Iowa Party Bites Recipe

#### Instructions:

1. **Preheat the Oven**
Start by preheating your oven to **375°F (190°C)**. If you’re using a baking sheet, line it with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.

2. **Cook the Sausage**
In a large skillet, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat until it’s browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease and set the sausage aside to cool slightly.

3. **Mix the Filling**
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked sausage, softened **cream cheese**, **shredded cheddar cheese**, **garlic powder**, and **onion powder**. Stir everything together until the mixture is well combined and smooth. This creamy filling is the heart of the party bites, so make sure it’s evenly mixed.

4. **Prepare the Dough**
Unroll the **crescent roll dough** (or pizza dough) onto a flat surface. If using crescent rolls, pinch the perforations together to form one solid sheet of dough. You should have a nice, flat dough surface to work with.

5. **Assemble the Party Bites**
Cut the dough into squares or rectangles (about 2×2 inches). For each square, spoon a generous amount of the sausage and cheese mixture into the center. Then, fold the dough around the filling, pinching the edges to seal the filling inside. You can shape them into little pockets or fold them into triangles, depending on how you want them to look.

6. **Bake the Iowa Party Bites**
Place the assembled bites onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure they’re not touching each other. If desired, lightly brush the tops with **olive oil** for a golden, glossy finish. Bake in the preheated oven for **12-15 minutes**, or until the dough is golden brown and crispy.

7. **Serve and Enjoy!**
Once the bites are baked to perfection, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Garnish with **chopped parsley** if desired for a touch of color, and serve warm. These Iowa Party Bites are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, but they also reheat beautifully, so they’re great for leftovers!

### Tips for Making the Perfect Iowa Party Bites

– **Get Creative with Fillings**: While the classic sausage and cheese filling is delicious, you can easily customize it. Try swapping out the sausage for cooked ground beef or turkey, or add some diced peppers, jalapeños, or spinach for extra flavor and texture.

– **Use Homemade Dough**: If you want to take these bites to the next level, try using homemade dough instead of store-bought crescent rolls. A simple pizza dough recipe will work beautifully here and give you a slightly chewier texture.

– **Don’t Overstuff**: When assembling your bites, don’t overstuff them with filling. While it’s tempting to add a lot, too much filling can make them harder to seal, and they may spill out while baking.

– **Make Ahead**: These Iowa Party Bites are perfect for making ahead of time. Assemble the bites and store them in the fridge for up to a day before baking. You can also freeze the uncooked bites and bake them directly from the freezer—just add an extra 3-5 minutes to the baking time.

– **Dipping Sauce**: If you like dipping sauces, consider serving these party bites with a side of **ranch dressing**, **marinara sauce**, or **sriracha mayo** for an extra kick.

### Why Iowa Party Bites Are a Party Essential

Iowa Party Bites are perfect for all kinds of occasions, from family gatherings to football parties to holiday celebrations. Their bite-sized nature makes them easy to share, and the combination of savory sausage, creamy cheese, and golden, flaky dough makes them impossible to resist. Plus, they’re incredibly versatile, so you can customize them to fit any flavor profile you desire.

Whether you’re hosting a party or bringing a dish to share, these tasty morsels will steal the show every time. And because they’re so simple to make, you can whip them up in no time, leaving you more time to enjoy the party.

### Conclusion

Iowa Party Bites are the perfect combination of delicious, easy-to-make, and crowd-pleasing. The savory sausage, creamy cheese, and flaky dough come together in a way that’s sure to impress your guests. With their irresistible flavor and finger-food convenience, these party bites are bound to become your go-to appetizer for every occasion. So, gather your ingredients, preheat the oven, and get ready to enjoy one of the tastiest bites you’ll ever have!