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Texas Roadhouse Rolls

These Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls are brushed with sweet honey butter and can be made in a bread machine or by hand! A perfect side dish idea for holidays and family dinners!

Love Copycat Recipes? Try my Texas Roadhouse Butter and Steak Rub recipes next!

Several Texas Roadhouse Rolls Stacked up on top of each other, glistening with butter on top

Guys, I’m not a baker by a long shot. So if I can nail down these rolls, you have an amazing shot of doing the same. I’ve been making these rolls for years, it’s the only time you’ll see me with a rolling pin.

The ingredients that you need are incredibly simple, and you can even use a bread maker for these!

Ingredients

  • Active Dry Yeast -See below for using Rapid Rise instead
  • Milk
  • Honey
  • Butter
  • Egg
  • Salt
  • Flour- All-purpose or bread flour may also be used

Subbing Instant/Rapid Rise Yeast for Active Dry

  • Cooks Illustrated recommends using 25% less yeast if using Instant instead of Active Dry.
  • In this recipe, that equates to 1 + 3/4 teaspoons.
  • Combine the yeast with the flour instead of adding it to the warm milk.
  • Proceed as outlined, no need to let the milk stand for 5 minutes after combining it with the honey.

Measuring The Flour

  • Be sure to scoop your flour out with a spoon and level it out at the top. Don’t dip the cup right into the flour or you’ll measure out too much, which will make your rolls dense. 
  • Alternatively, you can weigh the flour. 1 cup of all-purpose or bread flour weighs 120 grams. So 4 cups = 480 grams, be sure to subtract the measuring cup from the weight.

Make Ahead Method

Method 1: Prepare dough and refrigerate overnight

  • Form the dough, let it rise, and shape into rolls. 
  • Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for up to 15 hours. 
  • Remove from the fridge, keep covered, and let rise for up to 1 hour, then bake as outlined.

Method 2: Bake and Reheat

  • Bake for no more than 12 minutes, before the tops start to brown too much.
  • Don’t top them with the melted butter yet. Let them cool completely and store them in an airtight container.
  • When ready to serve, bake for a few minutes at 350°, until the tops are golden brown.
  • Top with melted butter and serve!

Method 3: Freeze Unbaked Rolls

  • Form the dough, let it rise, and shape into rolls. Flash freeze on a baking sheet before the second rise. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag.
  • When ready to bake, remove from freezer bag and let them rise on a lightly greased, covered baking sheet for 4-5 hours prior to baking.

Can You Use a Bread Machine?

  • Yes. Scald the milk first and let it reduce to lukewarm. Then add the ingredients to a bread machine in the order listed in the recipe card and select the dough setting.
  • Once complete, Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and drop the dough inside. Cover the bowl (plastic wrap or a damp cloth works) and let it rise for an hour in a warm place.
  • Punch down the dough and roll it out on a flat, floured surface until it’s about ½ inch thick. Fold it in half and gently seal.
  • From there, proceed with rolling and cutting the rolls. Place them on baking sheets, cover, and let them rise until doubled in size.
  • Bake and brush with butter. Serve with honey butter if desired!

Round ball of roll dough on floured wooden surface

Side by side images of risen roll dough and punching it down

Side by side images of rolled out roll dough and folding it in half

How to Make Dough Rise:

Dough needs a warm environment in order to rise. If you’re having trouble, try these tricks. Note: it may take the dough longer to rise with these methods:

Method #1: (👉My favorite) Oven:  This trick works great! Heat your oven to 200° for 2 minutes, then shut the heat off. Cover the dough with a dish towel (no plastic wrap in the oven),  and shut the door to trap the warm air inside. Let it rise!

Method #2: Place a baking tray on the bottom rack in the oven. Remove the top rack. Boil water and pour it into the tray, then place the bowl of dough on top and close the door.

-Method #3: (Assuming you have a warm place for the dough to rise but it still isn’t)-Take a new package of active dry yeast and mix it with 1/4 cup of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes until it starts to foam. Knead the yeast mixture into the dough, and place it in a warm place to rise.

Side by side images of cutting roll dough and placing rolls on baking sheet

Side by side images of risen roll dough

How Do You Scald Milk and Why?

Scalding milk is the first step in this recipe, and it requires you to bring the milk to a near boil, remove it from the heat, and allow it to come down in temperature.

-Scalding milk helps to ensure that the dough is light and fluffy by killing the protein in the milk, which keeps the gluten intact. The gluten is what aids in the breakdown of the sugar and yeast, which in turn allows it to rise.

