Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents Recipe
Looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or quick snack that wows every time? Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents are the answer! This hot, golden treat tucks a creamy, flavorful sausage filling inside pillowy crescent dough, all in a recipe that comes together in about half an hour. From the tang of Rotel tomatoes with green chilies to the rich cream cheese, each bite is a little explosion of flavor. Whether you’re hosting game day, a family get-together, or just want to treat yourself, these crescents will become your new favorite go-to. They’re so simple yet so savory, there’s just no resisting another piece.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents is in how a handful of everyday staples transform into something absolutely irresistible. Each ingredient brings its own special touch, from bold flavor to creamy texture and golden color. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground breakfast sausage: Savory and hearty, this is the flavor powerhouse of the filling.
- Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies (drained): These add a zesty kick and juicy tomato flavor that keeps every bite bright and exciting.
- Cream cheese (softened): Rich and smooth, it melts into the sausage mixture for incredible creaminess throughout.
- Refrigerated crescent roll dough: Buttery, flaky, and gloriously golden once baked—these rolls make wrapping up the filling a breeze.
- Chopped parsley or green onions (optional garnish): They give a fresh pop of color and a subtle bite to finish things off beautifully.
How to Make Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents
Step 1: Get Ready to Roll
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Lining your pans first means you can work quickly and avoid any sticky surprises later, making bake time a breeze.
Step 2: Brown the Sausage
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground breakfast sausage. Use a spatula to break it apart into small crumbles as it cooks. Once it’s fully browned and no pink remains, go ahead and drain off any excess grease—this keeps your crescents light and flavorful, not greasy.
Step 3: Stir in Rotel and Cream Cheese
Add the fully drained Rotel tomatoes with green chilies and the softened cream cheese to the skillet with your sausage. Stir everything together until the cream cheese is completely melted and the mixture is luxuriously creamy, thoroughly coating all those sausage crumbles.
Step 4: Shape the Crescents
Unroll both cans of crescent dough and separate the dough into individual triangles. Place about a tablespoon of the sausage and cream cheese mixture onto the wide end of each triangle—don’t overfill, or the goodness might spill out!
Step 5: Roll and Arrange
Starting from the wide end, roll up each crescent toward the tip, encasing the filling neatly inside. Arrange the crescents on your prepared baking sheets, making sure to place them point-side down so they stay sealed as they puff up and brown.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Bake in your preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the crescents are beautifully golden brown and the filling is bubbling inside. The kitchen will smell irresistible—always a sign they’re almost ready!
Step 7: Finish and Serve
Garnish the warm rolls with freshly chopped parsley or green onions if you like, then serve immediately. These are best hot out of the oven, when the filling is melty and the pastry perfectly tender.
How to Serve Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents
Garnishes
A sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions on top gives these Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents a lovely color contrast and a slight herbaceous lift. If you like a little extra heat, a tiny pinch of red pepper flakes over the finished rolls is also a great option.
Side Dishes
Pair these crescents with a crisp green salad, fresh veggie sticks, or some crunchy chips for a full game-day spread. They’re fantastic alongside a bowl of salsa or ranch dip—those cool, creamy flavors complement the warm, spicy sausage filling perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, arrange the crescents on a big wooden board with toothpicks in each for easy pick-up, or pile them into a bread basket lined with a cheerful napkin. For a dinner-party starter, try serving them in a circle around a bowl of creamy dip or even layered with jalapeño slices or pickled onions for a festive touch. However you present them, Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents always dazzle!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, let the Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they’ll stay delicious for up to 3 days. Just be sure to keep them tightly sealed so they don’t dry out.
Freezing
Want to stash some away for later? Arrange the baked and cooled crescents on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top freezer bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to a month. When you’re ready for a snack, you can reheat them straight from frozen!
Reheating
To recapture that fresh-from-the-oven crispness, reheat refrigerated or frozen crescents in a 350°F oven for about 8 minutes (or 12 minutes if frozen). You can also use a toaster oven for small batches. The result is nearly as perfect as when they were first baked!
FAQs
Can I use a different type Appetizer, Snack
Absolutely! While traditional breakfast sausage gives a classic flavor, you can swap in spicy Italian sausage, turkey sausage, or even plant-based sausage—just make sure it’s fully cooked before mixing with the other filling ingredients.
Is there a way to make these less spicy?
Definitely. Simply use mild Rotel, or even substitute with plain canned diced tomatoes if you want to skip the heat entirely. You can also halve the amount of Rotel for a milder flavor.
Can I prepare Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents ahead of time?
Yes! Assemble the crescents, arrange them on the baking sheets, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for up to 24 hours, then bake just before serving—add an extra 2 minutes to the bake time for best results.
What if I don’t have parchment paper?
No worries at all. You can use a silicone baking mat or simply grease your baking sheets lightly with oil or butter to ensure the crescents don’t stick.
Can I double this recipe for a bigger crowd?
Absolutely, and honestly, you might want to! Just double each ingredient and use extra baking sheets. Space the crescents so they have room to puff up and keep the bake time the same. Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents are always a hit at bigger parties.
Final Thoughts
There’s just something magical about warm, flaky crescent rolls bursting with creamy, savory filling—and Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents are as foolproof as they are delicious. If you haven’t tried them yet, I guarantee your friends and family will be asking for them again and again. Give this recipe a whirl and see just how quickly they disappear from the table!
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Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents Recipe
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 16 crescents 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
These Easy Rotel Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescents are a delicious and simple appetizer or snack perfect for parties or game-day gatherings. With a flavorful filling of sausage, Rotel tomatoes, and cream cheese wrapped in flaky crescent roll dough, these savory bites are sure to be a hit!
Ingredients
Sausage Mixture:
- 1 pound ground breakfast sausage
- 1 can (10 ounces) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cans (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll dough
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley or green onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cook the sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned and fully cooked, breaking it into crumbles. Drain excess grease.
- Combine ingredients: Add the drained Rotel tomatoes and cream cheese to the skillet, stirring until the cream cheese is melted and the mixture is well combined.
- Prepare the crescents: Unroll the crescent dough and separate into triangles. Place about 1 tablespoon of the sausage mixture on the wide end of each triangle, then roll up toward the tip.
- Bake: Arrange the filled crescent rolls on the prepared baking sheets, point side down. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Serve: Serve warm, garnished with parsley or green onions if desired.
Notes
- For extra flavor, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the filling before rolling.
- These can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking—just add an extra 2 minutes to the cook time.
- Perfect for parties or game-day snacks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crescent
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
