Cheddar Cheese and Onion Rolls

These tasty cheese and onion rolls are a delicious vegetarian snack. Made with store-bought puff pastry, they're easy to make and are great for lunch or as a tea-time snack.

Jump to:

• 🛒 What You'll Need
• 🔪 How To Make Cheese and Onion Rolls
• 👩‍🍳 Top Tips
• 🔄 Variations
• 💭 FAQs
• 🍽 More Delicious Recipes Using Puff Pastry
• 🍴 More Appetizer Recipes
• Cheese and Onion Rolls

We love a good veggie sausage roll, and while my lentil sausage rolls are one of my favourites I sometimes want something more on the cheesy side. So instead I make these lovely cheesy onion rolls.

Packed with lots of cheddar cheese, potatoes and soft caramelised onions in a golden brown crispy puff pastry, these onion cheese rolls are delicious Every time I make them they disappear before they have even cooled!

🛒 What You'll Need

• Puff Pastry - I use a roll of store-bought puff pastry sheets if you can get all-butter puff pastry even better.
• Onions - You will need one large brown onion, cut it in half and then slice it.
• Potatoes - I use 3 small potatoes for this recipe, I always peel them and I use maris piper, any fluffy potato will work well.
• Cheese - A good mature cheddar cheese is perfect for these rolls, but you could swap it up and add some red Leicester cheese.
• Mustard - I use English mustard for these, this adds a little tanginess to the rolls. You could also use Dijon or wholegrain mustard if you prefer. You can also use mustard powder if you want.
• Gherkins - A couple of finely chopped gherkins add texture and flavour to these rolls but they are optional so if you don't like pickles you can leave them out but I recommend them.
• Other Ingredients Needed - You will also need, butter, one egg, nigella seeds, plain or all-purpose flour, fresh thyme, salt and black pepper.

🔪 How To Make Cheese and Onion Rolls

Please see the recipe card below for full instructions and the ingredient list.

1. Start by boiling the potatoes in a pan of salted water. 

2. While the potatoes are cooking start to cook the onions. Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the sliced onions to the pan along with a small pinch of salt and fry over low-medium heat for 25-30 minutes. Stir often to stop them burning or sticking to the pan.

3. Once the potatoes are cooked mash them then add them along with the cooked onions to a large bowl to cool.

4. Next, add the grated cheese, chopped gherkins, mustard and thyme leaves to the mashed potato and onions and mix well. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

5. Unroll the pastry, then place it on a lightly floured surface and using a rolling pin roll it out evenly. Cut the pastry in half lengthways. Then place half the cheese and onion mixture on one piece of pastry, using your hands to form it into a long sausage shape. Leave room at the edge. Brush the long edge with egg wash. Repeat for the second piece of pastry.

6. Fold the remaining pastry over the mixture and use a fork to seal the edges. Using a sharp knife cut each large roll into four equal rolls. Brush each roll generously with egg wash then sprinkle the nigella seeds on top of the rolls. Place the rolls on a lined baking tray and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Once cooked remove the rolls to a baking rack to cool slightly. Eat while still warm.

👩‍🍳 Top Tips

• Leakage - You will find that the cheese leaks from the exposed pastry ends. I Have made these pinched at the ends and open and still get leakage. I use a knife to scrape the cheese back into the rolls when they come out from the oven. Be very careful doing this as the cheese and the rolls will be very hot! Leave any burnt cheese on the tray.
• Pastry - To ensure the pastry is easy to unroll remove it from the fridge at least 15-20 minutes before you start making these rolls. If the pastry is too cold it will be hard to handle and can crack.

🔄 Variations

• Onions - You could swap the brown onion for red onion if you like. You could also add some chopped green onions in there too. 
• Seeds and herbs - If you can't find nigella seeds you could use poppy seeds instead. You could also add a little garlic or garlic powder to the mix to give it an extra kick of flavour.

💭 FAQs

🍽 More Delicious Recipes Using Puff Pastry

• Puff Pastry Mince Pies - I love making these at Christmas, they are a great alternative to regular mince pies! Just serve with a good dollop of whipped cream for a very festive treat.
• Brie and Cranberry Parcels - Perfect as a starter for Christmas dinner or to use up any leftover Brie, these are so easy to make and taste amazing!
• Mushroom Tart - This is a great veggie dinner, so easy to make and very tasty.

🍴 More Appetizer Recipes