Description
Iowa Party Bites are bite-sized, savory snacks perfect for gatherings. With a creamy meat-and-cheese filling encased in crescent roll dough or phyllo cups, these crowd-pleasers are easy to prepare and packed with Midwest-inspired flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground pork or beef
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 package crescent roll dough (or phyllo cups)
- Optional toppings: 2 tbsp bacon crumbles, diced jalapeños, or hot sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a muffin tin if using phyllo cups.
- Cook Meat: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground pork or beef until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat and set aside to cool.
- Mix Filling: Combine cooked meat, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Stir until creamy.
- Assemble Bites:
- For Crescent Roll Dough: Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into small squares. Press each square into a muffin tin to form cups. Fill each cup with a spoonful of the meat mixture.
- For Phyllo Cups: Place pre-made phyllo cups on the baking sheet and fill with the meat mixture.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle bacon crumbles, diced jalapeños, or hot sauce on top as desired.
- Bake: Bake for 12–15 minutes, until crescent rolls are golden brown or filling is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Cool & Serve: Allow bites to cool slightly before transferring to a serving platter. Serve warm.
Notes
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Warm in a 350°F oven for 5–8 minutes or use an air fryer for 2–3 minutes.
- Freezing: Freeze baked bites individually on a tray, then store in a freezer-safe container. Reheat from frozen at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
- Variations: Swap meat for plant-based crumbles, use different cheeses, or add extra vegetables like bell peppers or spinach.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Midwest-inspired
Keywords: Iowa Party Bites recipe Midwest appetizer Easy game day snacks Creamy meat and cheese bites Crescent roll appetizers