Looking for a fun new twist on taco night? This cheerful baked dish swaps traditional tortillas for a flaky crescent roll crust enveloping seasoned taco meat and melted cheese. Easy to whip up and packed with zesty Southwestern flavors, Pillsbury’s inventive Crescent Roll Taco Bake will become a fast family favorite.
Why Try Out This Pillsbury Crescent Roll Taco Bake Recipe?
With a prep time of just 10 minutes and total bake time of 30 minutes, this recipe can be on your dinner table in barely half an hour. The clever use of refrigerated crescent roll dough keeps things quick and simple. Just unroll the tubes of dough to form a pie plate-shaped base before loading it up with taco meat and shredded cheddar. Once out of the oven, the golden, crispy shell brimming with melted cheese will have you diving in spoon first. This dish works great for pleasing a crowd at potlucks or parties too. The recipe comfortably serves 6, though you may want to double it if you know your guests will be going back for seconds!
Are Crescent Rolls the Same as Puff Pastry?
While both are flaky, layered pastries, puff pastry and crescent roll dough differ in a couple key ways. For one, puff pastry contains no yeast unlike crescent rolls, which use yeast for rising. This gives crescent rolls a lighter, airier texture. Also, crescent roll dough has a hint of sweetness from sugar that basic puff pastry lacks. So when making this taco bake, the slightly sweet crescent rolls provide a nice contrast to the savory taco filling.
What Variations Can I Try?
Though delicious with ground beef, this bake layers well with alternative taco proteins too. Try swapping in spiced chicken, turkey, or vegetarian soy crumbles. You can also switch up the cheese to pepper jack, Mexican blend, or queso fresco for a change. And don’t forget the toppings! While this recipe calls for lettuce and tomato, you can get creative with avocado slices, black bean & corn salsa, pickled jalapeños, or cilantro.
What Sides Go Well with This Taco Bake?
For a complete Mexican fiesta meal, try serving this baked dish alongside Spanish rice, refried beans, elote corn salad, or tortilla chips and guacamole. A crisp green salad or sliced fruit also balance the richness nicely. And you can never go wrong passing extra shredded cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce for customizing servings. With so many tasty taco accompaniments, every bite of this cheesy crescent roll casserole will leave your guests exclaiming “¡Delicioso!”
This unique Crescent Roll Taco Bake puts a fun spin on Taco Night while still delivering on bold, craveable Tex-Mex flavor. Easy to throw together and feed a crowd, whip up this cheerful bake to spice up your next dinner routine. ¡Buen provecho!
Pillsbury Crescent Roll Taco Bake Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. Ground Beef
- 1 Packet Taco Seasoning
- 1 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 2 Cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
- 1 Cup Chopped Tomatoes
- Shredded Lettuce (as needed)
- Sour Cream (for garnish)
- Chopped Green Onions (for garnish)
Easy-to-Follow Instructions:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F.
- In a medium-high heat skillet, brown the ground beef thoroughly, then drain any excess fat.
- Mix the taco seasoning into the beef until well combined.
- Take a 9-inch pie pan or casserole dish, and line it with the unrolled crescent dough. You might not need all the dough.
- Next, layer the seasoned meat over the dough, followed by an even sprinkle of cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, ensuring the dough turns golden brown and is fully cooked.
- Allow it to cool for about 10 minutes, then garnish with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, green onions, and a dollop of sour cream.
Enjoy this effortless and savory Taco Crescent Bake, a perfect blend of convenience and taste for any day of the week!
