Description
Meat lovers rejoice with Top Meat Meals for a Crowd, a surefire way to feed a hungry group without breaking a sweat. Packed with hearty flavors and crowd-pleasing protein, this recipe delivers delicious satisfaction for gatherings big or small.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (450g) medium ground beef
Supporting Starches:
- 2 cups frozen French fries or tater tots
- 1 tube (8 oz / 226g) refrigerated crescent roll dough
Seasonings and Cheese:
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup (240 ml) Cheez Whiz or processed cheese sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with 1 tbsp olive oil or butter, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Heat a skillet over medium temperature and add 1 lb (450g) ground beef with 1 small finely diced onion, cooking until meat browns and onions soften, approximately 7-10 minutes.
- Sprinkle 1 tsp garlic powder, salt, and pepper into the meat mixture, stirring thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Remove skillet from heat and blend 1 cup (240 ml) Cheez Whiz into the beef, coating ingredients completely.
- Carefully unroll 1 tube (8 oz / 226g) crescent roll dough into the greased baking dish, pressing and pinching seams to create a uniform base layer.
- Spread the cheesy beef mixture across the dough, ensuring consistent coverage with a spatula.
- Distribute 2 cups frozen French fries or tater tots across the beef layer in a single even arrangement.
- Optional: Scatter 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the fries for additional flavor.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until crescent dough turns golden and fries become crispy.
- Allow casserole to rest 5 minutes before cutting and serving your hearty meal.
Notes
- Test the crescent dough’s doneness by gently pressing the center, which should spring back when fully baked.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian version of this casserole.
- Drain excess fat from beef after browning to prevent a greasy final dish and ensure crisp fries on top.
- For added flavor, mix in some chopped bell peppers or jalapeños with the beef during the initial cooking stage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg