As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, there’s nothing quite like gathering around the table for a comforting family dinner.
But who says cozy has to mean heavy? We’re all looking for those perfect fall supper ideas that deliver warmth and flavor without leaving us feeling overly full.
This recipe is designed for busy weeknights or relaxed Sunday evenings when you want something delicious and satisfying, yet easy to prepare. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the season’s bounty in a light and approachable meal that the whole family will love.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
- A Friendly Wrap-Up And The Best Way To Serve It
Cozy Fall Dinner with Crescent Rolls
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This recipe offers a comforting yet light fall supper, perfect for busy weeknights or relaxed Sunday evenings. It features a savory ground meat and tomato sauce baked under a flaky, cheesy crescent roll crust. It’s easy to prepare, universally appealing, and designed to leave you feeling satisfied, not stuffed.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it softens, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
2. Add the ground turkey or beef to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Break it up with a spoon and cook until it’s no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
3. Stir in the diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for 5-7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
4. While the sauce simmers, unroll the crescent roll dough onto a baking sheet. You can either leave it as one large sheet or separate it into individual triangles, depending on your desired presentation. If leaving as a sheet, gently press the seams together to seal.
5. Spoon the meat mixture evenly over the crescent roll dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat mixture.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 F (190 C) for 12-15 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
7. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the cheese to set slightly and prevents it from falling apart.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Keywords: fall, dinner, crescent rolls, ground turkey, ground beef, easy, weeknight, comfort food, cheesy, savory
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true weeknight hero because it’s incredibly simple to assemble and cooks up in no time, making it perfect for those evenings when you’re short on time but still want a homemade meal. It’s ideal for families with varying tastes, as the flavors are universally appealing and not overly complex. You can serve this as a standalone supper, a light lunch, or even as a hearty appetizer for a casual gathering. It’s a fantastic way to incorporate seasonal flavors without committing to a heavy, hours-long cooking project, ensuring everyone leaves the table feeling comfortably satisfied, not stuffed.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground turkey or lean ground beef
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
When it comes to ingredients, simplicity is key. For the ground meat, lean ground turkey is a great choice for a lighter meal, but lean ground beef works just as well if that’s what you prefer or have on hand. Don’t worry about buying fancy canned tomatoes; any good quality diced tomatoes will do the trick. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, a mix of dried oregano, basil, and thyme can be used in equal parts. As for the crescent rolls, any standard store-bought brand will be perfect for this recipe. You don’t need gourmet cheese either; pre-shredded mozzarella is a convenient and tasty option.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 20-25 minutes
- Total time: 30-35 minutes
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this cozy fall dinner is straightforward, even for beginner cooks. Just follow these simple steps:
- Sauté the aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it softens, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Brown the meat: Add the ground turkey or beef to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Break it up with a spoon and cook until it’s no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
- Simmer the sauce: Stir in the diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for 5-7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Prepare the crescent rolls: While the sauce simmers, unroll the crescent roll dough onto a baking sheet. You can either leave it as one large sheet or separate it into individual triangles, depending on your desired presentation. If leaving as a sheet, gently press the seams together to seal.
- Assemble the dish: Spoon the meat mixture evenly over the crescent roll dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat mixture.
- Bake to golden perfection: Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 12-15 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Rest and serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the cheese to set slightly and prevents it from falling apart.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This recipe is wonderfully adaptable! For a kid-friendly twist, you can add a touch of sweetness to the meat sauce with a teaspoon of brown sugar, or stir in some finely diced carrots or bell peppers for extra veggies. If you’re looking to bulk it up slightly, a handful of fresh spinach can be stirred into the meat mixture during the last few minutes of simmering. For serving, a simple side salad with a light vinaigrette is perfect to round out the meal without making it heavy. You could also offer a side of steamed green beans or roasted broccoli. For a more substantial meal, consider serving it with a small bowl of whole wheat pasta or a slice of crusty bread for dipping. Optional toppings like a sprinkle of fresh parsley, a dash of red pepper flakes for a little heat, or a dollop of sour cream can elevate the flavors even further.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have a few pitfalls. One common mistake is not draining the fat from the ground meat. If you skip this step, your final dish can be greasy and the crescent rolls might become soggy. Always drain off any excess fat after browning the meat. Another slip-up is overcooking the crescent rolls; they can go from perfectly golden to burnt very quickly, so keep a close eye on them, especially in the last few minutes of baking. Also, make sure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature for even cooking. Lastly, don’t rush the simmering step for the sauce. Those few minutes allow the flavors to deepen and meld, making a big difference in the final taste.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This dish stores quite well, making it a great option for meal prepping or enjoying leftovers. Once cooled, transfer any remaining portions to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, you can use the microwave for individual servings, though the crescent roll crust might lose some of its crispness. For best results and to regain some of that crispy texture, reheat in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
If you want to make this ahead, you can prepare the meat sauce entirely and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When you’re ready to bake, simply spread the cold sauce over the crescent rolls, top with cheese, and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time if the sauce is very cold. Assembling the entire dish and baking it later isn’t recommended, as the crescent rolls can become soggy from sitting with the sauce.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use a different type of meat? Yes, absolutely! Ground chicken or even a plant-based ground meat substitute would work well in this recipe. Adjust cooking time as needed.
What if I don’t have crescent rolls? While crescent rolls give this dish its unique texture, you could try using puff pastry as an alternative. The baking time might need slight adjustment.
Can I add more vegetables? Certainly! Finely diced bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms can be added to the skillet with the onions. Just make sure they are cooked until tender before adding the tomatoes.
Is this recipe spicy? No, as written, this recipe is not spicy. If you prefer a little heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
Can I freeze leftovers? While you can technically freeze this dish, the texture of the crescent rolls might become a bit soft and less appealing after thawing and reheating. It’s best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated.
What kind of cheese is best? Mozzarella is great for its meltiness, but you could also use a blend of Italian cheeses, provolone, or even a little cheddar for a different flavor profile.
How do I know when the crescent rolls are done? They should be puffed up, golden brown on top, and cooked through. The cheese should be fully melted and bubbly.
A Friendly Wrap-Up And The Best Way To Serve It
This cozy fall dinner is truly a testament to how simple ingredients can come together to create a satisfying and flavorful meal that won’t weigh you down. It’s perfect for those busy evenings when you crave comfort food but need something quick and easy. Serve it warm, straight from the oven, perhaps with a fresh green salad on the side. The combination of savory meat, tangy tomato, and flaky, cheesy crescent rolls is a winning one that your family will ask for again and again. Enjoy the warmth and ease of this delightful supper!
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
