I didn’t discover chicken dinner rolls until I was in my thirties. Growing up, we had regular dinner rolls on one side of the plate and chicken on the other. My mom never thought to combine them into one thing.

It wasn’t until a neighbor brought these to a potluck that I realized what I’d been missing. They’re basically soft, fluffy rolls stuffed with seasoned chicken. No need for separate sides or trying to balance everything on your fork. The chicken stays warm inside the bread, and kids actually eat them without complaining.

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Why You’ll Love These Chicken Dinner Rolls

Quick and easy meal – Ready in just 20-30 minutes, these rolls are perfect when you need a satisfying dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.
Great way to use leftovers – Transform your leftover roast chicken into something completely new and exciting instead of eating the same meal twice.
Simple ingredients – You probably have most of these items on hand already, making it a go-to recipe when you’re not sure what to make for dinner.
Kid-friendly comfort food – The creamy chicken filling and soft dinner rolls make this a hit with the whole family, even picky eaters will ask for seconds.
Perfect for busy weeknights – When you’re short on time but still want something homemade and satisfying, these rolls deliver every time.

What Kind of Dinner Rolls Should I Use?

Any soft dinner rolls will work great for this recipe, whether you buy them fresh from the bakery or grab a pack from the grocery store. Look for rolls that are soft and pillowy rather than crusty, since they’ll hold the chicken filling better without falling apart. If you have leftover dinner rolls from a previous meal, those are perfect too – just make sure they’re still fresh and not too stale. You can even use slider buns or small sandwich rolls if that’s what you have on hand, just adjust the filling amounts accordingly.

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Options for Substitutions

This simple chicken roll recipe is great for using up leftovers, and you can easily swap things around based on what you have:

Dinner rolls: Any soft dinner rolls will work here – brioche buns, potato rolls, or even slider buns are perfect. You can also use regular sandwich bread if that’s what you have on hand.
Havarti cheese: Feel free to use whatever cheese you prefer! Swiss, cheddar, provolone, or even cream cheese work well. Just make sure it’s a good melting cheese if you plan to warm the rolls.
Leftover roast chicken: No leftover chicken? Use rotisserie chicken from the store, or even canned chicken in a pinch. You could also swap in leftover turkey or ham for a different flavor.
Mixed herbs: Use whatever fresh herbs you have – basil, chives, or cilantro all work nicely. If you only have dried herbs, use about 1 tablespoon total instead of 2.
Craisins: Dried cranberries can be swapped with chopped grapes, diced apple, or even raisins. You can leave them out completely if you prefer a less sweet filling.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making chicken dinner rolls is using chicken that’s too dry or cold straight from the fridge, which can make your filling taste bland and unappetizing – instead, let your leftover chicken come to room temperature and add a splash of chicken broth if it seems dry.

Another common error is overfilling the rolls, which causes the filling to spill out and makes them messy to eat, so stick to about 1/3 cup of filling per roll and don’t pack it in too tightly.

To prevent soggy rolls, make sure your mayonnaise mixture isn’t too wet by draining any excess liquid from the chicken, and avoid adding the craisins until just before serving since they can release moisture over time.

For the best flavor, mix your herbs into the mayonnaise first and let it sit for 10 minutes before combining with the chicken – this helps the herbs release their oils and creates a more flavorful filling.

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What to Serve With Chicken Dinner Rolls?

These chicken dinner rolls are perfect for a light lunch or dinner, and they pair really well with a crisp side salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette to balance out the creamy mayo filling. You could also serve them alongside some roasted vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or bell peppers for a more filling meal. For something easy, a bowl of tomato soup makes a great companion, especially if you want to turn this into a cozy comfort meal. If you’re feeding a crowd, consider adding some fresh fruit like grapes or apple slices on the side – they complement the sweet craisins in the rolls perfectly.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: These chicken dinner rolls are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store assembled rolls in the fridge for up to 2 days wrapped in plastic wrap or foil. The bread might get a little soft from the mayo, but they’ll still taste great for a quick lunch or snack.

Make Ahead: I like to prep the chicken salad mixture ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Then just assemble the rolls when you’re ready to eat so the bread stays nice and fresh. This makes weekday lunches so much easier!

Pack: If you’re taking these on the go, wrap each roll individually in parchment paper or foil to keep them from getting soggy. They’re perfect for picnics or lunch boxes, just make sure to keep them cool if you’re not eating them right away.

Preparation Time	20-30 minutes
Cooking Time	0-0 minutes
Total Time	20-30 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

Calories: 1350-1500
Protein: 60-70 g
Fat: 60-70 g
Carbohydrates: 130-145 g

Ingredients

6 soft dinner rolls (such as bakers delight)
3 slices havarti cheese, cut in half
2 cups chopped roast chicken (leftover)
1/3 cup whole egg mayo
2 tbsp dried cranberries
2 tbsp minced fresh dill, mint, and parsley blend

Step 1: Prepare the Dinner Rolls

6 soft dinner rolls (such as Bakers Delight)

Carefully scoop out the bread from one side of each soft dinner roll using your fingers, creating a hollow space for the filling.

Set aside the scooped-out bread in a bowl to use later for sealing the rolls.

Step 2: Line Rolls with Cheese

3 slices Havarti cheese, cut in half
prepared dinner rolls from Step 1

Place one piece of halved Havarti cheese into the hollow of each prepared dinner roll.

Set the cheese-lined rolls aside for filling.

Step 3: Make the Chicken Filling

2 cups chopped roast chicken (leftover)
2 tbsp minced fresh dill, mint, and parsley blend
1/3 cup whole egg mayo
2 tbsp dried cranberries

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the chopped roast chicken, minced fresh dill, mint, parsley blend, whole egg mayonnaise, and dried cranberries until everything is well combined.

I like to give the filling a gentle taste at this point to check for seasoning and add more herbs if you enjoy bold flavors.

Step 4: Fill and Seal the Stuffed Rolls

cheese-stuffed rolls from Step 2
chicken mixture from Step 3
reserved bread filling from Step 1

Using a teaspoon, fill each cheese-stuffed roll (from Step 2) with the chicken mixture (from Step 3).

Press the filling in so it’s compact.

Then, seal the opening of each roll using a portion of the reserved bread filling from Step 1.

Gently press the bread plug in place to help everything hold together.

Step 5: Chill and Store the Stuffed Rolls

Transfer the sealed, stuffed dinner rolls to a container and refrigerate them for up to 2 days before serving.

This chilling step helps the flavors meld and the rolls hold their shape nicely.