Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

cheesy italian ricotta & beef pie

(5 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Michaela Paugh
Copley, OH

My family loves this. It's a great alternative to "pasta." Sometimes you just don't want the same ole pasta recipe!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

We love that this easy dinner recipe had so much flavor. It reminded us of an upside down pizza. The cheese layer seriously adds so much cheesiness to the recipe. Crescent dough, brushed with garlic butter and fresh Parmesan cheese, is an excellent topping. We were a little concerned when we opened the oven that we overcooked this. The butter really browns the top, so don't be concerned. It was perfect. A great recipe to whip-up after a busy day of work.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(5 ratings)
yield 8 -10
prep time 30 Min
cook time 35 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For cheesy italian ricotta & beef pie

  • MEAT MIXTURE
  • 2 lb
    lean ground beef
  • 1 md
    onion, chopped
  • 1 clove
    garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 jar
    spaghetti sauce (I like Hunt's Zesty & Spicy), 24 oz.
  • CHEESE LAYER
  • 1 c
    ricotta cheese
  • 2 c
    mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 c
    Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 c
    cheddar cheese, shredded
  • TOPPING
  • 2 can
    refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 3 Tbsp
    butter
  • 1 clove
    garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 c
    Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

How To Make cheesy italian ricotta & beef pie

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 375.
  • Ground beef cooking in a skillet.
    2
    In a large skillet, add ground beef, chopped onion and 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped. Brown ground beef on medium heat. Drain grease. Return browned ground beef to large skillet.
  • Adding spaghetti sauce to browned ground beef.
    3
    Add jar of spaghetti sauce, stir well.
  • Ground beef and tomato mixture simmering.
    4
    Simmer on low for 2-3 minutes.
  • Ground beef and tomato mixture poured into 9x13 pan.
    5
    Grease a 13x9 pan, add ground beef and spaghetti sauce mixture to bottom of pan. Spread evenly.
  • All cheeses mixed in a bowl.
    6
    In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, and grated Parmesan. Mix well.
  • Cheese mixture spread over ground beef.
    7
    Spread evenly on top of ground beef mixture.
  • Cheddar cheese sprinkled on top of cheese mixture and beef.
    8
    Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.
  • Crescent dough pieces placed on top of casserole.
    9
    Align evenly 1.5 - 2 cans of crescent rolls (depending on your preference) on top of cheese mixture. Crescent triangles will rise evenly to create a crust on top while baking.
  • Butter and garlic melting in a saucepan.
    10
    In a small saucepan, melt butter and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
  • Brushing garlic butter on top of crescent dough.
    11
    Brush butter and garlic mixture on top of crescent rolls.
  • Sprinkling Parmesan cheese on top of crescent dough.
    12
    Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake casserole in the oven.
    13
    Bake uncovered in oven for 35 minutes at 375 degrees, until crust is golden brown.
  • Baked casserole cooling on stove.
    14
    Let stand for 10 minutes to cool. Serve and enjoy!
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