Hey there, want a super easy and delicious dinner option? Look no further than this Italian Crescent Casserole! It’s packed with flavorful ground beef, tangy tomato sauce, and gooey melted cheese. The best part? It only takes 30 minutes from start to finish! Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.
A while back, I had you all help me pick a recipe to take to a potluck party. Now that the holiday’s are over, I am finally getting around to sharing the recipe I made. This Italian crescent casserole was another dinner dish that was easy to put together and it was a big hit with everyone who tried it. It reminded me of a deep dish pizza. Just add a salad on the side and you have a complete meal.
I recently taught a cooking class for the youth in our church. I explained to them that if you can brown beef you can make so many meals. This one included.
This starts with browned beef with marinara and topped with a mozzarella sour cream mixture. The top is covered with crescent dough and brushed with melted butter and Parmesan. So good!
It was in the Pillsbury bake-off in 1978. It’s easy, easy, easy. Great for weeknights.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef, cooked and drained
1 cup basil and garlic tomato pasta sauce (from a 16-ounce jar)
1 can (8 ounces) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Rolls (8 count)
1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend (6 ounces)
1/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375°F. You’ll want it nice and hot for this tasty dish.
Grab a 10-inch skillet and mix together the cooked ground beef and pasta sauce. Let it heat up to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring every now and then.
Now it’s time to assemble the casserole. Take your crescent roll dough and separate it into 8 triangles. Arrange the triangles in an ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate in a spoke pattern, with the narrow tips overlapping the rim of the plate by about 3 inches. Press the dough into the sides and bottom to form a crust, then sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese on top.
Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the cheese. Yum!
Bring the tips of the dough over the filling to meet in the center, but don’t overlap them. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and the dried basil on top for extra flavor.
Pop the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until it’s golden and bubbly.
That’s it! Your Italian Crescent Casserole is ready to be devoured. Serve it up with a side salad or some garlic bread for a complete and satisfying meal. Enjoy the melty cheese and savory beef goodness, and bask in the compliments you’ll receive for this simple yet impressive dish.