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Italian Crescent Casserole

An easy, cheesy, and comforting weeknight casserole with layers of crescent rolls, seasoned Italian meat sauce, and three kinds of melted cheese.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Comfort Food, Italian-American
Calories: 580

Ingredients
  

For the Filling
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 lb Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 24-oz jar marinara sauce
  • 1 8-oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped, plus more for garnish
For the Cheese Layer
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
For Assembly
  • 2 8-oz tubes refrigerated crescent roll dough
  • 1 large egg beaten, for egg wash
  • 1 tbsp everything bagel seasoning optional, for topping

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • Mixing bowls
  • Wooden spoon
  • Pastry brush

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook ground beef and sausage until browned. Transfer to a bowl.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté diced onion until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  4. Return meat to skillet. Add marinara, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Stir in parsley.
  5. In a bowl, combine mozzarella, Italian blend, and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
  6. Unroll one crescent dough tube, press seams, and place in the baking dish as a bottom crust.
  7. Spread meat sauce evenly over dough. Sprinkle cheese mixture over sauce.
  8. Top with the second sheet of crescent dough (seams pressed). Brush with beaten egg, sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup Parmesan and bagel seasoning.
  9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Letting the casserole rest after baking is crucial for clean slices. Feel free to customize with added veggies like spinach or mushrooms.