If you’re looking for game day food, this sausage pinwheel appetizer is going to be your new favorite recipe for tailgating season. It’s an easy and delicious appetizer to add to your party. Just serve it with a little ranch!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Hillshire Brands Company. All opinions are entirely my own.
The big game is almost here and I have tailgating on my mind!! I like to refer to late January/early February as “Finger Food Season” because I start making appetizer recipes every day as we count down to the big football season finale.
I have a few go-to game day recipes and foods I like to serve when I have people over to watch football. Buffalo wings, taco dip and a handful of finger foods fill our dining table and people will snack through out the whole day.
There is no better feeling than your guests heading home after their team wins with full bellies.
The newest addition to my appetizer arsenal are these sausage pinwheel appetizers. They’re made with Jimmy Dean sausage, refrigerated crescent rolls, red bell peppers, green onions and two types of cheese – cheddar and cream cheese.
You are just going to love how easy these are to make!
You can find Jimmy Dean sausage in the refrigerated section of your local Walmart. While you’re there, grab a few of the Great Value items to help you create a delicious game time party.
Walmart offers many convenient, simple items so you can spend more time with your family and friends!
To make these easy appetizers, first cook the sausage in a large pan on the stovetop. While the sausage is cooking, roll out your crescent roll dough on a cutting board, being careful to keep the perforations in tact.
Use your fingers to pinch all of the perforations closed so that instead of many crescents, you have one big sheet of dough.
For ease of rolling, I then like to cut the dough in half, but this step is not necessary. Turn the dough so that it is horizontal and apply the cream cheese in a thin layer, leaving an inch of dough un-creamed.
Top the cream cheese with an even sprinkling of the cooked sausage, red bell pepper, green onion and cheese.
Then roll the dough to form a pinwheel by folding one end over the toppings and rolling – use both hands!
Secure the pinwheel by pressing the dough without toppings into the outside of the roll. Then use a very sharp knife to slice 12 pinwheels out of each crescent roll dough.
Pop the uncooked pinwheels on a baking sheet and then in the oven – before you know it you will have the perfect easy game day appetizer!
If you are having a small group and think that 48 pinwheels are too many, this recipe can easily be reduced (or doubled!).
Just cook enough of the sausage for as many pinwheels as you need (in quantities of 12) and save the remainder for breakfast the next day!
I serve these pinwheels with a little ranch and usually make the entire 4 dozen batch.
We rarely have leftovers of this easy and delicious appetizer!!
Ingredients
- 16 ounce breakfast sausage
- 4 packages refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 8 ounce cream cheese softened
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- ½ cup diced green onion
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉.
- In a large, pan cook the sausage. Use a spoon to crumble and separate the sausage chunks. The sausage is done cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 170℉. Remove from stove and allow to cool.
- Roll out one container of crescent roll dough on a cutting board, being careful to keep the perforations in tact. Use your fingers to pinch all of the perforations closed so that it becomes one big sheet of dough.
- Turn the dough so it is horizontal on the cutting board. Spread 2 ounces of cream cheese on the dough, leaving one inch at the top uncovered. Then sprinkle 3 ounces of cooked sausage, ⅛ cup bell pepper, ⅛ cup green onion and ⅛ cup cheddar cheese on top of the cream cheese.
- roll the dough to form a pinwheel by folding one end over the toppings and rolling – use both hands! Secure the pinwheel by pressing the dough without toppings into the outside of the roll. Then, use a very sharp knife to slice 12 pinwheels out of each crescent roll dough.
- Repeat with the other 3 crescent roll dough.
- Place the pinwheels on a cookie sheet and bake for 11-13 minutes or until the dough is crispy. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
swayam
Friday 12th of February 2016
This looks so good Jenny! Totally my cup of tea.. And the pictures are so gorgeous too! Thanks for joining us at #SaucySaturday
Frugal Hausfrau
Tuesday 9th of February 2016
These look so good, and I love the way you worked in some veggies!! Thanks for sharing this with us on Throwback Thursday! Hope to see you next week!
Mollie
Jana
Monday 8th of February 2016
These look amazing and very easy to do. I'll pin for later! Thanks for sharing on our link up last week.
Karly
Sunday 7th of February 2016
These look so easy and delicious! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Lou Lou Girls
Saturday 6th of February 2016
Yum! I’m drooling right now! Pinned and tweeted! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at our linky party. We hope to see you next Monday @ 7 because we can’t wait to see your new creations! Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls