Place chicken pieces in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, then pour in buttermilk and stir to coat; refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
In a shallow bowl combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne (if using).
Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off, then dredge each piece in the seasoned flour to coat evenly.
Separate crescent dough into triangles and, if large, cut triangles in half; place a coated chicken piece near the wide end and roll up to enclose, repeating with remaining pieces.
Place wrapped bites on the prepared baking sheet seam-side down and brush each with melted butter.
Bake for 18–22 minutes, until the crescents are golden brown and the chicken is cooked through to 165°F (74°C).
Let the bites rest for 2–3 minutes before serving.