Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels are an easy, cheesy appetizer or bite-sized snack. The perfect combination of cheese and bacon stuffed inside a crescent package.
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Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels are stuffed with cheese, chive and onion flavored spread, and bacon. A quick and easy appetizer and the perfect addition to any party or game day menu.
Cheddar and Bacon Pinwheels
Our Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels recipe is made with only four ingredients: a refrigerated crescent dough sheet, flavored cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and bacon (or six ingredients if you count the brush of melted butter and a sprinkle of sea salt once baked).
Bacon cheddar pinwheels take just 10 minutes to prepare: spread, sprinkle, cut, and roll them up tight, then pop your pinwheels in the oven to bake until the cheese becomes melty and the crescent dough is golden brown and flaky.
With the best blend of salty, savory, and cheesy tastes, I took my Million Dollar Dip and Chip Dip recipes, removed the Ranch plus a few other ingredients, and transformed them into bacon and cheese stuffed crescent rolls.
Perfectly portable and individually portioned, this easy appetizer is full of delicious flavor wrapped in a flaky crescent dough package.
Why We Love Cheese And Bacon Pinwheels
- Quick and easy to make.
- It uses only 4 ingredients plus butter for brushing once baked.
- Serve as an appetizer, snack, light lunch, brunch, or side dish with dinner.
- Perfect finger food for a party, potluck, holiday celebration, or game day gathering.
Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels Ingredients
- Refrigerated crescent dough sheet
- Chive and onion cream cheese spread
- Mild shredded cheddar cheese
- Bacon
- Salted butter: You can substitute unsalted butter if you prefer.
- Sea salt (optional garnish)
Substitutions and Additions
- Choose Your Cheese: You can substitute your favorite melty cheese for the cheddar cheese. Some ideas include Mozzarella, Gouda, Colby, Swiss, and Provolone.
- Swap The Spread: You can sprinkle a plain cream cheese spread with chives, chopped green onions, or herbs. Or use your favorite savory-flavored cream cheese instead of the chive and onion for a tasty twist.
- Vegetarian Version: Feel free to make these vegetarian by removing the bacon or using veggie bacon instead.
- Make With Other Meat: You can sprinkle in crumbled sausage, diced ham, or minced pepperoni for another flavor combination.
- Serve With Sauce: If you don’t want to brush with butter, you can use a sauce such as ranch dressing, honey mustard sauce, Caesar dressing, or your other favorites.
Recommended Tools
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Measuring tools
- Spreading tools
- Knife
How to Make Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels
- Prepare The Pinwheels: Unroll the crescent dough sheet, spread a layer of cream cheese on top, then sprinkle with shredded cheese and bacon.
- Cut And Roll: Cut the sheet in half, widthwise, and then roll each half up vertically, starting from bottom to the top. Cut the rolls into ½ inch thick spirals.
- Bake: Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese is melted and the dough is golden brown and flaky. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt, optional.
- Serve: Serve hot. Enjoy!
Tips For Making The Best Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels
- These Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels are best served hot out of the oven.
- Be gentle with your dough, and don’t stretch it too thin. It is easy to crack or break the dough if you are rough with it and then your filling will fall out. If you do have a crack or split, you can pinch it gently back together.
- If you can’t find the crescent dough sheet, use crescent roll dough and pinch the edges together. Remember that you may have some of the spirals split if you use the dough.
- You can garnish your pinwheels with a herb blend or extra bacon crumbles.
- You can make these a bacon cheddar ranch pinwheels recipe by sprinkling a packet of ranch seasoning over a plain cream cheese spread.
How to Store Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To Reheat: You can reheat your pinwheels briefly in the microwave or, for best results, reheat in the oven or air fryer until heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
Other Easy Appetizers
Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels
Serves — 12
Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels are an easy, cheesy appetizer or bite-sized snack. The perfect combination of cheese and bacon stuffed inside a crescent package.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 ounce can refrigerated crescent dough sheet
- ¼ cup chive and onion cream cheese spread
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2 tablespoons salted butter melted
- Sea salt optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Open the crescent dough sheet and unroll it on the prepared sheet pan. Stretch it slightly in all directions but not hard enough to split it.
- Spread the cream cheese spread in an even layer all over the sheet.
- Sprinkle evenly with the shredded cheese and then the bacon.
- Cut the sheet in half, widthwise and then roll each half up vertically, starting at the bottom to the top. Be sure to roll them tightly if possible.
- Gently cut the rolls into ½ inch thick spirals and lay them on the baking sheet, about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 8-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crescent dough is golden brown and flaky.
- Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt, optional.
- Serve hot.
Jenn’s Notes
Storage:
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To Reheat: You can reheat your pinwheels briefly in the microwave or, for best results, reheat in the oven or air fryer until heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
- These Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels are best served hot out of the oven.
- Be gentle with your dough and don’t stretch it too thin. It is easy to crack or break the dough if you are rough with it and then your filling will fall out. If you do have a crack or split you can pinch it gently back together.
- If you can’t find the crescent dough sheet, you can use crescent roll dough and pinch the edges together. Keep in mind that you may have some of the spirals split if you use the dough.
- You can garnish your pinwheels with a herb blend or extra bacon crumbles.
- You can make these a bacon cheddar ranch pinwheels recipe by sprinkling a packet of ranch seasoning over a plain cream cheese spread.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 25mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 173IU | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 0.3mg
