Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking.
In a large skillet set over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook it, stirring occasionally, until it’s thoroughly browned and crumbly. Once cooked, drain any excess grease to keep the bites from being greasy.
Season the browned beef with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine and allow it to cook for an additional minute to meld the flavors together.
Remove the skillet from the heat and carefully mix in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, diced pickles, yellow mustard, and ketchup. Let this savory beef mixture cool for a few minutes.
On a clean, lightly floured surface, roll out the crescent roll dough. Pinch the seams together to create a single, cohesive sheet. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice the dough into squares, about 4 inches by 4 inches, ensuring even sizes for uniformity.
Take a tablespoon of the cooled beef mixture and place it in the center of each square of dough.
Fold each corner of the dough square over the filling, creating a sealed pocket. Press the edges firmly together, ensuring no filling escapes during baking.
In a small bowl, beat the egg until smooth. Using a brush, generously coat the tops of each pocket with the egg wash to achieve a beautiful golden color when baked.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the prepared pocket bites on it, spaced evenly apart to allow for expansion while baking.
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the pocket bites are puffed up and golden brown.
Once baked, remove the pocket bites from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving to avoid burning your mouth on the hot filling.