What To Expect From This Easy Recipe

• Taste: Prepare for a delightful explosion of flavor! Each bite offers the comforting warmth of buttery, flaky crescent rolls perfectly complementing a rich, creamy, and savory shredded chicken and cream cheese filling. The cream of chicken soup adds a layer of umami and depth, making these rolls truly irresistible. It’s a classic comfort food experience that satisfies every time.
• Ease: This recipe is designed for ultimate simplicity, making it perfect for novice cooks and seasoned home chefs alike. The process involves just a few straightforward steps: mixing the creamy chicken filling, unrolling and filling the crescent dough, then baking. There’s no complex chopping, advanced techniques, or lengthy marinating required. If you can open a can and stir, you can make these!
• Time: Efficiency is key with this recipe. With only 5-10 minutes needed for preparing and filling the crescent rolls, and a quick 20-minute bake time, you can have a warm, delicious dinner on the table in approximately 30 minutes. This makes it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when time is of the essence but you still crave a homemade meal.
• Family-Friendly: These chicken crescent rolls are universally loved, especially by children. The mild, creamy flavor and familiar texture of the crescent dough make them an appealing option for even picky eaters. They’re easy to pick up and eat, making them great for family dinners.
• Versatility: Beyond being a quick dinner, these rolls are fantastic for meal prepping. They can be assembled ahead of time, baked, and stored in the fridge or freezer, then reheated when needed. They also make excellent appetizers or a comforting dish to bring to a potluck.

1. Step 1. Prepare the Filling: In a medium-sized bowl, combine your drained canned chicken (or shredded rotisserie chicken), softened cream cheese, and the can of condensed cream of chicken soup. If you’re using minced onion, add that in now too. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined and the mixture is smooth. Ensure there are no large lumps of cream cheese for a consistent filling. Remember to set aside 2-3 tablespoons of the cream of chicken soup to spread on top of the rolls later for extra moisture and flavor.

2. Step 2. Unroll the Crescent Dough: Carefully open both cans of crescent rolls. Unroll the dough completely and separate them into individual triangles. Lay them flat on your clean countertop or a large cutting board, arranging them side by side. This makes the filling process much quicker and more organized. Try to keep them as intact as possible to avoid tearing.

3. Step 3. Fill the Crescent Rolls: Using a large cookie scoop (this helps with even portioning) or a spoon, scoop about 2-3 tablespoons of the creamy chicken filling onto the wider end of each crescent roll triangle. Don’t overfill, as you need space to roll them up securely. Distribute the filling evenly across all 16 triangles.

4. Step 4. Roll Them Up: Starting from the wide end of each triangle, gently roll the dough over the filling towards the narrower point, creating a neat parcel (as shown in the above left image). Once rolled, fold each side of the wider end up and over, pressing them gently into the top of the roll-up to completely enclose the filling and prevent it from leaking out during baking (as shown in the above right image). Place the assembled rolls seam-side down on your prepared baking sheet.

5. Step 5. Top and Bake: Evenly spread the remaining 2-3 tablespoons of cream of chicken soup (the portion you saved from Step 1) thinly over the tops of each roll up (as shown in the above left image). This adds extra moisture and helps them brown beautifully.
6. Optional: Cracker Topping: If desired, crush about 10 salty crackers (like Ritz) and sprinkle them generously over the tops of the roll ups for a delightful crunch (as shown in the above right image).
7. Bake for 20-22 minutes in your preheated 375℉ oven, or until the crescent rolls are puffed, golden brown, and the filling is heated through and bubbly. Serve these delicious Creamy Chicken Crescent Rolls warm and enjoy!

