Chicken Crescent Roll Ups are a simple, delicious appetizer or snack made with flaky crescent rolls filled with creamy, savory shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and cream cheese. When just a hint of garlic and onion powder is added for extra flavor, roll ups are always a hit, making them perfect for family social gatherings, parties, or a quick dinner option. Their buttery, tawny shells are a beautiful foil to the creamy centers within, and they have all the makings of a crowd-pleaser: Darn satisfying and tasty.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Quick and Easy: You don’t have to wrangle many ingredients, and the prep is minimal, so this is good for busy days or last-minute appetizers.
Crowd-Pleaser: The filling, a cheesy mixture of chicken and cheddar all tucked into flaky crescent dough is winning combo, so good for any place, any time.
Flexible: These work well as an appetizer, a snack or even a light meal. They are ideal for parties, game days or family get-togethers.
Customizable: It’s a cinch to adapt the filling ingredients to your taste, or to change up the cheese and seasonings for variety.
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Key Ingredients:
Crescent Roll Dough: Using pre-made crescent roll dough for this recipe makes it easy and fast. To vary the texture, try puff pastry or biscuit dough.
Shredded Chicken: Leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or even canned chicken works Finely shred it to make it easier to roll up.
Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar gives the filling a good tang and richness. You can also play around with other cheeses such as mozzarella or pepper jack.
Cream Cheese: When softened, cream cheese incorporates seamlessly into the filling and gives it a lovely creamy texture and subtle tang. Just be sure that it’s completely softened so there are no lumps.
Seasoning: Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper are basic but very effective seasonings. Season to taste, adjusting the amounts to your liking, or add herbs, like thyme or parsley, for more nuance.
Ingredients and instructions are detailed in the recipe card at the bottom of the page
Instructions
Prep
Prepare the Baking Sheet: Use parchment paper to line a baking sheet or smear it lightly with oil to prevent the roll ups from sticking.
Mix Filling
Add Ingredients: Place the shredded chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, and milk in a medium-size mixing bowl. The milk breaks down the mixture so it can blend more easily.
Season: A little garlic powder and onion powder (or the fresh stuff, if you have it) add some flavoring. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Stir to Blend Mix all the ingredients well until smooth and creamy.
Prepare Dough
Open up Crescent Dough: Tear dough into triangles. The dough should be easy to handle and pliable.
Lay Out the Triangles: Place the triangles on a clean work surface, such as a cutting board or on your countertop.
Assemble
Fill: Add a spoonful of chicken mixture to the wide end of each triangle. Do not fill to the brim, or things will spill out during baking.
Stretch: Starting with the wide end, roll the dough up toward the point end, wrapping the filling. Pinch edges if necessary to seal each roll.
Bake
Transfer to Baking Sheet: Transfer the rolled up dough to the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between them.
Butter Brush (Optional): For even more flavor and a glossy surface, brush each roll with melted butter.
Baking: Continue in your pre-heated oven for 12-15 mins until golden. They will sound hollow when tapped. Keep an eye on them as they finish baking.
Garnish and Serve
Cool Slightly: Once the roll ups are baked, pull them out of the oven and allow them to cool slightly on the baking sheet.
Garnish: Optional — For a bit of a pop of color and freshness, sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley on top.
Appetizer: Chicken Crescent Roll Ups are perfect for an appetizer or snack or make it a meal.
Serving Suggestions:
These Chicken Crescent Roll Ups are very versatile and pair nicely with many sides and dips:
Dip: Serve with ranch, honey mustard, or marinara sauce for dipping.
Add a Side Salad: This is great with a simple green salad or Caesar salad.
Any Sort Of Soup: It’s the perfect thing — a warm bowl — to go with it, whether you keep it simple with tomato or chicken noodle.
Veggie Platter: Serve with a side of fresh, crunchy raw veggies like carrots, celery, and bell peppers to balance the rich flavors.
Storage and Reheating Tips:
They freeze well for easy reheatingto enjoy as a snack.
Storage: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for three days.
Freezing: Freeze unbaked roll ups for up to 1 month. When you’re ready to bake, let them defrost a little and increase the baking time by a few minutes.
Reheating: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through and crisp. You can use a microwave instead, but it will have a softer texture.
Recipe Variations:
Buffalo Chicken Crescent Roll Ups: Add in 1–2 tablespoons buffalo sauce into the filling for a spicy kick, serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing.
Bacon Ranch Roll Ups: Stir in 1/4 cup cooked, crumbled bacon and 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning to the filling for extra flavor.
Veggie-Filled Roll Ups: Toss in some extra-fine diced veggies (spinach, bell pepper, or green onions all work well) for a bit of color and nutrients.
Italian-Style Roll Ups: Swap out the cheddar for mozzarella cheese, then sprinkle on a hint of Italian seasoning in the filling. Accompanied by marinara for dipping.
Jalapeño Popper Roll Ups: Stir diced jalapeños and a little extra cream cheese into the filling for a spicy, creamy stuffing, like classic jalapeño poppers.
Conclusion:
Today, I will share with you a simple recipe for a wonderful savory snack or appetizer called Chicken Crescent Roll Ups made with cheddar, chicken and crescent rolls, perfect bite of comfort food. With such a quick prep time and simple, but versatile filling options, these roll ups make great casual gatherings, parties, or even a quick meal. They’re also fully customizable and their warm, flaky deliciousness is bound to impress a crowd.
Bookmark them for your next need to assemble a fast, gratifying appetizer, and enjoy every flaky, cheesy bite!
Chicken Crescent Roll Ups
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough 8 oz
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon melted butter optional, for brushing
- Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and milk. Sprinkle in garlic powder and onion powder, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix until smooth.
- Separate crescent roll dough into individual triangles. Lay out the triangles on a clean work surface.
- Spoon a portion of the chicken mixture onto the wider end of each triangle. Roll from the wide end toward the pointed end to enclose the filling. Pinch edges if needed.
- Place roll ups on prepared baking sheet. Optionally, brush each roll with melted butter. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, and serve warm.