Iowa Party Bites Recipe

These savory, cheesy little bites are packed with seasoned ground beef, creamy ranch-cheese filling, and optional spicy extras, all wrapped in buttery crescent dough and baked until golden perfection.

Cheesy Ranch Beef Crescents

Ingredients

Filling:

Ingredient	Amount
Ground beef	1 pound
Onion, finely diced	1 small
Ranch seasoning mix	1 packet (1 oz)
Garlic powder	1 tsp
Onion powder	1 tsp
Salt and pepper	To taste
Cream cheese, softened	8 oz
Shredded cheddar cheese	2 cups

Dough:

Ingredient	Amount
Crescent roll dough	1 can (16 oz)
Butter, melted	1 tbsp (optional)

Optional Add-Ins:

Ingredient	Amount
Cooked, crumbled bacon	½ cup
Jalapeño, finely diced	1
Shredded mozzarella or pepper jack	½ cup

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat & Prep
Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Cook the Beef
In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat. Stir in ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Make the Filling
In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture with cream cheese and cheddar. Fold in any optional add-ins like bacon, jalapeño, or extra cheese until evenly mixed.

Step 4: Assemble the Bites
Open the crescent dough and separate into triangles or squares. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of filling into the center of each piece. Fold the dough over the filling and pinch edges tightly to seal, forming small bundles.

Step 5: Bake
Place bundles on the prepared sheet. Brush with melted butter if desired. Bake 10–12 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Step 6: Serve
Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces.