Handwritten recipe card for Crescent Italian Cake
by: salvagedrecipes

Crescent Roll Italian Casserole with Ground Beef & Cheese

Crescent Italian Cake
This Crescent Italian Cake is a comforting fusion dish, blending savory Italian flavors with the convenience of crescent rolls. Packed with seasoned ground meat, onion, tomato sauce, sour cream, and mushrooms, it's rolled up in crescent dough, topped with cheddar cheese, and baked to golden perfection. It's perfect for potlucks, casual family dinners, or as a make-ahead freezer meal. Its unique structure, like savory pinwheels baked into a casserole, gives it a fun twist on lasagna or manicotti without the pasta.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Fusion, Italian
Servings 8
Calories 5200 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb ground meat (beef or a mix of beef and pork)
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp basil
  • 16 oz tomato sauce
  • 4 oz mushrooms (1 can, drained)
  • 8 oz sour cream
  • 2 cans crescent dinner rolls
  • 1 lb cheddar cheese (shredded )

Instructions
 

Step 1: Brown the Meat

  • In a large skillet, brown the ground meat with chopped onion over medium heat.

Step 2: Drain and Season

  • Drain excess fat. Add salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and tomato sauce. Stir well.

Step 3: Add Dairy and Mushrooms

  • Mix in sour cream and drained mushrooms. Heat through for a few minutes, then remove from heat.

Step 4: Prepare Crescent Rolls

  • Unroll crescent dough on a flat surface. Spread the meat mixture evenly over the dough.

Step 5: Roll and Arrange

  • Roll up the crescent sheets into logs and slice if desired. Place in a greased 9×13-inch baking pan.

Step 6: Top and Bake

  • Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

Tips

  • Substitute ground turkey for a lighter version
  • Use mozzarella or Italian blend cheese instead of cheddar
  • Add garlic or red pepper flakes for extra flavor
  • Swap tomato sauce for marinara for a richer taste
  • Add sliced olives or bell peppers to the meat mixture
  • Let rest 5–10 minutes before slicing for cleaner portions
  • Serve with a green salad or steamed vegetables
  • Freeze unbaked rolls separately, then assemble later
  • Use reduced-fat crescent rolls to lower calories

Nutrition

Calories: 5200kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 33gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 980mgPotassium: 620mgFiber: 2.5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 750IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 320mgIron: 3.8mg
Keyword baked crescent rolls, cheesy bake, comfort food, family casserole, ground beef dinner, vintage recipe, weeknight dinner
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