Description
Kentucky Hot Brown Bites are a savory appetizer inspired by the classic Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich. These bite-sized delights feature a creamy, cheesy Mornay sauce combined with tender turkey, nestled in buttery crescent roll dough, and topped with crispy bacon, fresh tomato, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for parties or as a flavorful snack, they bake to golden perfection in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Mornay Sauce
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- Pinch of freshly ground pepper
- Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
- ½ cup coarsely grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese
Hot Brown Bites
- 1 (8-oz) can refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1 cup finely chopped turkey
- 1 cup Mornay sauce (prepared above)
- 2 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small tomato, diced
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Make the Mornay Sauce: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook constantly for about 1 minute, ensuring the mixture doesn’t brown. Gradually add milk while whisking continuously. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes until the sauce thickens. Season with salt, freshly ground pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Remove from heat and stir in the grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese. Let it cool slightly before using.
- Preheat oven and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly spray mini muffin pans with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the bites after baking.
- Prepare the crescent roll dough: Unroll the refrigerated crescent roll dough and press it out into one large rectangle. Cut this rectangle into 24 equal squares. Press each square firmly into the cups of the mini muffin pan, shaping the dough to form little cups with raised edges.
- Prepare filling mixture: In a small bowl, combine the finely chopped turkey with 1 cup of the prepared Mornay sauce, mixing until well blended.
- Assemble the bites: Spoon the turkey and Mornay sauce mixture evenly into each dough-lined muffin cup. Top each filled bite with a few pieces of diced tomato, chopped bacon, and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Place the muffin pan in the preheated oven and bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the crescent dough cups are lightly browned and cooked through. Once done, allow to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add a dash of cayenne pepper to the Mornay sauce.
- These bites can be assembled a few hours ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add an extra minute or two to baking time if baking chilled.
- Gruyère cheese can be substituted with Swiss or any mild melting cheese of your choice.
- Make sure not to brown the roux (butter and flour mixture) to keep the sauce smooth and creamy.
- Use fresh turkey for best texture, but leftover roasted turkey works perfectly as well.
