These Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls are the perfect easy appetizer or breakfast treat. Flaky crescent roll dough is filled with a savory mixture of sausage, cream cheese, and flavorful seasonings, then baked to golden perfection. They’re a crowd-pleaser for any occasion, from holiday gatherings to casual brunches.
Need some more great appetizers, try my tater tots wrapped in bacon and my mini pigs in a blanket. They will be devoured by your guests.
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Why this Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescent Recipe is a Keeper
The first bite is a delightful combination of textures and flavors. The flaky pastry gives way to the savory, creamy filling. The sausage provides a satisfying meaty bite, while the cheese adds a touch of tanginess and richness. My guys love these for tailgating.
- 30 Minute Meal: This recipe is quick and easy!
- Easy Ingredients: It uses common ingredients you often have on hand.
- Special Occasion Worthy: It’s impressive enough to serve at a gathering or holiday.
- Freezes Well: It’s great for making ahead and freezing for later.
- Crowd-Pleaser: It’s a hit with guests, making it ideal for entertaining.
- Seasonal: It makes the most of seasonal ingredients and flavors.
- Balances Flavors: The recipe achieves a perfect balance of sweet, salty, sour, and savory.
- Portable: It’s easy to pack and take with you, making it great for lunches or picnics.
- Can Feed a Crowd: It can easily be scaled up to feed a large group, making it perfect for gatherings.
What is the difference between a croissant and a crescent roll for this appetizer?
Croissants are a type of pastry, while crescents are more like a type of bread. Croissants are all about the layers and buttery flavor, while crescents are simpler and more bread-like.
Pro Tip for this Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Bake
You can prepare the filling and assemble the rolls ahead of time. Keep them refrigerated and bake when ready. You might need to add a few minutes to the baking time.
Ingredient Notes and Variation Suggestions to Make Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Bites
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Pork Sausage: Choose your favorite flavor or variety of pork sausage when making these rolls. You can use Italian Sausage or any type of ground sausage.
- VARIATION: Try a different sausage such as vegan meat or a hot to give the recipe a kick.
- Refrigerated Crescent Rolls: Crescent pastry are a type of pre-made pastry dough that is known for its buttery and flakey texture. They are a convenient and time-saving option for this recipe. These spicy sausage crescents are great for a party appetizer or breakfast treat.
- VARIATION: Cream cheese: You can use flavored variety cheese, such as garden vegetable or jalapeño.
- Sweet Crescents: Use a sweet creamy cheese filling and sprinkle the rolls with powdered sugar after baking.
How to Make Sausage with Cream Cheese and Crescents
Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls are the ultimate weekend breakfast treat, combining flaky crescent roll dough with a savory, creamy filling. This easy recipe is the perfect comfort food for a cozy morning at home, ideal for a satisfying breakfast or brunch spread. Their convenient size and delicious flavor also make them a fantastic party food, sure to please a crowd at any gathering.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Create Sausage Mixture: First, place a cast iron skillet cook breakfast sausage. Brown the meat for about 7 minutes. Then add the rest of the filling ingredients and cook until tender.
- Prepare Dough: Next, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Unroll the sheets and separate them into 4 rectangular pieces. Press pieces into a 6×4 rectangle that is a half-inch thick.
- Fill Crescents with Cheese Mixture: Use a small cookie scoop to scoop the cream cheese and cooked sausage filling onto the dough rectangle. Then use a spoon to spread the filling out. Make sure a small space near the edge of the roll is clear so you can seal it properly.
- Seal the Crescent Dough: Carefully start to roll up each crescent roll, jelly roll style, and pinch the seams to seal. Freeze for at least an hour.
5. Bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the roll log into 8-10 slices. Lastly, place the sliced rolls onto the baking tray and bake in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes until they turn golden brown.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for the Sausage Cream Cheese Bites
- You can brown your breakfast sausage in a skillet and store in an airtight container until ready to assemble.