What to Serve with Texas Roadhouse Rolls

Three texas roadhouse rolls stacked on top of each other, shining with melted butter on top

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Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls

4.91 from 223 ratings
These Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls are brushed with sweet honey butter and can be made in a bread machine or by hand! A perfect side dish idea for holidays and family dinners!

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup Milk
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon Active Dry Yeast, or 1 packet
  • ¼ cup Honey
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter, divided
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (489 grams) all-purpose or bread flour

Instructions

  • If using a bread machine, see next section below.
  • Bring the milk to a near boil. Remove it from heat when you see it begin to steam and small bubbles form on the side of the pan. Let it reduce to lukewarm, between 80-90 degrees.
  • Mix the milk, yeast, and honey in a small bowl until well combined. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of the butter, the milk mixture, the room temperature egg, salt, and half of the flour. Mix slowly until smooth. (Use a mixer with a dough hook if you have one, or by hand.) Gradually add the remaining flour and mix until a dough has formed.
  • Mix/knead for 8 minutes. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for a few more minutes.
  • Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place the dough inside. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for an hour in a warm place.
  • Punch down the dough and roll it out on a flat, floured surface until it’s about ½ inch thick. Fold it in half and gently seal.
  • Cut into 24 squares of even size and place on 2 light, lightly-greased baking sheets. Cover and let them rise for 30-40 minutes, until doubled in size.
  • Preheat oven to 350° F and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the top is a light golden brown.
  • Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and brush the top of the rolls.

If using a Bread Machine:

  • Bring the milk to a near boil. Remove it from heat when you see it begin to steam and small bubbles form on the side of the pan. Let it reduce to lukewarm, between 80-90 degrees.
  • Add the milk, honey, butter, egg, and salt to the bread machine. Add the flour and create a small hole in the middle of the flour, don't let liquid inside the hole. Place the yeast in the hole.
  • Set the bread machine to the dough cycle, let it do the work from there.
  • Once complete, Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place the dough inside. Cover the bowl (plastic wrap or a damp cloth works) and let it rise for an hour in a warm place.
  • Punch down the dough and roll it out on a flat, floured surface until it’s about ½ inch thick. Fold it in half and gently seal.
  • Cut into 24 squares of even size and place on a 2 lightly greased and lightly colored baking sheets. Cover them and let them rise for 30-40 minutes,, until doubled in size.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the top is a light golden brown.
  • Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and brush the top of the rolls. Serve with Copycat Texas Roadhouse Butter.

Notes

  • Make Ahead Method: Check out the blog post for 3 make-ahead options!
  • Make sure your yeast is fresh and not expired!

Subbing Instant/Rapid Rise Yeast for Active Dry:
  • Cooks Illustrated recommends using 25% less yeast if using Instant instead of Active Dry.
  • In this recipe, that equates to 1 + 3/4 teaspoons.
  • Combine the yeast with the flour instead of adding it to the warm milk.
  • Proceed as outlined, no need to let the milk stand for 5 minutes after combining it with the honey.

Measuring the Flour:
  • Be sure to scoop your flour out with a spoon and level it out at the top. Don't dip the cup right into the flour or you'll measure out too much, which will make your rolls dense. 
  • Bread flour or all-purpose flour both work well in this recipe.
  • Alternatively, you can weigh the flour. 1 cup of all-purpose or bread flour weighs 120 grams. So 4 cups = 480 grams, be sure to subtract the measuring cup from the weight.

If your dough doesn't rise:
If you're baking on a chilly Fall or Winter day, it might be tougher to get your dough to rise as it needs to do so in a warm place. These tricks can get you out of a bind, just note that it may take longer for your dough to rise if these methods are needed:
-Method #1: Preheat the oven to 315 degrees and place the bowl on top of a warm spot on the oven. For me, the warmest spot is right in the front of the oven between the front two burners.
-Method #2: Place a baking tray on the bottom rack in the oven. Remove the top rack. Boil water and pour it into the tray, then place the bowl of dough on top and close the door.
-Method #3: (Assuming you have a warm place for the dough to rise but it still isn’t)-Take a new package of yeast and mix it with 1/4 cup of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes until it starts to foam. Knead the yeast mixture into the dough, and place it in a warm place to rise.

