These easy Tropical Meatball Crescent Cups are made with just four simple ingredients. Use your favorite bbq sauce to make these delicious crescent roll cup appetizers for your next game day party.
Are you ready for some football this weekend?
Honestly, I am not a big football fan, but I can get behind game day snacks and appetizers all night long. My list of "want to makes" just keeps getting longer and longer.
Is everyone else still planning out their Super Bowl menu? I just keep adding more and more to ours. Maybe I should sit down and really think about how much we can possible consume during one game.
Everything just sounds so good though...
Years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Pillsbury kitchens in Minneapolis, MN. Talk about a fun weekend! The Pillsbury team was so generous and attentive to us while we were there.
I would love to bake in their kitchens all the time. It was such an amazing atmosphere to enjoy with so many great blog friends.
We split up into two teams while we were there and toured the props department, learned how to style food, watched a photographer in action, and baked in the kitchens. Dream day for sure!
In the kitchens, Shawn and I teamed up to make our appetizer. I have had fun getting to know her through her blog this past year, so it was even more fun to chat and work together in person.
We got started right away on our crescent roll cups. The spicy meatballs, the melted cheese, and the fresh avocado paired so well in the bite sized appetizer. They were so delicious and so pretty!
After everyone had their appetizers ready, it was time to dig in. Our team stood quiet for a minute, as we all enjoyed the party appetizers we had just made. Easy and good food has a way of doing that.
I came home with lots of game day finger foods on my brain. And of course, this time of year is the perfect time to put together easy and fun snack ideas.
I am all about simple and quick snacks that my family can enjoy during game nights or as an after school snack. Pizza Pinwheels and Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pizza Bites are a few of our favorites to make.
One thing that we enjoy eating are barbecue meatballs, but they can be kind of messy. Serving them in a bite sized roll helps contain some of that mess.
How to make Tropical Meatball Crescent Cups:
- Unroll the crescent dough and separate it into 4 rectangles. Press together the seams.
- Cut each rectangle into 6 even squares. Press each one into a greased mini muffin tin and bake.
- Heat meatballs and barbecue sauce in a small sauce pan.
- Remove the crescents from the oven and press in the centers. Add a meatball to each center.
- Top each meatball with a toothpick and chunk of pineapple and serve immediately. (full recipe below)
Feel free to use whatever flavor or brand of barbecue sauce that you love. A chipotle flavored sauce would be great. The spicy with the sweet fruit sounds like a winner to me.
Other easy game day appetizers you may like:
- Philly Cheese Steak Queso Dip
- Blackberry Brie Bites
- Loaded Pizza Cheese Ball
- Buffalo Chicken Totchos
- Honey Sriracha Barbecue Meatballs
Recipe
Tropical Meatball Crescent Cups
Meatballs and pineapple join forces in a crescent roll cup for a delicious mini appetizer. You will be grabbing more of these Tropical Meatball Crescent Cups in a hurry.
Ingredients
- 1 can (8 count) refrigerated Pillsbury crescent rolls
- ½ cup barbecue sauce*
- 24 frozen meatballs, thawed (⅝ ounce each)
- 24 pineapple chunks
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a mini muffin tin with nonstick spray.
- Separate the dough into 4 rectangles. Press the seams together.
- Cut each rectangle into 6 even squares. Press the squares into the prepared pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
- While the crescents are cooking, place the thawed meatballs and barbecue sauce in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until bubbly, then lower heat.
- As soon as the crescents are done, remove and use the end of a wooden spoon to press the dough down in the center making a cup.
- Press one meatball into each crescent cup.
- Top with a pineapple chunk on a toothpick. Serve immediately.
Notes
*Use your favorite barbecue sauce to change up the flavor combo. A chipotle flavored barbecue would be nice with the sweet pineapple.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 274Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 290mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 3gSugar: 40gProtein: 6g
*Pillsbury provided me with a paid trip to the Pillsbury kitchens to be part of the Pillsbury Holiday Bloggers Event. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.
Michelle
Love the meatball in the crescent, topped with pineapple, but I would like to serve them for a Fall themed party, so the pineapple would be out of place. Any idea what I can replace it with? I may just make the meatballs in crescents without anything on top.
Jocelyn Brubaker
You could always top the meatball with a cherry tomato, an avocado slice, or a cheese cube. They would be good plain too 🙂
Kelly
These are such fun and adorable bites Jocelyn, I love the Tropical flavors in here:) Sweet and spicy are awesome together!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Kelly!!
Layla @ Brunch Time Baker
Omg these bites are soo good!! I could eat a whole batch of these!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Layla!!
Marcie
This is just one of the best ideas for an app -- I love Hawaiian inspired dishes! Everyone is sure to love these! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
I love Hawaiian dishes too! So tasty 😉 Thanks Marcie!!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent
These would be perfect for the super bowl! So happy that you got to take that trip 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Laura!!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
Wasn't this the best time ever? I also just used that pic you took of all of us and linked back to you! I couldn't get enough!!! Gosh this was so fun and I miss you all!
Jocelyn Brubaker
It totally was!! Thank you so much Jocelyn!! I miss you all too!! 🙂
Chels R.
How fun! These look great! This is a great combo!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Chels!!
aimee@shugarysweets
Oooh, I love these. Especially with that pineapple on top!! YUM
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks girl!!
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen
These look so cute and yummy!! I love quick and easy food for the Super Bowl!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Me too! Thanks Renee!!
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff
These sound like Super Bowl food to me ... even have all of the ingredients on hand ... two thumbs up!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Brenda!!