Description
These Irresistibly Easy ROTEL Spiced Sausage and Cream Cheese Bites are a delicious appetizer perfect for any gathering. Made with spicy breakfast sausage, creamy cheese, and zesty Rotel tomatoes, all wrapped in flaky biscuit dough and baked to golden perfection. A flavorful, crowd-pleasing snack that’s quick to prepare and sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage Mixture
- 1 lb spicy breakfast sausage
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
Dough
- 1 can (16 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough (8-count)
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly grease a muffin tin to prevent sticking.
- Cook Sausage: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the spicy breakfast sausage until it is fully browned, breaking it apart into crumbles as it cooks. Once done, drain any excess grease to prevent the bites from being too oily.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the drained Rotel diced tomatoes and softened cream cheese to the cooked sausage. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and everything is evenly combined. Season the mixture with garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika if using. Allow the mixture to cool slightly to make it easier to handle.
- Prepare Dough: Separate the biscuit dough into individual biscuits. Cut each biscuit in half to yield 16 pieces total. Flatten each piece into a round circle approximately 3 inches in diameter.
- Fill and Seal: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the sausage and cream cheese mixture into the center of each dough circle. Carefully fold the edges up over the filling and pinch them together tightly to form a sealed ball, ensuring the filling won’t leak out during baking.
- Arrange for Baking: Place each sealed dough ball seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet or into the greased cups of the muffin tin for support.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the bites are golden brown and puffed up, indicating they are cooked through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Sprinkle the bites with chopped parsley for a fresh, colorful garnish. Serve warm for best flavor and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to drain the Rotel tomatoes well to prevent excess moisture in the filling.
- To make these less spicy, substitute spicy sausage with mild sausage and use mild diced tomatoes.
- They can be prepared in advance and baked just before serving for convenience.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- Optional: Add shredded cheese to the filling for extra flavor and gooeyness.
