ITALIAN CRESCENT CASSEROLE
Italian Crescent Casserole is a delicious dish that combines the flavors of Italian cuisine with the convenience of a casserole. Here’s a basic recipe for making Italian Crescent Casserole
: Ingredients: 1 pound ground Italian sausage (you can also use ground beef or ground turkey) 1/2 cup diced onion 1/2 cup diced bell pepper (red or green) 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 (24-ounce) jar of your favorite marinara sauce 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 (8-ounce) cans of refrigerated crescent roll dough 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning Salt and pepper to taste Olive oil for sautéing Instructions: Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the crescent roll package (usually around 350-375°F or 175-190°C).
In a large skillet, heat a bit of olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground Italian sausage (or your choice of ground meat) and cook it until it’s browned and crumbled. Make sure to break it up into small pieces as it cooks. Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet and sauté for a few minutes until they become tender. Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute. Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet and add the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine, and let it simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld. While the sauce is simmering, unroll one can of crescent roll dough and press it into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish to form a bottom crust. Spread half of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the crescent roll dough in the casserole dish. Pour the meat and sauce mixture evenly over the cheese layer. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the meat and sauce mixture.
Unroll the second can of crescent roll dough and place it over the top of the casserole, forming a top crust. You may need to stretch it slightly to cover the casserole dish completely. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Bake in the preheated oven for the time specified on the crescent roll package, usually about 20-25 minutes or until the crescent rolls are golden brown and the casserole is bubbling. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Slice and serve your Italian Crescent Casserole, and enjoy the flavors of Italy in this comforting and easy-to-make dish. You can also customize it by adding your favorite Italian-inspired ingredients like olives, mushrooms, or fresh herbs.