Cheesy Chicken Crescent Ring

This cheesy chicken crescent ring uses an easy crockpot chicken recipe and canned crescent rolls to make the perfect party appetizer or fun meal!

We have a few favorite meal prep recipes that we make in bulk, and I’m always looking for a new way to use these. One of our favorite recipes is this Zesty Ranch Chicken. It makes amazing tacos, sliders, and stuffed peppers, but I wanted to come up with a great appetizer for the Superbowl.

We loved this chicken taco crescent ring last year, so I pulled a batch of the ranch chicken out of the freezer and used it to make this delicious cheesy chicken crescent ring. It was a huge hit! The family ate it up quickly without any leftovers in sight. Each slice of buttery crescent roll filled with creamy chicken and crunchy bacon was devoured in no time. This is great for potlucks, family dinners, fun parties, and more!

Ingredients:

Here is a quick overview of what you will need for this easy recipe. Keep scrolling down to the printable recipe card for exact measurements.

• Pillsbury Crescents – You can use original, sweet Hawaiian, or your preferred type of crescents. Let the can of crescents stay in the fridge until you’re ready to make the ring–The colder you keep the dough (not frozen, just cold), the easier it is to move the pieces when arranging the ring.
• Zesty Ranch Chicken – This creamy chicken recipe uses 5 simple ingredients, has TONS of flavor, and it works perfectly in this crescent ring. If you don’t have time to make this and have cooked, shredded chicken to use instead, simply mix that up with softened cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and some shredded or diced pepperoncini peppers for a similar result. Chill this chicken before forming your crescent ring so that it is easier to handle.
• Cheese – I used shredded cheddar, but colby, pepper jack, swiss cheese, or a mix of your favorites would be great as well!
• Bacon – Cooked, chopped bacon adds a great crunch and a ton of flavor! I prefer using thick-cut bacon so it does not get drowned out by all the chicken, but regular bacon is fine as well. Sundried tomatoes could be used instead of bacon if you want to keep this pork-free.

Want some veggies? You could easy mix in some sauteed vegetables like diced bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, diced onions, minced garlic, chopped celery, a mix of peas and carrots, or some roasted broccoli. If adding vegetables, salt lightly to your preference.

How to make a crescent ring

This is a super easy recipe, and you’ll just need a large baking sheet or pizza pan and an oven. Follow this step-by-step guide with photos to help form the perfect ring.

Mix Chicken Filling

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner–This will help prevent sticking and assist in moving the ring after cooking.

In a mixing bowl, combine the ranch chicken with shredded cheese and chopped bacon with a rubber spatula. Once well mixed, you can let it chill in the fridge since assembly is easier with a firmer mixture.

Form the ring

Unroll the crescent dough and separate it into 16 individual triangles. Form a ring with the dough, leaving a 5-6″ circle in the middle. Make sure the dough in the center overlaps a bit to create a sturdy base for the ring.

Add the filling and wrap

Spoon the chicken mixture onto the ring, mounding it up and molding it as if it is a donut. Wrap the dough inward to partially cover the filling, then tuck any excess under the base. Continue to fold over all pieces until the ring is wrapped.

Do not worry about the chicken filling peaking through; the crescent dough will still be able to contain it. Do try to make sure the excess under the base is somewhat smooth–You don’t want big globs of dough because those may be undercooked later.

NOTE: You could brush the dough with melted butter or an egg wash if you want a super crisp topping. The Pilsbury crescent dough bakes to a nice, golden brown color even without any topping, so this is not necessary but optional.

Bake

Bake the ring for 20-25 minutes or until the top is a nice, golden brown color. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before slicing for clean cuts.

What to Serve with Chicken Crescent Rings?

We served these with Smashed Brussels Sprouts and Queso and these delicious Jalapeno Poppers for a movie night, and it was a hit! It would be a great lunch with some Caprese Salad or Carrot Fries. Adding a slice or two on the side of some Butternut Squash Soup would be a great way to make the meal heartier! For the ultimate easy meal, pair with a simple lettuce or Arugula Salad.

Store

Allow the ring to completely cool before you put it in any closed container–Any heat will turn into condensation which will make the crust soggy. Store the cooled pieces in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.

Freeze

Once completely cooled, wrap the ring in multiple layers of plastic, then store in a freezer bag. To save space, cut the ring into four equal pieces (4 serving slices each), then wrap and store. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. This is best eaten within 3 months.

Reheat

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and heat for 15-20 minutes covered. Remove the cover for the final 5 minutes if you prefer some crisp pieces on the crust. You can microwave it, but the crust can become soggy. Air frying can also work, but it does dry out the filling a little bit.

If you love this chicken appetizer, you’ll love these recipes:

• Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos
• Kale Salad with Crunchy Pecan Chicken
• Potato Skins with Buffalo Chicken
• Thai Chicken Collard Wraps
• Greek Chicken & Veggie Kabobs