Name: Taco Bake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 1 can of Crescent Rolls (8 Count); 1 pound lean ground beef; ¾ cup salsa; 2 Tbsp taco seasoning; 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)

Taco Bake with Crescent Rolls recipe is an easy weeknight meal using store-bought crescent rolls as the crust with a taco and cheese filling. The use of crescent roll dough to carry your favorite taco toppings adds a soft bread texture with a buttery flavor that’s delicious.

A closer look on taco bake with crescent rolls.

Taco Bake with Crescent Rolls Recipe

As an easy dinner recipe it’s a great one to have up your sleeve as it’s ready from start to finish in 22 minutes. This taco pie is so versatile, you can mix it up with a number of different toppings so everyone will have something they love.

This is such a simple meal and it’s all made in one dish in the form of a pie. This easy crescent taco bake is like a taco with a buttery crust. If you do weekly taco nights, this is a great way to change up Taco Tuesday.

The crescent roll crust adds an amazing texture and flavor that you can’t get from flour tortillas that makes this a perfect recipe when you want to try something new. It’s a delicious dinner the whole family will love it.

What’s Needed for this Easy Taco Bake with Cresent Rolls

Crescent rolls – store bought refrigerator crescent rolls. You can also use a crescent dough sheet if you can find them in your grocery store.
Ground beef – you’ll need a pound of ground beef. We used lean ground beef.
Salsa
Taco seasoning – a packet of taco seasoning
Cheddar cheese – it’s best to shred from a block of cheese

How to Make the Cresent Roll Taco Bake

Taco Bake with Crescent Rolls progress pictures, mince with seasoning and tomatoes, browned mince, mince on crescent roll base and finished baking shot.

Unroll crescent rolls and press over the bottom and sides form to make a crust similar to a pie crust.
Place in ungreased, 10-inch pie plate.
In a skillet, brown the beef over medium- high heat, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked and browned. Add salsa and taco seasoning mix to the ground beef mixture and simmer for 3-4 minutes allowing the flavors to combine.
Spoon the meat mixture on top of the dough in pie pan and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.
Top with lettuce and tomato. Serve with salsa, sour cream and avocado as toppings, if desired.

What Do I Serve with Taco Bake?

You can top your taco bake with sour cream, salsa, sliced avocados, guacamole, scallions, or black olives. Anything that would go good on a taco will work get on Pillsbury crescent roll taco bake.

Serve refried beans, black beans, Spanish rice, or a leafy green salad on the side.

You could also put some corn chips, or tortilla chips on the side for added crunch.

A photo of taco Bake with Crescent Rolls

Substitutions and Additions

This is one of those easy recipes that’s really versatile. You can make it your own by modifying the ingredients based on your favorite taco ingredients.

Ground turkey – you can substitute the meat with ground turkey or ground chicken.
Sour cream – top with a dollop of sour cream
Salsa – add a side of salsa to this dish
Green chiles – use chopped green chiles from a can that’s drained
Pinto beans – you can add pinto beans to the ground beef mixture
Leftover chili – use leftover chili as the meat base, add some cheese and bake
Double it – you can make a larger portion or even double the recipe simply by increasing the ingredients and placing them in a 9×13 casserole dish. You’ll want to increase the cook time as well. This would be a great way to feed a crowd.

Are Crescent Rolls the Same as Puff Pastry?

Crescent rolls have a crisp, golden brown outer when baked, and you can see layers of thin flaky dough. Crescent rolls and puff pastry are made using similar ingredients and techniques, but crescent rolls differ from puff pastry in the way yeast is used in their recipes, giving them different textures.

Can I Substitute Puff Pastry for Crescent Roll Dough?

Crescent rolls can be baked to fit different shaped dishes and serve as the base for hundreds of creative dishes. You can use frozen puff pastry sheets for this recipe but the base will have a slightly different texture.

If you’re needing to substitute crescent rolls for this recipe the closest alternative would be pizza dough, though you could also use canned biscuit dough like in my Bubble Pizza recipe.

Can I Make this Crescent Roll Taco Bake in Advance?

Yes, that’s another thing I love about this taco pie dish. You can make the taco bake and store it in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator to bake later that day.

Alternatively, you can make the taco meat even earlier as it will keep for up to 3 days in a sealed container or with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. Then just put the taco bake together and pop it in the oven! Once cooked this Taco Bake can be kept in the refrigerator, sealed, for up to 3-4 days.

What Other Recipes Can I Make with Crescent Roll Dough?

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls are so versatile and are so handy for making amazing dishes at the drop of a hat. Other than this Easy Pillsbury Crescent Crust Taco Bake, here’s some of my favorite crescent roll dough recipes to try next.

Want More Easy Mexican Inspired Dinner Recipes?

Taco Bake

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Total Time 22

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll crescent rolls and press over the bottom and sides form to make a crust. Place in ungreased 10-inch pie plate.
1 can of Crescent Rolls
In a skillet cook ground beef over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked and browned; Add salsa and taco seasoning mix to the ground beef mixture and simmer for 3-4 minutes allowing the flavors to combine.
1 pound lean ground beef, ¾ cup salsa, 2 Tbsp taco seasoning
Spoon meat mixture into pie pan and sprinkle with cheese.
1 cup cheddar cheese
Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.
Top with lettuce and tomato. Serve with salsa, sour cream and avocado as toppings if desired.