ITALIAN CRESCENT CASSEROLE

Italian Crescent Casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that combines ground meat, Italian flavors, and crescent roll dough. Here’s a simple recipe for you:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground Italian sausage or ground beef
• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 can (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the Meat:
   • In a large skillet, cook the ground Italian sausage or beef over medium-high heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add Onion and Garlic:
   • Add finely chopped onion and minced garlic to the cooked meat. Sauté for a few minutes until the onion is softened.
4. Season the Meat Mixture:
   • Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Simmer the mixture for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
5. Prepare Crescent Rolls:
   • Unroll the crescent roll dough and press it into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, creating a bottom crust.
6. Layer the Meat Mixture:
   • Spread the meat mixture evenly over the crescent roll crust.
7. Top with Cheese:
   • Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the meat mixture.
8. Create Top Crust:
   • Unroll the remaining crescent roll dough and place it over the cheese to create a top crust.
9. Bake:
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the crescent crust is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.
10. Garnish and Serve:
    • Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

This Italian Crescent Casserole is a flavorful and comforting dish that’s perfect for a family dinner. Customize it with your favorite Italian herbs and spices, and enjoy the delicious combination of meat, cheese, and flaky crescent roll crust.