Here’s a delicious and easy recipe for Italian Crescent Casserole, a perfect weeknight dinner that combines the comfort of crescent rolls with Italian flavors like marinara, sausage, and cheese. It’s a quick and hearty meal that the whole family will love!
Italian Crescent Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (or ground beef or turkey)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the sausage:
- In a large skillet, cook the ground Italian sausage over medium heat, breaking it up into small crumbles as it cooks. Once the sausage is browned and fully cooked (about 6-8 minutes), drain any excess grease if needed.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add the marinara sauce:
- Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 5-7 minutes to combine the flavors and heat through.
- Prepare the casserole dish:
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Unroll one can of crescent dough and press it into the bottom of the baking dish to form a crust, pinching the seams together to prevent gaps.
- Assemble the casserole:
- Spoon the sausage and marinara mixture evenly over the crescent dough.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the meat mixture.
- Top with more crescent dough:
- Unroll the second can of crescent dough and place the triangles over the top of the casserole. You can either leave them in their triangular shape or pinch the seams together to form a complete top crust.
- Bake the casserole:
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the crescent dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve:
- Let the casserole cool for a few minutes, then slice and serve. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Tips:
- Vegetable options: You can add extra veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach to the sausage mixture for added flavor and nutrition.
- Cheese options: Feel free to use a mix of cheeses such as provolone, cheddar, or ricotta for extra creaminess.
- Make it ahead: This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to a day before baking.
This Italian Crescent Casserole is cheesy, savory, and bursting with flavor—perfect for a busy weeknight or casual family dinner. Enjoy! Would you like more recipe ideas or tips for this dish?