Nutrition

Calories: 117kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 122mg, Potassium: 54mg, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 90IU, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 1mg
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These sweet and buttery Copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls are just like from the restaurant itself! They have a hint of sweetness and pair perfectly with homemade honey butter. | The Cozy Cook| #Baking #Rolls #CopycatRecipes #TexasRoadhouse #Dough #Bread #Sides #SideDishes

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829 comments on “Texas Roadhouse Rolls”

  1. I have attempted to make dinner rolls from scratch and filled miserably. They’ve always come out as hard as a rock, so hard my teeth couldn’t bite off pieces my poor husband Took it upon himself to prove that the taste was there just not the The texture LOL. He ate all 24 by himself, anyway! I was scared to try these they sounded too good to be true. As I was making them I had a good feeling the dough felt light and after an hour of rising and tripled in size I made the rules bake them and when they came out they were the best butter dinner rolls ever! You are the best You honestly made me a hero here at home! The closest Texas roadhouse is 50 minutes away and the way brought some bread home for my daughter she was sad she couldn’t be there when they were out of the oven this made up for that they are the best! I wonder if I could use this recipe to make pizza crust? Thanks again!!

    • WOOOOOOOOO, SUCCESS!!! I’m soooo happy that these worked out well for you! I have to say, I’m no bread maker so I was just as ecstatic when they turned out well for me too!!! I am REALLY curious now about the pizza dough idea and I’m thinking that might just work!! The flavor would be so perfect, I’m going to have to try that sometime SOON… thank you for the excellent idea!!! And for sharing your success story, it truly made my week!

  2. So good! Best copycat recipe for sure!

  3. Rolls are good but not sweet enough (we went to Roadhouse for lunch and brought rolls home to try and duplicate with this recipe). Liked the idea of folding the dough in half, but it makes them much thicker than Roadhouse. They use one layer and cut them on the sheet and let them rise from there. The butter recipe was close, but they use a very mild honey and more butter. Will be tweaking and trying again.

    • Hi Jessica! I like that you brought some rolls home to compare, I’ll have to try that sometime!!! If you have success during round two, let me know! 🙂

  4. Is it possible to make these rolls the night before up to cutting them and putting them on the cookie sheet? Then taking them out letting them get to room temp to double before baking? I’ve made cinnamon rolls before where this was possible. Have you ever tried this?

    • Hi Katlyn, I haven’t tried this myself, but I would be very surprised if it didn’t work. I think that is a very popular method for many types of breads and rolls, I would give it a go!

      • Great! Thank you so much for your input – I will let you know how it goes!

      • Awesome, best of luck!!! I did a little extra research after my response to you and I still say it’s going to work! Letting them get to room temp and doubling prior to baking is the key I think! 🙂 Have fun, enjoy! Looking forward to hearing how they come out!

  5. These look so good. I plan on making them tomorrow. Thanks for the post and Merry Christmas.

    • Wahooooo! What a great addition to Christmas Diane!! I hope you love them and have a very Merry Christmas!!! 🎄

      • They were a hit. Definitely will make them again. I’ve never made yeast rolls before they were so easy.Thanks again.

      • I’m soooooo happy that they turned out well for you Diane!!!! Thank you for letting me know. I really need to make another batch soon!!!

  6. Question, I see some copycat recipes for Texas Roadhouse Rolls that call for sugar and some for honey…what’s the difference to the final product?

    • Hi Shannon, there are a few differences, one being that using honey will result in more moist rolls. It also helps to brown the rolls more than sugar would 🙂 I hope you get to try them!

      • I will be making them for Christmas and will use honey…just wanted to ask before deciding which to use 🙂 Thank you!
        Merry Christmas.

      • Great!! I love using honey with these, I hope you enjoy them and have a very Merry Christmas as well Shannon! 🙂

  7. Hi!

    These have to be me and my son’s favorite rolls and I’m just about to get get started on them. But for the yeast, can I use instant? It’s not specified what kind of yeast in the recipe and I really don’t wanna mess this up! Thank you!

  8. I just made this recipe to the t and I wouldn’t change a thing it’s amazing ! And the only problem i found is I can’t stop eating them lol. Thank you !

    • Kara, I totally know what you mean!! We have serious issues in our house after I make a batch of these… I watch my husband actually eat them like pieces of popcorn, haha! I’m so glad that your batch came out just as tasty!!!! 🙂

  9. Our Grandson is celebrating his 21st birthday tomorrow and I thought I would surprise his with one of his favorite foods (rolls)! The only issue I see in the recipe is that I may have to make another batch to carry with me to his birthday party because I don’t think there will be enough of these left!

    Thanks for sharing.

    • Excellent, Mick! What a great addition to a birthday party!! My husband eats a batch of these incredibly quickly!! I hope they were a hit!

  10. I’m not much of a bake so need as much help as I can get on the bread front, these look delicious and very moorish!

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