Finding lunch ideas for kids that are both nutritious and actually get eaten can feel like an impossible challenge. These Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups solve that problem deliciously. Flaky crescent roll dough wraps around a savory filling of finely chopped broccoli, crispy bacon, and melted cheese—creating golden pinwheels that make vegetables fun and finger-food friendly.
Why You’ll Love These Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups
These roll ups are among the best lunch ideas for toddlers because they disguise vegetables in a format kids genuinely enjoy eating. The buttery crescent roll dough makes everything taste like a treat, while the broccoli is chopped so small and covered in creamy cheese that even picky eaters won’t mind. They’re perfectly sized for little hands, mess-free for lunchboxes, and pack protein, veggies, and carbs all in one satisfying bite.
Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups Ingredients
Crescent Roll Dough: A refrigerated tube of crescent roll dough (either sheet style or triangles that you’ll pinch together) creates the flaky, buttery exterior. It’s convenient and bakes up beautifully golden.
Broccoli: Fresh broccoli florets steamed until just tender, then finely chopped into tiny pieces. This ensures even distribution and makes the veggies virtually invisible to skeptical young eaters.
Bacon: Crispy, crumbled bacon adds smoky, salty flavor that makes these roll ups irresistible. Cook it until extra crispy so it stays crunchy even after baking.
Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese acts as the creamy binder that holds everything together while adding rich, tangy flavor. Make sure it’s at room temperature for easy spreading.
Cheddar Cheese: Shredded sharp Cheddar brings extra cheesiness and helps mask any “green” flavor from the broccoli. Use freshly shredded for the best melt.
How to Make Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups
- Prep Filling: In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix softened cream cheese, finely chopped broccoli, crumbled bacon bits, and shredded Cheddar until well combined into a thick, spreadable mixture.
- Spread: Unroll the crescent dough onto a clean surface into one large rectangle, pinching seams together if using triangle pieces. Spread the broccoli-bacon mixture evenly across the entire surface, leaving a small border at the edges.
- Roll: Starting from one long side, tightly roll the dough into a compact log. The tighter you roll, the more defined your pinwheels will be.
- Slice: Using a sharp knife, cut the log into 8-10 even pinwheel slices, each about 1 inch thick.
- Bake: Place pinwheels cut-side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes until puffed and golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.
Tips for the Best Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups
Finely Chop: Big chunks of broccoli will make rolling difficult and create uneven bites. Chop the steamed broccoli into rice-sized pieces for seamless rolling and better distribution throughout each pinwheel.
Chill the Log: If your dough becomes too soft and warm while working with it, refrigerate the rolled log for 10 minutes before slicing. This firms it up and helps you cut clean, round circles instead of squished ovals.
Dry Broccoli: After steaming the broccoli, squeeze out excess moisture using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Wet broccoli will make the dough gummy and prevent it from crisping up properly in the oven.
Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups Variations
These lunch ideas easy swaps let you customize the flavor profile without adding complexity:
Chicken: Replace the bacon with finely chopped rotisserie chicken for a milder, protein-packed option that’s just as satisfying.
Ham & Swiss: Use diced deli ham and shredded Swiss cheese instead for a classic flavor combination that tastes like a Hot Pocket but way better.
Vegetarian: Skip the bacon entirely and add finely diced red bell peppers or sun-dried tomatoes for colorful, veggie-forward pinwheels with plenty of flavor.
What to Serve with Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups
Carrot Sticks and Ranch: Crunchy raw carrots with creamy ranch dressing provide a fresh, cool contrast to the warm, flaky roll ups.
Fresh Fruit Slices: Apple slices, grapes, or berries add natural sweetness and help round out the meal with vitamins and fiber.
Yogurt Tube: A frozen yogurt tube acts as both a cold pack in the lunchbox and a sweet, protein-rich treat that kids love.
Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups FAQs
Can I send these cold in a lunchbox? Yes! These Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups taste delicious at room temperature, making them perfect lunch ideas school approved. Pack them in the morning and they’ll still be tasty by lunchtime. The cream cheese keeps everything moist even when cooled.
Can I freeze them? Absolutely. Bake them fully, let cool completely, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a freezer bag. Reheat individual roll ups in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes straight from frozen.
Can I use raw broccoli? Raw broccoli won’t cook through in the short baking time and will be too crunchy. Always steam the broccoli first until fork-tender, then chop it finely for the best texture and flavor in the finished roll ups.
Final Thoughts on Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups
These Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups are savory, flaky, and packed with flavor—they’re a lunchbox win that sneaks vegetables into every delicious bite. The combination of buttery crescent dough, smoky bacon, and cheesy broccoli creates a handheld meal that both kids and adults will devour. Make a double batch on Sunday and have grab-and-go lunches ready all week. Your future self (and your kids) will thank you!
Broccoli & Bacon Roll Ups
Ingredients
- 1 tube crescent roll dough (8 oz)
- 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 0.5 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 0.25 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix filling ingredients until smooth.
- Spread filling over dough and roll into a log.
- Slice into pinwheels and bake until golden.