Description
Whipping up Italian Crescent Casserole means diving into a cheesy, comforting dinner that’ll make your family cheer. Tender crescent rolls cradle savory ground beef and melted cheese, creating a crowd-pleasing meal perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1 lb ground beef
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Base and Sauce:
- 1 tube (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 1 cup pasta sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
Optional Garnish:
- Grated Parmesan
- Red pepper flakes
- Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375F and coat a 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray for easy release.
- Brown 1 pound ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, thoroughly draining excess fat after cooking.
- Mix 1 cup pasta sauce with beef, adding ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for 3-4 minutes to blend flavors.
- Unroll 8 ounces of crescent roll dough, pressing into the prepared baking dish to cover bottom and sides completely. Pinch seams together to seal.
- Spread the seasoned beef mixture evenly across the dough, creating a uniform layer.
- Sprinkle 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese over the meat, covering the entire surface.
- Bake uncovered at 375F for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and edges turn golden brown.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley or red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- For a leaner version, swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to reduce fat content.
- Seal crescent dough seams carefully to prevent sauce from leaking and ensure a sturdy base for your casserole.
- Fresh herbs like basil or oregano can replace dried Italian seasoning for a more vibrant, garden-fresh flavor profile.
- Prepare this dish ahead of time by assembling everything except the cheese, then refrigerate and add cheese just before baking for maximum freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 59 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg