What should I serve with crescent dogs?

Crescent dogs are a terrific snack or part of a quick and comforting dinner any night of the week. Try them with Air Fryer French Fries and a Caesar salad kit. Or serve them with a side of Taco Smashed Potatoes and steamed broccoli—yum! Also, enjoy with a steaming bowl of soup or chili. Try our make-ahead Slow-Cooker Bacon Corn Chowder for a hearty and cozy dinner on a chilly evening.

Kitchen Tested

Crescent Dogs

Name: Crescent Dogs
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 8 hot dogs; 4 slices (3/4 oz each) American cheese, each cut into 6 strips; 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count)

Prep time:10 min
Total time:25 min
Ingredients:3
Servings:8
Calories per serving:290

Pillsbury Kitchens(Opens in a new tab)Updated 07/06/2026

Crescent Dogs

Prep time:10 min
Total time:25 min
Ingredients:3
Servings:8
Calories per serving:290

Crescent dogs are a dinner version of pigs in a blanket that the entire family will love. Hot dogs and melty cheese wrapped inside flaky crescent rolls are simple to make and irresistible.

This recipe first appeared in a Pillsbury™ cookbook over 20 years ago. Our fans are crazy for crescents dogs! Since then, we’ve created dozens of additional crescent dog recipes, including mini and breakfast versions, as well as different cooking methods—from air fryers to campfires. It’s been perfected over the years with dozens of tests in our test kitchens to land on the perfect melty cheese to use and the best method to keep it tucked inside the crescent dogs. The delicious results speak for themselves with over 700 5-star ratings.

Recipe Ingredients

This Crescent Dogs recipe comes together with just three simple ingredients for an easy, family-friendly meal that's perfect for lunch, dinner, or game day.

Hot Dogs: Use your favorite hot dogs. Standard-sized hot dogs work best since they fit perfectly inside the crescent dough triangles and cook evenly. You can also use cheese-filled hot dogs to skip slicing the hot dogs and adding the cheese.

American Cheese: Cut each slice into 6 strips. Tucking 3 strips into each hot dog creates a melty, cheesy center. If you prefer, you can leave out the cheese.

Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Rolls: One 8-ounce can provides eight triangles—one for each hot dog. The dough bakes up golden and flaky while wrapping the hot dogs perfectly. Crescent Dough Sheets can also be used; simply cut the dough into eight triangles.

How to Make Crescent Dogs

Making crescent dogs is very easy especially when using our best tips for success. Refer to the recipe for all the specifics.

1. Stuff the Hot Dogs

We rolled up our sleeves and headed into the kitchen for dozens of tests to determine the maximum amount of cheese you can stuff into crescent dogs. We found that stuffing the cheese inside the hot dog helps ensure every bite includes both hot dog and melty cheese. Some cheese may ooze out during baking, but that's okay. It crisps up on the baking sheet and adds a delicious crunchy touch.

2. Wrap the Hot Dogs

Place stuffed hot dog on wide end of triangle and roll up to the point. Then place on the baking sheet with the side with the most crescent dough underneath.

3. Bake and Enjoy

Start baking the crescents the minimum time and add a minute or two as needed until they are golden brown. With a rich golden color, you can be sure the crescent dough is no longer doughy inside, while the hot dogs are hot and cheese is melty.

Crescent Dog Variations

This versatile recipe has been extensively tested in our kitchens and modified for many different occasions.

Crescent Mummy Dogs: A spook-tacular way to enjoy crescent dogs at Halloween. They’re so cute and just as delicious as the original recipe; you’ll get requests to serve them every year.

Crescent Corn Dogs: A hand-held, state fair favorite with a little cornmeal crunch.

Pigs In A Blanket: The one that started the crescent dog craze! Crescent roll dough is cut into smaller triangles to wrap around cocktail-size sausages for one- or two-bite crescent dogs the crowd will devour. Perfect for an appetizer at your next party.

Grilled Crescent Dogs: Bring your crescent dogs outside with this easy-to-make version cooked on the grill.

How to Store and Reheat Crescent Dogs

For the cheesiest taste and tender, flaky crescents, it’s best to make this recipe right before you plan to enjoy them. With storage, the cheese loses its moistness, and the crescents pick up moisture from the hot dogs and cheese making them tougher.

Refrigerator Storage

Wrap cooled leftover crescent dogs tightly on a plate, in an airtight storage container, or in a resealable food storage bag, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating Instructions

Place a crescent dog on a microwavable plate and cover loosely. Microwave on medium (50%) 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, or just until heated through. Serve with your favorite condiments.

We do not recommend freezing crescent dogs (baked or unbaked) because the crescent dough does not stand up well to freezing and texture will be compromised.

Frequently Asked Questions

You do not need to cook the hot dogs first. The beauty of this simple recipe is that the hot dogs are fully cooked when purchased and will heat through while the crescents bake, making it a snap to get them in the oven. Also, it’s a lot easier to wrap the crescent dough around cold hot dogs than it would be to wrap it around warm ones. Warm dogs will soften the dough, making it sticky, stretchy, and hard to work with.

Air fryers vary greatly, so read the instructions for your appliance. Here’s some general guidance: Line the bottom of the air fryer basket. Set air fryer to 325°F; cook the crescent dogs, cheese-side up, 3 to 4 minutes or until the crescents are light golden brown. With tongs, turn the crescent dogs over; cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Our smaller, appetizer-size Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket work really well in the air fryer. Give them a try!

Here are our best make-ahead tips.

Making Crescent Dogs in Advance: Get a jump on the preparation by filling the hot dogs with cheese, as directed in step 1. Cover and refrigerate the filled hot dogs up to 3 days. When you are ready to bake the crescent dogs, unwrap and continue with step 2 of the recipe.

Bringing Crescent Dogs to a Party: Ask the host if their oven will be free when you arrive. Prep the recipe through step 2. Cover, keep cold, and bring to the party unbaked. When you arrive, unwrap, and bake as directed in step 3.

Crescent Dogs

Prep time:10 min
Total time:25 min
Ingredients:3
Servings:8
Calories per serving:290

Ingredient

8 hot dogs
4 slices (3/4 oz each) American cheese, each cut into 6 strips
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count)

Instructions

Step 1
Heat oven to 375°F. Using a sharp paring knife, cut a slit in hot dogs to within 1/2 inch of ends.

Step 2
For each hot dog, insert 3 strips of cheese into the slit.

Step 3
Unroll dough, and separate into 8 triangles. Wrap dough triangle around each hot dog. Place on ungreased baking sheet, cheese side up.

Step 4
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe Tips

American cheese is a good choice for easy melting, but other varieties of deli-sliced cheeses, like Havarti, smoked Gouda, Provolone, and pepper Jack work well, too.
Refrigerated doughs are easier to work with when chilled, so keep the dough in the refrigerator until ready to fill the hot dogs with cheese.
Let the kids build their own crescent dogs for dinner! Set out all the fixings, include different cheeses for picky eaters, and let everyone make their own rolled-up creations.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauces—barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, ketchup, and mustard are all tasty options.

Nutrition Facts

Calories
290
Total Fat
23g
Protein
9g
Total Carbohydrate
13g
Sugars
4g

Servings: 8

Serving Size: 1 Sandwich

Amount Per Serving Calories : 290

Nutrition Facts
Food Component / Nutrient	Amount	% , Daily Value*
Total Fat	23g	35%
Saturated Fat	9g	45%
Trans Fat	2g	% Value Not Available
Monounsaturated Fat	7g	% Value Not Available
Polyunsaturated Fat	1&½g	% Value Not Available
Omega-3	0g	% Value Not Available
Cholesterol	35mg	12%
Sodium	810mg	34%
Total Carbohydrate	13g	4%
Dietary Fiber	0g	0%
Soluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Insoluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Sugars	4g	% Value Not Available
Protein	9g	% Value Not Available
Vitamin D	Value Not Available	2%
Calcium	Value Not Available	6%
Iron	Value Not Available	6%
Potassium	60mg	2%
Vitamin A	Value Not Available	2%
Vitamin C	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin E	Value Not Available	0%
Thiamin	Value Not Available	8%
Riboflavin	Value Not Available	8%
Niacin	Value Not Available	8%
Vitamin B6	Value Not Available	4%
Folic Acid	Value Not Available	6%
Vitamin B12	Value Not Available	6%
Pantothenic Acid	Value Not Available	0%
Phosphorus	Value Not Available	8%
Magnesium	Value Not Available	0%
Zinc	Value Not Available	6%
Manganese	Value Not Available	0%
Selenium	Value Not Available	8%
Copper	Value Not Available	0%
Beta-Carotene	Value Not Available	% Value Not Available
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Exchanges

Starch 1,
Fruit 0,
Other Carbohydrate 0,
Skim Milk 0,
Low-Fat Milk 0,
Milk 0,
Vegetable 0,
Very Lean Meat 0,
Lean Meat 0,
Medium-Fat Meat 0,
High-Fat Meat 1,
Fat 2&½,
Fruits 0c,
Vegetables 0c,
Grains 0oz-eq,
Meat & Beans 2oz-eq,
Dairy ½c,
Fats & Oils 0tsp

Carbohydrate Choice

Carbohydrate Choice1

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Recipe Ingredients

This Crescent Dogs recipe comes together with just three simple ingredients for an easy, family-friendly meal that's perfect for lunch, dinner, or game day.

American Cheese: Cut each slice into 6 strips. Tucking 3 strips into each hot dog creates a melty, cheesy center. If you prefer, you can leave out the cheese.

How to Make Crescent Dogs

Making crescent dogs is very easy especially when using our best tips for success. Refer to the recipe for all the specifics.