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:
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the Meat:
- In a large skillet, cook the ground Italian sausage or beef over medium-high heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Layer the Meat Mixture:
- Spread the meat mixture evenly over the crescent roll crust.
- Top with Cheese:
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the meat mixture.
- Create Top Crust:
- Unroll the remaining crescent roll dough and place it over the cheese to create a top crust.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the crescent crust is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.
- 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.
