If you’ve ever sat down at a Texas Roadhouse and devoured those soft, buttery rolls before your meal even arrived — you’re not alone! My copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls are the ultimate homemade treat, and I’m excited to share the recipe that brings that pillowy, sweet perfection right to your kitchen.

My family makes these rolls every year for Thanksgiving, and they’ve become a beloved tradition at our table. Over the years, I’ve tested and fine-tuned this recipe to capture that soft texture and hint of sweetness, plus the signature honey cinnamon butter on the side. Whether you’re making them for a holiday feast, Sunday dinner, or just because you’re craving fresh-baked bread, these rolls are guaranteed to impress — and disappear fast!

Ingredients Needed to Make These Rolls

Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. Scroll down to the full recipe card for the specific amounts.

ingredients on counter: yeast in bowl, butter, sugar, milk, salt, egg, flour , cinnamon, and honey

Water, lukewarm
Granulated sugar
Active dry yeast – this is an instant yeast that comes in a jar or individual packets
Whole milk
Butter, unsalted
Salt
Egg
Bread flour
Cinnamon
Honey

For the whipped cinnamon honey butter:

1/4 cup butter, unsalted, room temperature
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

How To Make Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls with Cinnamon Butter

Here are my step-by-step instructions so you can make this recipe with ease. For the full, printable recipe with amounts and temperatures, scroll down to the recipe card below.

four photos: ingredients in mixing bowl, dough stirred together, dough made into balls in casserole dish

This may seem like a lot of instructions, but when working with yeast there are several steps, but nothing is hard!

For the Rolls:

In the bowl of a stand mixer add the lukewarm water (make sure it’s not hot or it will kill the yeast), 1 teaspoon of sugar, and the yeast. Let this mixture sit for approximately 5 minutes. This will activate the yeast.
Add the remaining sugar, milk, butter, and salt to the yeast mixture and stir together to combine. Add in one egg and mix to combine.
Add the flour one cup at a time, and mix together for a few minutes on medium speed. Be sure to scrape the dough from the sides of the bowl.
Next, using the dough hook attachment on your mixer, knead the dough for 4 minutes. Just turn the mixer on and let it stir, pulling the dough from the sides of the bowl.
Place one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a separate medium-sized mixing bowl and spread around the bottom and sides of the bowl. This will prevent the bread dough from sticking to the bowl as it rises.
Place the bread dough into the greased bowl and flip to cover the dough in oil.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let rise for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
Put parchment paper or a silpat liner on a baking sheet and set aside.
Remove the dough from the bowl and put on floured surface (just a small amount of flour), and divide into 12 equal pieces. You can use a knife or a pizza cutter to divide the dough. I like to use a dough scraper.
Round each piece into a smooth ball and place it on the baking sheet. Repeat until all 12 rolls are on the sheet.
Cover the rolls with a kitchen towel and let them rise again in a warm place. This second rise f is only about a half hour.
Let the dough rise and, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Place the rolls in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, until just golden brown.

While rolls are in the oven, make the whipped cinnamon butter.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl whisk together butter, sugar, honey, and cinnamon until creamy and smooth. Place in a small serving dish to serve with warm rolls.
When rolls are done, remove from the oven and brush with melted butter while the rolls are still hot. Serve with cinnamon butter.

baked rolls in casserole dish with cinnamon butter on the side

One of the biggest things you need to do is make certain that you’re using active yeast. Many people have yeast in their home but after a while, it actually “dies” and won’t fluff up your bread recipes any longer.
To test your yeast, fill a small bowl with warm water and then add in about a teaspoon of yeast. Give it some time and then check back on the bowl. If the yeast is still “active” it should have foamed up in the bowl. This means it’s good to use.
If it doesn’t foam up, you need to toss it out as it’s no longer active and won’t help your bread rise. By using fresh yeast, this will ensure you’ll end up with fluffy rolls

Can You Make Roll Dough Ahead of Time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough the day before and refrigerate it after the first rise. Just bring it to room temperature before shaping and baking. This is a great option for holiday meal prep.

rolls in baking dish with one cut in half with cinnamon butter spread on it

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate – If you have leftover rolls, store them in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 2 days. For slightly longer storage, refrigerate them for up to 4–5 days — just note they may firm up a bit, so reheat gently before serving.
Freezing – To freeze baked rolls, let them cool completely after baking. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place them in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep well for up to 2 months. To serve, thaw at room temperature and warm in the oven (wrapped in foil) at 300°F for about 10–15 minutes until soft and heated through.
Freezing Unbaked Doug – You can also freeze the shaped, unbaked rolls after the first rise. Place them on a parchment-lined tray and freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, let them thaw and rise at room temperature for several hours, then bake as directed.
Reheating – For that fresh-from-the-oven feel, brush reheated rolls with a little melted butter just before serving — it brings back the softness and shine.

How Do You Soften Hard Rolls?

The first day that you make rolls, they’re all nice and soft and fresh. But with each passing day, it gets harder and harder to have that fluffy texture. It’s just natural and nothing to do with you.

The good news is that you can easily make the rolls soft and fluffy again by popping them in the microwave for a few short seconds of time. 10-15 seconds should zap them enough to have them warm and fresh! Then just add your butter and you’re good to go!

What Toppings Go Great on Rolls?

I know that we’re all huge fans of the cinnamon butter but there are other toppings that you can add. The best part about rolls is that they can take on so many different flavors fast.

Some topping ideas for rolls include:

Jam
Jellies
Honey
Salted or Unsalted Butter

What Do You Serve with Homemade Rolls?

These are the best rolls and are soft and delicious so they go with so many meals. Serve them at the holidays with your turkey or ham. Or make a bowl of soup and have these rolls and softened butter on the side.

You can even use these rolls as a holder for meat and cheese, too! You might want to double the recipe and make an extra batch of these rolls for easy additions to breakfast, lunch, and dinner.