Description
These Rotel Spiced Sausage & Cream Cheese Bites are a flavorful, crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring a savory blend of seasoned ground pork sausage, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and creamy cheeses, all wrapped in tender crescent roll dough and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for parties and gatherings, these bite-sized pockets pack a delicious spicy kick with every mouthful.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 pound ground pork sausage
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for extra heat)
Dough & Assembly
- 2 packages refrigerated crescent roll dough
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Cook the Sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the ground pork sausage until it’s browned and fully cooked, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Once cooked, drain off any excess fat to keep the filling from becoming greasy.
- Add Rotel and Simmer: Stir in the drained Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has evaporated to concentrate the flavors.
- Incorporate Cream Cheese: Reduce the heat to low, then add the softened cream cheese to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and combines smoothly with the sausage mixture.
- Combine Remaining Ingredients: Remove the skillet from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly. Then, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and if desired, crushed red pepper flakes for an extra spicy kick.
- Prepare Crescent Dough: Unroll the refrigerated crescent roll dough on a clean surface. Cut each triangular piece in half to make smaller triangles suitable for bite-sized pockets.
- Assemble the Bites: Place about 1 tablespoon of the sausage and cheese mixture in the center of each small dough triangle. Fold and pinch the edges securely around the filling to create sealed bite-sized pockets.
- Arrange and Bake: Place the assembled bites on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are puffed and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow the bites to cool slightly before serving warm, making them perfect finger foods for any occasion.
Notes
- These bites can be assembled ahead of time and frozen unbaked; bake straight from frozen, adding 2 to 3 minutes to the cooking time.
- For a crispier and shinier crust, brush the tops of the bites with an egg wash before baking.
- If you prefer less heat, omit the crushed red pepper flakes.
- Ensure to drain the Rotel tomatoes well to prevent excess moisture in the filling.
