Crescent Roll Garlic Knots are a quick, easy, and delicious recipe made from refrigerated crescent roll dough, butter, fresh garlic, parmesan, and mozzarella. These homemade knots are buttery, cheesy, and crisp on top — a perfect savory side or appetizer for an Italian-style meal.
Buttery, Flavorful, and Flaky Homemade Garlic Knots
Crescent roll dough is a wonderfully versatile shortcut for flaky, flavorful baked treats. Instead of elaborate dough preparation, these garlic knots use pre-made refrigerated crescent rolls so you can skip kneading and rolling.
Each knot is stuffed with mozzarella, coated in a garlic-parmesan butter, and finished with Italian seasoning. The result is golden, cheesy, and crisp-topped knots that pair beautifully with pizza, pasta, or a bowl of marinara for dipping.
Ingredients
This recipe is simple and requires only six main ingredients.
Ingredient Notes
- Crescent Rolls: Use two cans of refrigerated crescent roll dough. Any brand works; Pillsbury is commonly used.
- Butter: Use 1/2 cup salted butter, melted. If you prefer unsalted butter, add salt to taste.
- Cheese: Combine 1/2 cup grated parmesan and 1 cup shredded mozzarella for a golden, cheesy finish.
- Garlic: Use about 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic for bright, robust flavor — adjust to your preference.
- Italian Seasoning: Add 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning to the garlic butter for classic herb notes.
Substitutions & Additions
You can customize these knots easily:
- Dough: Breadstick dough or pizza dough could be substituted, though stuffing technique may vary.
- Cheese: Swap or add cheeses like provolone or cheddar for different flavors.
- Fresh Herbs: Chopped parsley, basil, or oregano add brightness when mixed into the butter or sprinkled on top.
- Garlic Powder: Use garlic powder if fresh garlic isn’t available, though fresh yields the best flavor.
- Mix-Ins: Try mini pepperoni, shredded chicken, spinach, or a small mozzarella stick inside each knot for variety.
Kitchen Tools
- Knife
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Cutting board
- Baking sheet (parchment paper recommended)
How To Make This Recipe
These cheesy garlic knots are straightforward to prepare and fun to make—great for cooking with kids.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat: Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Make garlic-parmesan butter: In a mixing bowl combine melted butter, grated parmesan, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning.
- Prepare the dough: Unroll each can of crescent dough. Each sheet has perforated diagonal lines. Cut along those lines to separate the pieces, then press triangle seams together to form rectangles.
- Fill: Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of the garlic butter mixture in the center of each rectangle and top with about 1/2 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella. Reserve some butter and cheese for topping.
- Roll: Roll each rectangle into a long log, pinching the ends so the filling stays inside.
- Shape the knots: Gently roll the dough logs to lengthen and thin them slightly, then tie each into a knot. Tuck the ends into each other to secure.
- Top and bake: Arrange knots on an ungreased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with the remaining garlic-parmesan butter and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake for 25 minutes, until golden.
- Serve: Let cool briefly, then serve warm with marinara or your favorite dipping sauce.
Bake for 25 minutes, remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, and enjoy.
Expert Tips
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor.
- Cut the four dough rectangles in half for more, smaller knots.
- Roll the stuffed dough thin and long for better knot shape.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- After baking, brush extra garlic butter and sprinkle more parmesan for extra richness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serve warm with marinara or tomato sauce for dipping. They pair well with pasta dishes, baked chicken, meatballs, pizza, or as a party appetizer.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate; reheat before serving.
Microwave for 30–60 seconds for a quick reheat, or warm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for a few minutes to restore crispness.
Related Recipes
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- Frozen Roasted Broccoli
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- Sautéed Sweet Potatoes
- Smashed Cucumber Salad
- Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
- Avocado Corn Salad
- Simple Lemon Parmesan Pasta
Easy Appetizers
- Goat Cheese Bruschetta
- Cold Artichoke Parmesan Dip
- Whipped Ricotta Crostini with Honey & Lemon
- Cheesy Bacon Corn Dip
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
- Baked Brie Bites
- Baked Cream Cheese Salsa Dip
Connect With Me!
If you make this garlic knots recipe, I’d love to see your results. Tag @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.
If you enjoy this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating — feedback helps develop more great recipes for the blog.
Cheesy Crescent Roll Garlic Knots
5 from 1 review
- Author: Kayla Berman
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 Garlic Knots
- Category: Side Dish / Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Crescent Roll Garlic Knots are a quick, easy, and delicious recipe made with pre-made crescent roll dough, butter, fresh garlic, parmesan, and mozzarella. They’re buttery, cheesy, and crisp on top — ideal as a savory side or appetizer for an Italian meal.
Ingredients
- 2 cans crescent roll dough
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 1/2 tbsp minced fresh garlic
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Combine melted butter, parmesan, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning in a bowl.
- Unroll each can of crescent dough. Separate along the perforations and press triangle seams together to form rectangles.
- Spread about 1/2 tbsp garlic butter in the center of each rectangle and top with about 1/2 tbsp mozzarella. Save some butter and cheese for topping.
- Roll each rectangle into a long log, pinching the ends to seal.
- Roll logs slightly to lengthen, then tie into knots and tuck the ends to secure.
- Place knots on a baking sheet, brush with remaining garlic butter, and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
- Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm.