Italian Pie Ground Beef Casserole Recipe Is a High-Protein Budget Dinner (7 Ingredients, 30 Minutes) by Donna John

If you're craving something Italian, think beyond spaghetti and meatballs. This rich, filling Italian casserole recipe is fun to make, has minimal ingredients and cooks up in the oven in about 20 minutes. Yes, this recipe is fun to make! You get to squish crescent roll dough to create a crust that folds over kind of like a galette. We all need to have a little more fun in the kitchen!

Photo credit (all photos): Donna John

To make this Italian-inspired casserole pie recipe you will need the following simple ingredients from the pantry and fridge: a roll of refrigerated crescent roll dough, ground beef, an onion, garlic, spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. If you want to up the flavor even more, grab some garlic powder, onion powder and parsley flakes (more for color). After assembling the casserole in a pie plate, bake it until golden brown.

Try this high-protein recipe (25 grams per serving) with Italian sausage instead of ground beef. You could also use ground chicken or ground turkey. Use your favorite type of pasta sauce. I used Filippo Berio marinara sauce, but you could use any flavor or style of tomato sauce you like. (Check out the health benefits of protein.)

This cheesy ground beef casserole makes a wonderful dinner served with a crisp salad on the side. You could also add a fresh vegetable. I served mine with a salad and balsamic green beans. This easy shortcut recipe will be put on dinner repeat.

Cuisine: American / Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 to 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 8 ounces (8-count package) refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup spaghetti sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• garlic powder, onion powder and parsley flakes, to taste (optional, but recommended)

Here's how to make it:

1. Cook the ground beef, onion and garlic in a skillet until meat is cooked through. Drain.
   
2. Stir in the spaghetti sauce. Cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
   
3. Open the crescent rolls and separate into triangles. Lay them in a pie plate with the points facing out.
   
4. Gently press to seal the seams and create a bottom crust.
   
5. Top the dough with the ground beef.
   
6. Sprinkle with half of the cheeses.
   
7. Fold the crescent rolls over the filling.
   
8. Top with the remaining cheese.
   
9. Sprinkle the top with onion powder, garlic powder and parsley flakes, if desired. (If you want your cheese less brown, put the cheese for the top on during the last few minutes of cooking time.)
   
10. Bake in a preheated 375-degree F oven until golden brown, about 18 to 20 minutes.
    
11. Let the casserole sit about 5 minutes before slicing and serving. (A pie server is the easiest way to cut and serve this Italian pie casserole.)
    
12. Store any leftovers covered in the fridge for up to four days.
    

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