These Bacon Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls are so simple to make, only have 4 ingredients, and are packed with flavor! This easy pinwheel appetizer is ALWAYS part of our holiday traditions, especially Christmas and Thanksgiving.
This appetizer doesn't get any easier. Fry up some bacon, mix it into cream cheese and chives then spread it onto crescent dough for a few mouthwatering bites. Seriously..you won't even be able to get these things off the cookie sheet before people start grabbing them!
Bacon cream cheese rolls are expected at every major Holiday in our house. If you don’t have the ingredients on Thanksgiving and Christmas, you are basically shunned from the family.
If you are a bacon lover, don't forget to check out these Bacon and Cheese Turnovers with Puff Pastry and Bacon Cream Cheese Peppers.
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Why You'll Love These Crescent Roll Pinwheels:
- It's only a few ingredients and so easy to make.
- These little doughy bacon filled rolls are beyond addicting.
- Everyone who eats these raves over them.
- They are a staple for holidays in our household and I know they will be in yours too!
If you are looking for other holiday appetizer ideas, try my Whipped Goat Cheese & Prosciutto Toasts, Burrata Caprese & Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board.
Ingredients:
Bacon- Salty, crispy, and delish! The star of this recipe for its crunch. Make sure to use original bacon here. I've tried maple and it was a little different and I do not recommend.
Cream Cheese- Adds creaminess for the perfect bite! Use softened cream cheese for an easier spread onto the crescent dough.
Pillsbury Crescent Dough- A must have for holidays and you will find them stocked in our fridge during cold weather months. If you have crescent rolls, those are fine too, just push the perforations closed the best that you can. Make sure to try these Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Danish and Pillsbury Crescent Cinnamon Rolls too!
Chives-Optional, but they do add a bit of flavor and color to the appetizer.
Salt and Pepper- Just a touch for seasoning. A dash of hot sauce is great for a little extra flavor too!
Substitutions and Variations:
Love heat? Dice up a jalapeño and sauté with the bacon before adding to the filling or add in some hot sauce to the cream cheese mixture.
Want more cheese? Add a half cup of grated cheddar cheese into the cream cheese mixture.
If you're vegetarian, make these without the bacon!
How to make Bacon Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the bacon up into smaller pieces and pan fry on medium heat until crispy, about 8 minutes. Place the cooked bacon onto a paper towel covered plate to remove some of the grease.
Step 2: While the bacon is still hot, add the chives, bacon, salt and pepper, and cream cheese to a bowl.
Step 3: Stir together with a wooden spoon until fully combined. It should have a soft spreadable texture with the softened cream cheese.
Step 4: Line the counter with a piece of parchment paper. Then, roll out the crescents into one flat rectangle piece. If you are using crescent rolls instead of crescent dough, use your fingers to close up the perforations. Gently spread the cream cheese and bacon mixture onto the crescent dough, using the back of a spoon or a silicon spatula.
Step 5: Carefully roll it up into a log shape.
Step 6: Using a sharp knife, slice the log into two inch circles and place each roll onto a cookie sheet. Each individual roll should look like a pinwheel, where you can see the cream cheese spread rolled up into it.
Step 7: Spread the bacon cream cheese rolls out on a cookie sheet. Bake for 13-16 minutes until golden.
Step 8: Allow them to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Step 9: Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- Try cutting the bacon with kitchen shears before cooking. I like it because I can get really similar pieces of bacon and they crisp up so good for this recipe.
- Add the bacon into the cream cheese mixture while the bacon is still hot. It helps to soften it even more and will spread easier on the crescent dough.
- Use a sharp knife when cutting the log shape dough into rolls. A dull knife will rip the dough apart and cause a mess.
- Don't bake longer then 13 to 16 minutes, because the bottoms will start to burn.
For more football appetizers, try my Roast Beef Sliders and Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings.
Recipe FAQs:
You can, but they really taste best fresh out of the oven. You can cook the bacon ahead and set it aside to save on time.
Store them in a sealed container, but do understand leftovers are rare. These are usually gobbled up in minutes, so I've never had to worry much about it.
Yes! Just leave out the bacon.
More Recipes You'll Love:
If you tried this Bacon Cream Cheese Crescent Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Bacon Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
These Bacon Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls are so simple to make, have minimal ingredients, and are packed with flavor! This easy pinwheel appetizer is ALWAYS part of our holiday traditions, especially Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
- Original bacon (do not do different flavor, maple, etc) – 6 strips of bacon (cut into one inch pieces)
- (1) 8 ounce cream cheese-softened to room temp.
- (1) 8 ounce roll of Pillsbury dough sheet or crescent rolls (push the perforated areas together)
- 2 tablespoons green onions or chives (minced)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Cut the bacon up into smaller pieces and pan fry on medium heat until crispy, about 8 minutes. Place the cooked bacon onto a paper towel covered plate to remove some of the grease.
- While the bacon is still hot, add the chives, bacon, salt and pepper, and cream cheese to a bowl.
- Stir together with a wooden spoon until fully combined. It should have a soft spreadable texture with the softened cream cheese.
- Line the counter with a piece of parchment paper. Then, roll out the crescents into one flat rectangle piece. If you are using crescent rolls instead of crescent dough, use your fingers to close up the perforations. Gently spread the cream cheese and bacon mixture onto the crescent dough, using the back of a spoon or a silicon spatula.
- Carefully roll it up into a log shape.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the log into two inch circles and place each roll onto a cookie sheet. Each individual roll should look like a pinwheel, where you can see the cream cheese spread rolled up into it.
- Spread the bacon cream cheese rolls out on a cookie sheet. Bake for 13-16 minutes until golden.
- Allow them to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Try cutting the bacon with kitchen shears or a knife before cooking. I like it because I can get really similar pieces of bacon and they crisp up so good for this recipe.
- Add the bacon into the cream cheese mixture while the bacon is still hot. It helps to soften it even more and will spread easier on the crescent dough.
- Use a sharp knife when cutting the log shape dough into rolls. A dull knife will rip the dough apart and cause a mess.
- Don't bake longer than 13 to 15 minutes, because the bottoms will start to burn.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: American
Anonymous
Robert
LOVE THIS RECIPE!! So good. I couldn't stop eating them!