Description
Whip up these easy Savory Iowa Party Bites! Cheesy, meaty, and perfect for any gathering. A true taste of Midwestern hospitality in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- Party Bite Base:
- 1 lb breakfast sausage, mild or hot
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- Flaky Wrapper:
- 2 (8 oz) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
- Flavor Kickers:
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Sizzle the Sausage:: Okay, first things first, get that breakfast sausage sizzling in a large skillet over medium heat. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks. You want it nicely browned all over, no pink bits left! This step always fills my kitchen with such a comforting aroma. Once it’s done, and this is CRITICAL, drain all that grease. Seriously, get it all out, or your Savory Iowa Party Bites will be soggy. I usually blot it with paper towels, too, just to be sure.
- Mix the Meaty Filling:: Transfer that drained, cooked sausage to a medium bowl. Now, add your softened cream cheese, grated sharp cheddar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Grab a sturdy spoon or a spatula and mix it all up until everything is well combined. You want it creamy and homogenous, but don’t overmix it, or the sausage can get tough. I always give it a little taste test here to see if it needs a pinch more of anything – sometimes a tiny bit more garlic powder just feels right!
- Prep the Dough Base:: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grab a 9×13 inch baking pan and lightly grease it. Unroll one can of crescent roll dough and press it into the bottom of the prepared pan, sealing any seams. Don’t worry if it looks a little messy; it’s all going to come together! This creates the sturdy, flaky foundation for our Savory Iowa Party Bites, so make sure it covers the whole bottom.
- Spread the Savory Filling:: Now for the good part! Take that glorious sausage and cheese mixture and spread it evenly over the crescent roll dough in the pan. Use the back of your spoon or a spatula to get it into all the corners. You want a nice, thick layer of that deliciousness. This is where the magic really starts to happen, and I always get excited thinking about the cheesy goodness bubbling up!
- Top it Off:: Carefully unroll the second can of crescent roll dough. Place it over the top of the sausage mixture, gently stretching it to cover completely. Pinch and seal the edges all around the pan to enclose the filling. This creates a little savory pastry sandwich. Sometimes I get a tear in the dough here, but honestly, just pinch it together; it’s going to be fine once it bakes!
- Bake to Golden Perfection:: Pop that pan into your preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is beautifully golden brown and the filling is bubbly. The smell that fills your kitchen at this point is just incredible – warm, cheesy, savory, pure comfort! Once it’s out, let it cool for about 5-10 minutes before slicing into squares. Those Savory Iowa Party Bites will be hot!