Sausage pinwheels are incredibly easy to make and so delicious. They are the perfect bite-sized treat if you need a savory appetizer, easy breakfast, or crowd-pleaser for game day and holiday gatherings.

I sent my husband to the store the other day and he came back with several cans of crescent rolls. They weren’t on my list, but I was excited to have an excuse to make these cream cheese sausage crescent rolls.

This is a recipe that I used to make in college and have been making them ever since. Sausage pinwheels are always a crowd favorite, so much so, that I often make a double batch because they get eaten so fast.

Breakfast sausage is a great ingredient to have in your refrigerator. If you are looking for other ways to use it try these sausage balls and breakfast pizza.

Why you’ll like this sausage pinwheel recipe

• Hand held. These are the perfect grab-and-go appetizer, breakfast, or snack.
• Simple to make. Only a few ingredients are required to make these sausage rolls.
• Everyone love them. They are always a huge hit with family and friends. People will be asking you for the recipe.
• Make ahead friendly. You can make these ahead of time.

Ingredients

• Sausage – I like using breakfast sausage for this recipe.
• Crescent roll dough – Canned crescent roll dough from the refrigerator section of the grocery store.
• Cream cheese – Soften cream cheese is used to make the filling.
• Green onions – Add a little color and extra flavor.
• Garlic powder – Gives the filling a boost of flavor.

How to make crescent sausage pinwheels

I have included pictures of the process but you can scroll to the bottom for the full, printable recipe and video.

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Beat the cream cheese with a mixer to make it creamy. Mix in the garlic powder and green onions.
3. Stir in the cooked, crumbled sausage.

4. Roll out the crescent dough on parchment paper or wax paper. Pinch together any of the perforations to form one dough.
5. Carefully spread the sausage mixture over the dough in an even layer.

6. Roll the crescent roll dough, lengthwise to for a log. Wrap with the parchment paper and then with plastic wrap. Lay on a baking sheet and put in the freezer for 1 hour.

7. Unwrap the sausage roll. Cut into 1/4-inch rounds and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until they start to turn golden brown.
8. Let them rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

Heather’s recipe tips

• Soften cream cheese. Let the cream cheese sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before making. This helps it to become creamier and easier to spread.
• Drain of any excess grease. Make sure to drain off grease and pat the sausage with paper towels once it’s done cooking. This helps to prevent the sausage pinwheels from getting too moist.
• Let the roll chill. Make sure to allow time for the sausage roll to chill before slicing. This helps to hold all of the ingredients together.
• Roll tightly. Try and roll as tightly as possible to make sure the ingredients don’t fall out.
• Make ahead of time. These can be prepared ahead of time. Just make sure to store them in the refrigerator, not the freezer.

Variations

• Try adding finely diced red bell pepper for added color and crunch.
• You can add a can of diced green chilis for some added spice.
• I love adding 1/4 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the cream cheese mixture and then serving them with a side a marinara sauce for dipping.

How to store

Store: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, bake at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes.

Freeze: Let them cool completely. Place the sausage pinwheels on a cookie sheet in the freezer. Once they have frozen, place them in a freezer safe container. They will last 3 months.

More easy sausage recipes

• Breakfast burritos – Copycat McDonald’s breakfast burritos.
• Sausage beer cheese dip – A simple, hot dip.
• Sausage egg and cheese monkey bread – A fun twist on monkey bread.

 

Be sure to check out these other crescent roll recipes.