Grab For Eats Texas Roadhouse is famous for a lot of things — the peanuts, the hand-cut steaks, the line dancing servers — but ask most regulars what they love most and you’ll hear about the rolls. A warm basket lands on the table before you’ve even looked at the menu, and it comes with a small tub of cinnamon honey butter that somehow disappears faster than the bread does.
The good news is these rolls aren’t complicated. They’re a simple yeasted dough enriched with butter and a touch of sugar, which is exactly what makes them so soft and slightly sweet. The cinnamon honey butter takes five minutes and no special equipment.
Make a batch on a Sunday and you’ll have warm, pull-apart rolls for dinner all week — or a basket that disappears in one sitting if you’re serving a crowd.
Texas Roadhouse Rolls Ingredients
This recipe uses pantry staples you probably already have, plus bread flour for the extra chew that makes these rolls feel bakery-made. Here’s what you’ll need:
Whole Milk (1 cup)
Warmed to about 110°F — just above body temperature. This wakes up the yeast without killing it. If it’s too hot to comfortably hold your finger in, let it cool a bit first.
Active Dry Yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
One standard packet. This is what gives the rolls their rise and their soft, pillowy texture.
Granulated Sugar (1/3 cup, divided)
A little feeds the yeast, the rest sweetens the dough — Texas Roadhouse rolls are noticeably sweeter than a standard dinner roll.
Egg (1 large)
Enriches the dough and helps it brown nicely in the oven.
Unsalted Butter (1/3 cup, melted, plus more for brushing)
Butter in the dough and butter brushed on top after baking — that’s the double layer of richness that makes these rolls taste like a restaurant made them.
Salt (1 tsp)
Balances the sweetness so the dough doesn’t taste like dessert bread.
Bread Flour (3 1/2 cups, plus more for kneading)
Bread flour has more protein than all-purpose, which gives these rolls their chew. All-purpose will still work in a pinch — the rolls will just be a touch softer and less chewy.
For the Cinnamon Honey Butter: 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter, 1/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
How to Make Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Follow the process below — it takes about 20 minutes of hands-on work, plus rise time.
Step 1 – Proof the Yeast
Warm the milk to about 110°F and pour it into the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the top and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, until it looks foamy. If it doesn’t foam, your yeast may be dead — start over with a fresh packet.
Step 2 – Mix the Dough
Add the remaining sugar, egg, melted butter, and salt to the bowl. Mix briefly to combine, then add the bread flour one cup at a time with the dough hook running.
Step 3 – Knead
Knead for 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. It should be slightly tacky but not sticky to the touch.
Step 4 – First Rise
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
Step 5 – Shape the Rolls
Punch down the dough and turn it onto a floured surface. Roll it into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick, then cut it into roughly 2×3-inch pieces — that classic Texas Roadhouse rectangle shape, not a round roll.
Step 6 – Second Rise
Arrange the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover loosely, and let them rise again for 30-45 minutes, until visibly puffy.
Step 7 – Bake and Butter
Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown on top. Brush the warm rolls generously with melted butter the moment they come out of the oven — this is what gives them that glossy, bakery finish.
Cinnamon Honey Butter
While the rolls bake, beat the softened butter, honey, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt together until light and fluffy. That’s it — no cooking required. Serve it alongside the warm rolls for spreading, just like the little tub that shows up at your table at the restaurant.
Tips for the Best Rolls
- Check your yeast is still active before you start — if the milk mixture doesn’t foam after 10 minutes, it won’t rise properly.
- Don’t skip the second rise — it’s what gives the rolls their light, airy texture.
- Rolls freeze well after baking. Thaw and warm wrapped in foil at 300°F for about 10 minutes.
- Make the cinnamon honey butter a day ahead — just let it soften at room temperature before serving.
What to Serve With Texas Roadhouse Rolls
- Grilled Steak
- Loaded Baked Potato
- Pot Roast
- Roasted Chicken
- Green Beans or Roasted Vegetables
- A big bowl of soup or chili
Texas Roadhouse Rolls Recipe with Cinnamon Honey Butter
Ingredients
Rolls
- 1 cup Whole Milk, warmed to 110°F
- 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast one standard packet
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar divided
- 1 Large Egg room temperature
- 1/3 cup Unsalted Butter melted, plus extra for brushing
- 1 tsp Salt
- 3 1/2 cups Bread Flour plus more for kneading
Cinnamon Honey Butter
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 1/3 cup Honey
- 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- pinch Salt
Instructions
Make the Dough
- Pour the warm milk into the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the top and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, until foamy.
- Add the remaining sugar, egg, melted butter, and salt to the bowl. Mix to combine.
- Add the bread flour one cup at a time, mixing with the dough hook until a soft dough forms. Knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
Shape and Bake
- Punch down the dough and turn it onto a floured surface. Roll into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut into roughly 2×3-inch rectangles, Texas Roadhouse style, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Cover loosely and let rise again for 30-45 minutes, until puffy.
- Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown on top.
- Brush the warm rolls generously with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven.
Make the Cinnamon Honey Butter
- While the rolls bake, beat the softened butter, honey, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt together until light and fluffy.
- Serve the rolls warm with the cinnamon honey butter alongside for spreading.
Tips
- Swap bread flour for all-purpose in a pinch — the rolls will be slightly less chewy but still great.
- Rolls freeze well after baking; thaw and warm in foil at 300°F for 10 minutes.
- Make the cinnamon honey butter a day ahead and let it soften at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
Conclusion
These Texas Roadhouse rolls are proof that the best part of the meal doesn’t have to wait for a restaurant trip. Between the buttery, slightly sweet dough and the cinnamon honey butter, this is the kind of bread basket people remember — and ask for the recipe.
Once you’ve got the base dough down, it’s an easy one to keep in rotation for holidays, potlucks, or just a Tuesday that needs warm bread.
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