Description
Iowa Party Bites are a delicious appetizer inspired by Iowa’s famous loose meat sandwiches. These savory bite-sized pockets are filled with a flavorful mix of ground beef and pork, seasoned with garlic, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, then wrapped in crescent or biscuit dough and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for game day, potlucks, or any party, they can be served warm with ketchup, mustard, or pickles for an irresistible snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Filling
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Dough and Topping
- 1 (8 oz) can refrigerated crescent roll dough or biscuit dough
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Sesame seeds (optional for topping)
Serving
- Pickles (optional)
- Ketchup (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Cook Meat Mixture: In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, ground pork, and finely diced onion until browned and cooked through, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Drain excess grease if necessary to avoid soggy pockets.
- Season and Mix: Stir in garlic powder, salt, black pepper, yellow mustard, and Worcestershire sauce into the cooked meat mixture. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly before mixing in shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring the cheese melts slightly into the warm meat.
- Prepare Dough: Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate into individual triangles, or if using biscuit dough, flatten each round into a small circle suitable for wrapping the filling.
- Assemble Bites: Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture onto the center of each dough piece. Carefully fold the dough over, sealing the edges tightly to form small pockets, ensuring filling does not leak during baking.
- Add Egg Wash and Toppings: Brush the tops of each pocket with beaten egg to achieve a golden brown finish when baked. Optionally sprinkle sesame seeds on top for added texture and nuttiness.
- Bake Until Golden: Place the prepared pockets on the baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the dough is puffed and golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve warm with optional sides like ketchup, mustard, or pickles to complement the savory flavors of the bites.
Notes
- These bites are inspired by Iowa’s famous loose meat sandwiches, delivering those classic flavors in a fun, portable form.
- For a quicker preparation, you can use mini slider buns instead of dough to make a shortcut version.
- Perfect for game day, potlucks, or casual gatherings where bite-sized snacks are ideal.