📌 Top Tips & Hacks for Perfect Chicken Crescent Rolls

Achieving perfectly delicious and easy chicken crescent rolls every time is simple with these expert tips:

• Softened Cream Cheese is Non-Negotiable: This is arguably the most important tip! Make time to soften the cream cheese completely before attempting to mix it with the chicken and soup. Cold, firm cream cheese will result in lumpy filling and uneven distribution. The easiest way is to let it sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes. If you’re short on time, you can carefully warm it in the microwave in 10-15 second bursts, stirring in between, until it’s soft and pliable.
• Efficient Assembly Line: Don’t roll out the crescents and fill one at a time. For maximum efficiency, unroll both cans of raw crescent rolls at the same time and lay all 16 triangles out side by side on your work surface. This allows you to quickly scoop and distribute the filling evenly across all the rolls, preventing you from running out of filling for the last few. It also helps to ensure a consistent amount of filling in each roll, leading to more uniform baking.
• The Power of a Cookie Scoop: To guarantee equal amounts of filling in each crescent roll, use a large cookie scoop (about 2-3 tablespoons capacity). This tool is a game-changer for portion control and makes the filling process much tidier and faster, ensuring every roll is perfectly stuffed.
• Don’t Overfill: While it’s tempting to load up each crescent with as much filling as possible, resist the urge. Overfilling can make it difficult to properly seal the rolls, leading to filling spilling out during baking. Stick to 2-3 tablespoons per roll.
• Seal the Edges: When rolling and folding the crescent dough around the filling, make sure to gently pinch the seams together. This creates a secure package that keeps the creamy filling tucked inside, preventing it from oozing out and burning on the baking sheet.
• Parchment Paper for Easy Cleanup: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This not only prevents the rolls from sticking but also makes cleanup incredibly easy, saving you time and effort after dinner.
• Monitor Baking Time: Oven temperatures can vary. Keep an eye on your rolls during the last few minutes of baking. They are done when they are beautifully golden brown on top and the filling is bubbly. Over-baking can make the crescent rolls too crispy.

Yes, absolutely! These chicken roll ups are fantastic for freezing. Once they’re baked and completely cooled, you can freeze them individually on a baking sheet (this prevents them from sticking together) and then transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight container or bag. They will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply reheat them in the oven at 350℉ (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also freeze them unbaked: assemble them, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen at 375℉ (190°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until golden and cooked through, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.

The chicken roll ups typically cook for 20-22 minutes in a preheated oven at 375℉ (190°C). You’ll know they’re perfectly done when the crescent dough is puffed up, golden brown, and the creamy filling is hot and bubbly inside.

The closest and most common substitute for crescent roll pastry would be pre-made puff pastry dough. Simply unroll it, cut it into squares or triangles, place the filling in the center, and fold it over or roll it up. The texture will be flakier and lighter than crescent rolls. Another option is to use store-bought biscuit dough; flatten each biscuit into a circle, place the filling, and fold it over like a dumpling or hand pie. For a more homemade approach, you could even try making your own simple biscuit dough.

These savory rolls are quite filling on their own, but they pair wonderfully with a light side dish. A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing, steamed or roasted vegetables like broccoli, green beans, or asparagus, or even a side of mashed potatoes or rice to soak up any extra creamy sauce would be delicious. A light soup also makes a great accompaniment.

Any leftover chicken crescent rolls should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. To reheat, you can use a microwave for quick warming, but for best results and to maintain crispness, reheat them in an oven or toaster oven at 350℉ (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and the pastry is slightly crispy again.

Making them completely dairy-free can be a bit challenging as cream cheese and cream of chicken soup are core ingredients. However, you might find dairy-free cream cheese alternatives (usually almond or cashew-based) that could work. For the cream of chicken soup, you would need to find a dairy-free condensed soup alternative or make a homemade dairy-free cream sauce. Keep in mind that crescent rolls typically contain dairy (butterfat), so you’d need to seek out specific dairy-free crescent roll dough as well. The flavor and texture will be different from the original recipe.

Did you try this recipe? If you loved these creamy chicken crescent rolls, make sure to leave a ⭐️ star rating and a comment below the recipe card! I truly love hearing from you and seeing your creations, and your feedback is incredibly helpful to other readers looking for delicious meal ideas.

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Creamy Chicken Crescent Rolls