Sausage Crescent Rolls

If crescent rolls aren’t already your best friend, they sure will be once you’ve made a batch of these sausage crescent rolls. This store-bought dough is the base for many crescent dough recipes, which demonstrates how versatile and easy crescent rolls are to work with.

No kneading is required when making sausage and crescent rolls; you don’t even have to punch it down. Just pop the dough out of the can, separate it into pieces, add the filling and stick the rolls in the oven. The best part is that this entire recipe, from start to finish, takes only 30 minutes.

Ingredients for Sausage Crescent Rolls

• Pork sausage: This type of meat is high in protein. You can buy bulk sausage at most supermarkets; if you can’t find it with the fresh pork, look for it in the freezer aisle.
• Garlic powder: Garlic powder is made from dehydrated, ground garlic cloves. It has subtler flavor than you’d get from a fresh garlic bulb.
• Parsley: Use fresh, not dried, parsley for this recipe. Parsley has a lot of nutritional value, including vitamins A, C and K.
• Parmesan cheese: You can use either grated Parmesan or grate your own from a wedge. Parmigiano Reggiano is a hard, aged cheese from Reggio Emilia in Italy that is imported to the United States. Some U.S. cheesemakers make a product called Parmesan, which is an unregulated imitation of the original.
• Basil: Dried, not fresh, basil allows this seasoning to more easily disperse in the recipe.
• Egg: Use a large egg for this recipe, though other sizes are fine. Egg helps ingredients in the sausage mixture combine well.
• Crescent rolls: Sold in a tube in the refrigerated section at grocery stores, all you have to do is “pop, peel and bake” as the Pillsbury brand’s packaging reads.
• Shredded cheddar: Like the Parmesan, you can shred this cheese yourself or buy it preshredded. Sharp cheddar tastes tangier than mild cheddar, and medium cheddar lies somewhere in between.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the sausage filling

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In a small bowl, combine the sausage, garlic powder, parsley, Parmesan cheese, basil and 2 tablespoons of beaten egg.

Step 2: Assemble the rolls

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Unroll the crescent dough and separate it into two rectangles. Place the rectangles on an ungreased baking sheet, then seal their perforations. Spoon half the sausage mixture into the center of each rectangle. Sprinkle each rectangle with cheddar cheese. Roll the rectangles up from a long side, then pinch the seam to seal. Brush the rectangles with the remaining egg.

Editor’s Tip: If you don’t have a pastry brush, make one with parchment paper and a pair of scissors. Cut slits into the edge of the parchment paper to make fringe. Then use that fringe piece as your brush.

Step 3: Bake and slice the rolls

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Bake the rolls at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden. Cut the rolls into slices, and serve them warm.

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Sausage Crescent Roll Variations

• Turn into a breakfast casserole: Using the same ingredients—along with milk and several more eggs—use our sausage and crescent roll breakfast casserole recipe to make this more of a breakfast dish.
• Make it vegetarian: Swap out the pork sausage for a meatless sausage and follow the rest of the recipe as is.

How to Store Sausage Crescent Rolls

After these rolls are cooked, it’s easy to keep them in the fridge or freezer until you want to enjoy them again. The key is to store them in an airtight container or resealable storage bag.

Can you freeze sausage crescent rolls?

Because these are already individually portioned, you don’t need to chill the rolls on a baking sheet before putting them in resealable freezer bags and into the freezer. They can all be placed in one bag or airtight, freezer-safe storage container. If stored in the freezer, they will last for up to two months.

How long do sausage crescent rolls last?

If you have leftovers, it’s okay to store them in the fridge for up to four days. Just be sure they are stored in an airtight container that’s covered.

Can you make sausage crescent rolls ahead of time?

Yes, absolutely! Follow the recipe and then, after the rolls have cooled, store them in the fridge. Reheat the rolls either in the microwave on a high setting for 30 seconds, or bake them again in the oven at 350° for 10 minutes.

Sausage Crescent Roll Tips

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Can I use gluten-free crescent rolls?

Yes, you can use gluten-free crescent rolls to make these sausage crescent rolls.

What are some good vegetable side dishes to serve with sausage crescent rolls?

Using frozen vegetables, we recommend any of these quick, easy frozen vegetable recipes, from broccoli scalloped potatoes to creamy jalapeno corn.

Is swapping the sausage out for turkey or chicken an option?

Sure, you can make turkey or chicken crescent rolls; just add either of these two meats, cooked, to the recipe and follow the other steps. Both proteins are leaner than pork, so these would be lighter alternatives.