the refrigerator overnight, so there's little last-minute fuss to serve fresh hot rolls with any meal. —Toni Hilscher Omaha, Nebraska
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Serve these spicy-sweet pumpkin rolls for dinner—or any time of day—and get ready to hear a chorus of "yums" in your kitchen! —Linnea Rein, Topeka, Kansas
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These fluffy rolls go perfectly with any meal. They have a delicious homemade flavor that's irresistible. I like them because they're not hard to make and they bake up nice and high. —Patricia Staudt, Marble Rock, Iowa
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The appealing homemade yeast-bread flavor of these golden rolls is unbeatable. Soft and light, they're great alongside any entree. Folks are disappointed if I don't bring them to potluck dinners. —Carol Mead, Los Alamos, New Mexico
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These rolls are the lightest, most delicious ones I've ever tasted...and everyone else seems to agree. The pumpkin gives them mild flavor, moist texture and a pretty golden color. At our house, it wouldn't be the holidays without them. —Dianna Shimizu Issaquah, Washington
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This blind taste test was performed by our staff and was not part of a sponsorship. All opinions shared are our own and have not been influenced by advertisers.
The post We Found the Best Frozen Dinner Rolls You Can Buy appeared first on Taste of Home.
Lisa Kaminski
