10 Best Ways To Use Leftover Dinner Rolls

Have leftover dinner rolls on hand from a holiday feast or a large dinner party? Learn the 10 Best Ways To Use Leftover Dinner Rolls in easy recipes so they don’t go to waste!

Whenever I host a holiday dinner whether it’s Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas, I always seem to end up with leftover dinner rolls because coming from a big Italian family . . . I make too much.

Since I hate wasting food, I’ve come up with ways to use up leftover dinner rolls and turn them into something delicious! And just a quick note on bread waste, Don’t waste your leftover hot dog buns or hamburger buns either! Instead, learn the 10 Best Ways To Use Leftover Hot Dog Buns or hamburger buns!

📖How To Store Dinner Rolls After Baking

Baked dinner rolls can get stale FAST! Make sure you’re storing them properly so you can use every last bready bite!

• 1️⃣Cool Completely: Before storing, allow the dinner rolls to cool completely at room temperature. This helps to prevent moisture build-up, which can lead to mold.
• 2️⃣Bag or Container: Place the dinner rolls in a resealable plastic bag or an airtight container. If using a bag, squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.
• 3️⃣Room Temperature Storage: If you plan to consume the rolls within 1-2 days, they can be kept at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
• 4️⃣Refrigeration: For longer storage (up to one week), you can keep the sealed bag or container in the refrigerator.
• 5️⃣Freezing Dinner Rolls: For storage beyond a week, consider freezing the rolls. This will keep them fresh for up to three months. To reheat, thaw them at room temperature and then warm in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for a few minutes.

🍞10 Leftover Dinner Roll Recipes

Bread Pudding

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 6-8 dinner rolls, 2 cups milk, 1 cup sugar, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
• 2️⃣Tear the dinner rolls into small pieces. In a bowl, combine the milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour the mixture over the bread pieces and let soak for 30 minutes. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45-60 minutes until golden brown.

French Toast

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 4 dinner rolls, 1 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
• 2️⃣Slice the dinner rolls in half. Mix the milk, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon in a bowl. Dip each roll into the mixture and fry in a hot pan until golden brown on each side.

Croutons

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 6 dinner rolls, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
• 2️⃣Cube the dinner rolls. Mix the olive oil, garlic powder, and herbs together, then toss the bread cubes in the mixture. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes or until crispy. Or cook the croutons in the air fryer!

Breadcrumbs

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 4-5 dinner rolls.
• 2️⃣Tear the rolls into pieces, spread them on a baking sheet, and bake at 200°F (93°C) until dry. Then, pulse in a food processor until finely ground.

Bruschetta

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 4 dinner rolls, 2 tomatoes, 1 clove garlic, 1/4 cup basil, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt to taste.
• 2️⃣Dice tomatoes and mix with minced garlic, chopped basil, olive oil, and salt. Slice the dinner rolls, toast them, and top with the tomato mixture.

Meatball Sliders

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 8 dinner rolls, 16 precooked meatballs, 2 cups marinara sauce, 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
• 2️⃣Warm meatballs in marinara sauce or air fry frozen meatballs if you’re short on time. Split rolls, place two meatballs on each, top with a little sauce and cheese. Broil until cheese is melted.

Egg & Sausage Breakfast Casserole

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 8 dinner rolls, 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 lb breakfast sausage, 1 cup cheddar cheese.
• 2️⃣Brown sausage, drain. Tear rolls into pieces and place in a baking dish, top with sausage and cheese. Mix eggs and milk, pour over. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes.

Garlic Bread

1️⃣Ingredients: 6 dinner rolls, 1/2 cup butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup parsley.

2️⃣Melt butter, and mix in minced garlic and chopped parsley. Slice rolls, spread with garlic butter, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes. Or bake the garlic bread in the air fryer.

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 2 dinner rolls, 2 slices of cheese, 1 can of tomato soup.
• 2️⃣Make a sandwich with the rolls and cheese, grill until golden brown and the cheese is melted. Heat the soup and serve alongside.

Panzanella Salad

• 1️⃣Ingredients: 4 dinner rolls, 2 large tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 1/2 red onion, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.
• 2️⃣Cube the rolls and bake at 375°F (190°C) until toasted. Chop the vegetables and mix with the bread cubes, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

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How To Use Leftover Dinner Rolls (10 Recipe Ideas!)

Have leftover dinner rolls on hand from a holiday feast or a large dinner party? Learn the 10 Best Ways To Use Leftover Dinner Rolls in easy recipes so they don't go to waste!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Course: Holiday Recipes, Kitchen Tips, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: leftover dinner roll recipes, recipes using leftover dinner rolls, what can i make with leftover dinner rolls, what to do with leftover dinner rolls, what to make with leftover dinner rolls

Servings: 4 Servings

Author: Valerie Skinner

Ingredients

• 4 dinner rolls baked leftovers

Instructions

Bread Pudding

• Ingredients: 6-8 dinner rolls, 2 cups milk, 1 cup sugar, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Tear the dinner rolls into small pieces. In a bowl, combine the milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour the mixture over the bread pieces and let soak for 30 minutes. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45-60 minutes until golden brown.

French Toast

• Ingredients: 4 dinner rolls, 1 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Slice the dinner rolls in half. Mix the milk, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon in a bowl. Dip each roll into the mixture and fry in a hot pan until golden brown on each side.

Croutons

• Ingredients: 6 dinner rolls, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
• Cube the dinner rolls. Mix the olive oil, garlic powder, and herbs together, then toss the bread cubes in the mixture. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes or until crispy.

Breadcrumbs

• Ingredients: 4-5 dinner rolls.
• Tear the rolls into pieces, spread them on a baking sheet, and bake at 200°F (93°C) until dry. Then, pulse in a food processor until finely ground.

Bruschetta

• Ingredients: 4 dinner rolls, 2 tomatoes, 1 clove garlic, 1/4 cup basil, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt to taste.
• Dice tomatoes and mix with minced garlic, chopped basil, olive oil, and salt. Slice the dinner rolls, toast them, and top with the tomato mixture.

Meatball Sliders

• Ingredients: 8 dinner rolls, 16 precooked meatballs, 2 cups marinara sauce, 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
• Warm meatballs in marinara sauce. Split rolls, place two meatballs on each, top with a little sauce and cheese. Broil until cheese is melted.

Egg & Sausage Breakfast Casserole

• Ingredients: 8 dinner rolls, 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 lb breakfast sausage, 1 cup cheddar cheese.
• Brown sausage, drain. Tear rolls into pieces and place in a baking dish, top with sausage and cheese. Mix eggs and milk, pour over. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes.

Garlic Bread

• Ingredients: 6 dinner rolls, 1/2 cup butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup parsley.
• Melt butter, and mix in minced garlic and chopped parsley. Slice rolls, spread with garlic butter, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes.

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

• Ingredients: 2 dinner rolls, 2 slices of cheese, 1 can of tomato soup.
• Make a sandwich with the rolls and cheese, grill until golden brown and the cheese is melted. Heat the soup and serve alongside.

Panzanella Salad

• Ingredients: 4 dinner rolls, 2 large tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 1/2 red onion, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.
• Cube the rolls and bake at 375°F (190°C) until toasted. Chop the vegetables and mix with the bread cubes, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.