Description
Whip up this Italian Crescent Casserole when comfort calls and your dinner crew needs a quick, satisfying meal that comes together faster than you can say “delicious.” Packed with savory Italian sausage, melted cheese, and buttery crescent rolls, this dish delivers hearty flavor in one simple, crowd-pleasing pan.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
Dough:
- 1 can crescent rolls
Cheese and Sauce:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup tomato sauce
Seasonings:
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brown 1 lb ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, completely breaking down meat into small crumbles.
- Drain excess fat from the beef. Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce and all spices, simmering the mixture for 6 minutes.
- Unfurl the 8 oz crescent roll dough, pressing it into the bottom and slightly up the sides of your prepared dish.
- Spread ½ cup ricotta cheese evenly across the dough surface as your first creamy layer.
- Transfer the entire seasoned beef mixture on top of the ricotta, creating a hearty meat layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese across the entire casserole surface.
- Slide the dish into the 375°F oven, baking uncovered for 20 minutes until the crust turns golden and cheese melts completely.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Let the ground beef drain thoroughly to prevent a watery casserole and ensure a rich, concentrated meat flavor.
- Experiment with ricotta or cottage cheese based on your texture preference, knowing cottage cheese provides a lighter consistency.
- Roll the crescent dough evenly and press it gently into the baking dish to create a consistent base that supports all the delicious layers.
- Consider adding red pepper flakes or chopped fresh basil for extra depth of flavor if your family enjoys a bit more zest in their Italian-style dishes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-29 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 475 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg