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A quick appetizer, lunch or dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes, thanks to this easy Roast Beef and Cheese Crescent Roll recipe! Stuffed with meat, cream cheese, cheddar and garlic, it’s a crowd-pleasing dish for any occasion.

Three roast beef and cheese crescent rolls on a blue and white plate

A couple of months ago, we were fortunate enough to get away for a kid-free weekend. Keith and I enjoyed shopping and eating in restaurants, all without interruption from our sweet little ones! By the time we picked up the kids from my parents’ house and returned home on Sunday evening, however, I didn’t have the time or the energy to head to the grocery store. That’s when I came up with this handy crescent roll recipe that takes advantage of pantry staples!

I rummaged through my refrigerator and found all of these ingredients just waiting to be used. The roll-ups were the perfect accompaniment to a can of soup (also from the pantry) – a perfect last-minute meal!

Golden brown crescent roll on a spatula

Is crescent dough the same as puff pastry?

For those of you that are not familiar with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, the short answer is “no.” The crescent dough is not the same as frozen puff pastry.

Crescent rolls are like a cross between biscuits, dinner rolls and croissants. The crescent dough doesn’t use as much butter as puff pastry dough, so it’s not as rich. It’s leavened with yeast, making it taste more like other yeast breads and less like flakey puff pastry.

Tube of Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough

What can go in Crescent Rolls?

Just about anything! While this crescent roll recipe is made with cream cheese, cheddar and roast beef, I have also been known to make stuffed crescent roll recipes with ham and cheese, ground beef, pizza toppings…and the list goes on. The options are endless!

How do you make Crescent Rolls even better?

With just a few extra minutes, you can take a regular tube of crescent roll dough and turn it into a delicious appetizer or meal. Here’s what you do:

In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise and ketchup. Stir in roast beef, cheddar cheese, and garlic powder. Set aside.

Roast beef cheddar and cream cheese mixture in a glass mixing bowl

Next, unroll the crescent roll dough and separate into 8 triangles.

Unrolled crescent roll dough in triangle shape on cutting board

Spread each triangle with some of the cream cheese mixture, leaving a border around the edge.

Crescent roll dough with roast beef and cheese filling

Roll up in a standard crescent roll shape.

Rolled up crescent roll before baking

Place the rolls on a baking sheet and bake for about 12 minutes, or until they’re nice and golden brown. Allow the rolls to cool on the tray for a few minutes before removing and serving.

Baking sheet with 8 roast beef and cheese stuffed crescent rolls

Can I freeze this Crescent Roll recipe?

Yes! To freeze the baked crescent rolls, allow them to cool to room temperature before wrapping individually. Keep the individually-wrapped crescent rolls in a large freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

You can pull 1 or 2 out at a time, as needed!

Roast beef and cheese stuffed crescent rolls over head shot on a baking sheet

How to reheat Crescent Rolls:

To reheat frozen crescent rolls in the microwave: warm crescent rolls gently in the microwave (but make sure that they don’t get too hot, or they will be too soft). I like to heat them in increments of 30 seconds, checking regularly to make sure that they’re warm but not overdone.

To reheat frozen crescent rolls in the oven: You can place frozen crescent rolls straight from the freezer into the oven without thawing first. To do so, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place desired number of frozen crescent rolls on a baking sheet. Warm in the oven until heated through (about 15 minutes). If the rolls start to get too brown on top, simply cover loosely with foil to prevent further browning while the crescent rolls finish baking.

Fingers holding a sliced crescent roll that's stuffed with roast beef and cheese

COOK’S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

  • Prep ahead! You can assemble these stuffed crescent rolls in advance and keep them loosely covered on the baking sheet in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake them.
  • Switch out the roast beef for your favorite type of meat. Anything goes! You can make stuffed crescent rolls with chicken, crescent rolls with ham, or crescent rolls with ground beef.
  • Instead of grated cheddar, try using another nicely melting cheese — such as Swiss, gruyere, fontina, American, mozzarella or provolone. You’ll still want to include that softened cream cheese for your base.
  • This stuffed crescent roll recipe works equally well for party appetizers, a warm lunch, or an easy weeknight dinner!

Overhead shot of roast beef and cheese crescent roll recipe on a baking sheet and on a plate

Other easy crescent roll recipes that you might enjoy:

Three roast beef and cheese crescent rolls on a blue and white plate

Roast Beef and Cheese Crescent Roll Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Cooling Time 5 minutes
Total: 22 minutes
Servings 8 rolls
Calories 148 kcal
A quick appetizer, lunch or dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes, thanks to this easy Roast Beef and Cheese Crescent Roll recipe!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (8 ounce) tube refrigerated crescent roll dough
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature (I used light cream cheese, but any variety will work)
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (I used light mayonnaise, but any will work)
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • ¼ cup finely diced roast beef
  • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese (I prefer grated cheddar cheese from a block, since it tends to melt smoother than the pre-shredded cheese in a bag)
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
  • In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Stir in roast beef, cheddar cheese, and garlic powder. Mix well and set aside.
  • Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate into triangles.
  • Spread each triangle with cream cheese mixture, leaving a border around the edge. Roll up to form crescent rolls.
  • Place rolls on a large baking sheet. Bake for approximately 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • After baking, allow to cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before removing.

Notes

COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:
  • Prep ahead! You can assemble these stuffed crescent rolls in advance and keep them loosely covered on the baking sheet in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake them.
  • Switch out the roast beef for your favorite type of meat. Anything goes! You can make stuffed crescent rolls with chicken, crescent rolls with ham, or crescent rolls with ground beef.
  • Instead of grated cheddar, try using another nicely melting cheese -- such as Swiss, gruyere, fontina, American, mozzarella or provolone. You'll still want to include that softened cream cheese for your base.
  • This stuffed crescent roll recipe works equally well for party appetizers, a warm lunch, or an easy weeknight dinner!
Can I freeze this Crescent Roll recipe?
Yes! To freeze the baked crescent rolls, allow them to cool to room temperature before wrapping individually. Keep the individually-wrapped crescent rolls in a large freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
You can pull 1 or 2 out at a time, as needed!
How to reheat Crescent Rolls:
To reheat frozen crescent rolls in the microwave: warm crescent rolls gently in the microwave (but make sure that they don't get too hot, or they will be too soft). I like to heat them in increments of 30 seconds, checking regularly to make sure that they're warm but not overdone.
To reheat frozen crescent rolls in the oven: You can place frozen crescent rolls straight from the freezer into the oven without thawing first. To do so, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place desired number of frozen crescent rolls on a baking sheet. Warm in the oven until heated through (about 15 minutes). If the rolls start to get too brown on top, simply cover loosely with foil to prevent further browning while the crescent rolls finish baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1stuffed crescent rollCalories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 351mgPotassium: 40mgSugar: 4gVitamin A: 125IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword: crescent roll recipe, crescent rolls
Course: Appetizer, Lunch or Dinner
Cuisine: American
Author: Blair Lonergan

This post was originally published in June, 2013. It was updated in February, 2019.

blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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