- You can prepare the meat and cheese mixture and assemble the rolls ahead of time, Place on the baking tray. Keep them refrigerated and bake when ready. You might need to add a few minutes to the baking time.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers Cheese and Sausage Crescent Wheels
- Storing: You can store the cream cheese and sausage rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in the oven or the air fryer until warn through.
- Using Leftovers: This new recipe is great for lunch the next day or even a great brunch idea.
Common Questions About This Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls Recipe
Air fry for 8-12 minutes, or until the rolls are golden and cooked through. Flip them halfway through cooking to ensure even browning. The exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer model and the size of your rolls, so keep an eye on them.
Don’t Overfill: This is the most common culprit. Resist the urge to stuff the rolls too generously. A moderate amount of filling is key. Too much filling will make it impossible to seal properly, and even if you manage, it’s likely to burst out during baking.
Prepare as usual: Follow your recipe up to the point of baking. Fill and shape the rolls.
Arrange on a baking sheet: Place the unbaked rolls on a sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure they aren’t touching each other.
Freeze solid: Place the sheet in the freezer and freeze the rolls until they are solid, about 2-4 hours.
Egg Wash: Brushing the rolls with an egg wash (beaten egg with a little water or milk) before baking can promote even cooking and a glossy finish.
Milk or Butter: Brushing with milk or melted butter can also help.
Of course, try using turkey sausage, reduced-fat rolls and low -fat shredded cheddar cheese.
Expert Tips for Making Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls
Make things even more exciting and take these sausage cheese crescents to the next level! From seasoning the cream cheese filling with your favorite spices to adding a fiery kick with chopped jalapeños, these tips will help you unleash your culinary creativity and make this recipe truly your own.
- Use quality ingredients: Choose a good quality sausage such as Jimmy Dean and cheese for the best flavor.
- Don’t overcook the sausage: Cook the meat until it’s just browned, but not dry.
- Let the cream cheese soften: It will mix more easily with the meat.
- Don’t overfill: Overfilling will cause the filling to leak out during baking.
- Pinch the seams tightly: This will help keep the filling inside the rolls.
- What to Serve with the Pinwheels: Caramelized Onion Dip, Slow Cooker Chex Mix and Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
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Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls
Video
Equipment
- Silicone mat
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Ingredients
- 1 pound Pork sausage, regular or spicy
- ½ cup Red pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
- 8 ounces Cream cheese
- 16 ounces Crescent rolls, 2- 8 oz tubes
- 1 cup Shredded cheese
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add crumbled sausage to the skillet and bell peppers to the skillet. Cook for about 7 minutes or until the sausage is no longer pink.
- Stir in the cream cheese and All Purpose Seasoning. Stir until everything is well combined. Remove from the heat.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with either parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Begin by opening one of the tubes of crescent rolls. Use your fingers to seal any perforations. Then, gently press out the crescent roll dough into a rectangle is 1/2 inch thick.
- Spoon half of the sausage mixture onto the crescent dough, leaving a 1/4 inch space around the edges.
- Begin rolling up the dough in a jelly roll style, ensuring that the seam is pinched to seal and placed facing downwards.
- Repeat with remaining crescent dough.
- Freeze the sausage roll logs for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cut the log into 8 to 10 slices, taking into account the desired thickness, and then place them on baking sheets that have been prepared.
- Bake in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes until they turn golden brown.
- Take out of the oven and serve immediately, while still warm.
Christina’s Notes
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- Use quality ingredients: Choose a good quality sausage and cream cheese for the best flavor.
- Don’t overcook the sausage: Cook the sausage until it’s just browned, but not dry.
- Let the cream cheese soften: Softened cream cheese will mix more easily with the sausage.
- Don’t overfill: Overfilling will cause the filling to leak out during baking.
- Pinch the seams tightly: This will help keep the filling inside the rolls.
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- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Can the prepared log roll be kept longer in the freezer. Overnight or longer