Baked Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll Ups

Baked Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll Ups made with crescent rolls and deli ham are perfect for an easy appetizer or game day snack! Your whole family will love these ham and cheese pinwheels!

These easy ham and cheese crescent roll ups are loaded with deli ham, cheese and barbecue sauce. They're actually a variation of one of my most popular recipes, baked ham and cheese sliders with barbecue sauce, only they're easier to eat!

You've probably seen similar recipes before. I know I have. But, the ham and cheese roll ups I've seen usually have Swiss cheese and, maybe, a honey mustard sauce for extra flavor. So, this version is just slightly different!

I was getting ready to make my go-to ham and cheese sliders for dinner the other day, but when I found an extra tube of crescent roll dough left over from making mummy dogs, I decided to try something different. Instead of making ham and cheese sandwiches, I made these hot ham and cheese roll-ups, instead.

These ham and cheese crescent rolls appetizers are perfect for parties, game day or a quick dinner! Serve them with tortilla pinwheels and Buffalo chicken roll ups for variety!

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients for these ham and cheese crescent rolls appetizers. You can find them in your grocery store or online.

• Refrigerated crescent roll dough
• Shredded cheese
• Sliced deli ham, thinly sliced
• Barbecue sauce

How to Make Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll Ups

Basically, all you do is take the crescent dough out of the tube and roll it out so that it's one big rectangle.

If you can find the crescent sheets, you can use those instead.

One tip I recommend is using cold dough. Refrigerated dough is much easier to use for these pinwheels, because it won't get too stretchy when you're rolling it.

Then, you layer the sliced ham evenly so that it covers the dough. Brush a thin layer of the BBQ sauce over the ham.

How many slices of ham you add depends on the length and thickness of whatever deli cut you're using. Usually I add between 6 and 8 slices. The key is to keep your ham and cheese layers thin, so that the roll ups cook evenly!

Next, sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the ham. Don't add too much, or your roll-ups will be runny.

I usually stick with about a half cup cheese. It's tempting to add more cheese, but it's not fun to clean up burnt on cheese from your baking sheets!

Finally, you roll the dough up into a log, starting with the long end. Just like you would for cinnamon rolls.

Try to roll the dough up as tight as you can. Then, slice the roll into and cut it up into smaller pieces using a sharp knife or serrated knife.

I made mine about ½-inch thick. This is the perfect size for finger food!

Make sure that the baking sheet you're baking the roll-ups on is lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. It's also good to spray the sheet with cooking spray.

An ungreased cookie sheet will be difficult to take the baked rolls off of, and can cause them to tear!

If your kitchen is warm, it's a good idea to let the roll-ups chill in the refrigerator before you bake them. This will help them keep their shape.

Cook Time

The ham and cheese crescents take about 12 to 15 minutes to bake. Be sure to keep an eye on them so they don't overbake. and then, they're ready to go!

My family loves barbecue sauce, so I served the roll ups with some sauce on the side.

My kids like to dunk these bite-size BBQ roll-ups in the extra sauce, but honestly, they taste perfectly fine straight from the oven.

Serve them for a quick dinner, snack or easy holiday party appetizers. But, you might want to make extras -- they go fast!

These golden brown, fat crescent rolls stuffed with melty cheese and delicious baked ham are the perfect hearty finger food! Let them sit at room temperature for a bit after taking them out of the oven, and they're ready to be enjoyed!

Variations

It's super easy to customize these ham and cheese roll ups to your taste!

The best part of changing things up is simply using whatever kind of ham and cheese is your favorite. Hickory honey ham and black forest ham are my go-to's. As for the cheese, pepper jack cheese, a Mexican blend or only cheddar cheese are delicious!

You can use sliced Swiss cheese or Provolone, but make sure they are thinly sliced.

You can also vary the sauces and spices you make the pinwheel sandwiches with. Instead of BBQ sauce, use dijon mustard, ketchup, or hot sauce. Horseradish sauce and Worcestershire sauce also complement baked ham very well.

Depending on what flavor profile you're going for, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, or brown sugar make great seasonings!

How to Store

Store any leftover ham and cheese crescent dinner rolls in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator. They'll keep for 2 to 3 days.

You can also make these ham and cheese crescent snacks ahead of time! Just assemble the roll ups, and bake them just a bit, taking them out of the oven before they're fully cooked. Leave these underbaked crescents in the fridge until right before serving.

When you're ready to serve, pop the rolls back into the oven and let them bake fully. Just like that, your cheesy ham appetizers are fresh and ready!

Recipe

Recipe first published in 2017 and updated in 2022.

If you're looking for a quick and easy dinner or just a super simple appetizer, give these baked ham and cheese roll ups with barbecue sauce a try.

I hope you like them as much as we do!

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Happy Munching,