Light and fluffy sweet Hawaiian rolls are drizzled with garlic-herb butter and baked until warm and golden. These garlic bread Hawaiian rolls will give any other version of garlic bread a run for its money.
Let’s talk Hawaiian rolls. Those sweet, soft, totally addictive pull-apart rolls that are popping up everywhere. Not only are they available at the usual suspect grocery stores, but Trader Joe’s and Aldi now make their own store-brand versions. When we have a batch of these around the house, they get devoured in a day or two, but I’ve been stashing an extra bag in the freezer for this new twist.
Second only to eating them straight with a smear of butter, turning these rolls into garlic bread is my absolute favorite. These take less than 15 minutes to make, so you can pop them in the oven while a batch of Chicken Spaghetti is cooking in the Instant Pot. Red sauce Italian dinner in minutes. It’s the best. And check out how easy it is...
Ingredients
- Butter - Use salted or unsalted, but be sure to add some salt if you go for the unsalted version.
- Parsley - Chopped parsley is a classic addition for herb garlic bread, but you can easily skip it for an easier version. Other finely chopped herbs like chives, green onions, or basil would also be great here.
- Garlic - It’s garlic bread after all! Fresh, chopped garlic will give you the most fresh and pure garlic flavor. (Pre-chopped garlic from a jar will work in a pinch.)
- Hawaiian Rolls - King’s Hawaiian is the brand that has made this style of roll so popular. The rolls are super light and fluffy with a noticeable, but not overwhelming, sweet flavor. There are many other brands now available - usually labeled as “Hawaiian Rolls” or “Sweet Hawaiian Rolls”. Any other type of soft roll will work.
How to Freeze
For best results, freeze the Hawaiian rolls and herb garlic butter separately. The herb garlic butter can be melted and poured into a small freezer-safe plastic bag or a 4-oz mason jar. When you’re ready to serve, just defrost the rolls and butter in the microwave and follow the instructions to bake them.
Serving Ideas for Garlic Bread Rolls
Once you’ve got this delicious side dish up your sleeve, you’ll find that there are many meals it can be served with. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Easy Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti - So fast, so classic, this red sauce spaghetti in the Instant Pot is practically begging for a side of garlic bread Hawaiian rolls.
- Crispy Baked Cornflake Chicken - Served with mashed potatoes, green beans, and garlic bread rolls, this would be a comforting family meal that would work as well for guests as it would on a regular old Tuesday night.
- Mini Italian Meatball and Orzo Soup - Garlic bread rolls are perfect to serve alongside soup for sopping up the last flavorful bit at the bottom of the bowl. This soup has flavorful meatballs that are made with Italian sausage for an easy shortcut.
- Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake
- Lasagna Bolognese
Don’t forget to print the recipe below for a recipe label and reheating instructions that can be attached to the top of the meal!
Favorite Tools
- Global Knife - There are a lot of tools out there that say they help make chopping garlic and / or herbs easier, but I swear nothing works as well as a really good knife and cutting board.
- 8x8 Baking Dish Emile Henry - an 8x8 baking dish holds the rolls and gives a little space on all sides for the garlic butter to drizzle over and soak up into the bottom of the rolls.
Garlic Bread Hawaiian Rolls
Equipment
- 8" x 8" baking dish
- aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon Butter, melted
- 2 tablespoon Parsley, finely chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
- 9 Hawaiian Rolls (like King's brand)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Combine melted butter, parsley, and garlic.
- Place rolls in an 8” x 8” baking dish (there will be some space between the rolls and the sides of the pan.
- Cut a deep X in the top of each roll.
- Slowly poor the herb garlic butter over top of the rolls, making sure to get some in the X on top of each roll, and letting some drip down the sides.
- Cover rolls tightly with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 6 to 8 minutes, until tops of bread are deep golden brown and toasted.
- Serve immediately.
Notes

Nutrition
June's idea of helping in the kitchen...
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Jenn
These rolls really absolutely amazing! Anytime we have pasta these are the only rolls I will make. Thank you for the recipe.
Jess Smith
So glad you liked them Jenn! These are one of our favorites as well!
Karen
I added 2 Tablespoons of Parmesan cheese ( you know the kind in the green plastic shaker jar). It put these already yummy rolls way over the top!
Jess Smith
Yum - good addition!
Harrison
I added butter to pesto sauce and garlic 🤤🤤🤤🤤