Name: Baked Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll Ups
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1 8-oz container refrigerated crescent roll dough; 6 slices deli ham, thinly sliced; ½ cup shredded cheese; 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce

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Baked Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll Ups are filled with sliced ham, melty cheese and BBQ sauce for a delicious appetizer or game day snack! Your whole family will love these ham and cheese pinwheels!

baked ham and cheese crescent rolls with parsley on the table

Crescent Roll Ham and Cheese Roll Ups

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 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 crescent rolls, instead.

These easy appetizers are perfect for parties, game day or a quick dinner! Serve them with a taco ring or Buffalo chicken dip for variety!

sliced ham, crescents, bbq sauce and cheese

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients for these pinwheels. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.

Refrigerated crescent roll dough — I use Pillsbury, but any brand is fine
Shredded cheese — Use cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack or your favorite cheese
Sliced deli ham — thinly sliced
Barbecue sauce — any brand

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. 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!

rolled out crescent dough with ham slices and bbq sauce

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!

crescent dough sheet topped with ham slices and shredded cheese on baking sheet

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 1/2-inch thick. This is the perfect size for finger food! 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!

plate of baked ham and cheese rolls on the table

Recipe Tip

One tip I recommend is using cold dough. Dough straight from the fridge is much easier to use for these pinwheels, because it won’t get too stretchy when you’re rolling it.

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.

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.

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. Let them sit at room temperature for a bit after taking them out of the oven, and they’re ready to be enjoyed!

Variations

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!

Make Ahead and Storage

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!

ham and cheese crescent roll ups on a white platter

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