First published February 14, 2022. Last updated April 14, 2025, for editorial improvements.
Table of Contents
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🎥 Video
Need dinner fast and don’t want to sacrifice your sanity (or your sink)? This cheesy, beefy Crescent Roll Taco Bake is bursting with Tex-Mex flavor and comes together in 30 minutes—just in time for you to hop in the shower and pretend the day didn’t happen. It’s make-ahead friendly, weeknight ready, and so easy thanks to trusty crescent roll dough. Honestly, I keep a tube in the fridge like it’s emergency chocolate. Try it once and you’ll be hooked—just like the rest of us who value dinner with minimal dishes and maximum deliciousness.
🧾 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
Cook beef and bell peppers; add taco seasoning and Rotel tomatoes.
Press one can of crescent rolls, or a crescent sheet in the bottom of the pan.
Top with ground beef. Top with the cheese then the remaining can of crescent rolls.
Bake 20-25 minutes.
📖 Recipe
Crescent Roll Taco Bake
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced
- 2 ounces taco seasoning
- 20 ounces Rotel tomatoes, undrained
- 1 pound Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Mozzarella, shredded from a block
- 16 ounces refrigerated crescent rolls, 2 8-ounce cans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF.
- Spray a 13x9-inch casserole pan with cooking spray. Set Aside.
- In a heavy skillet, brown the ground beef and saute the peppers. Drain the fat.
- Add taco seasoning and Rotel tomatoes.
- Stir and simmer until heated through, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Open on can of crescent rolls and unroll the dough without separating the rolls.
- Press in the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Use a slotted spoon and top with ground beef mixture.
- Add shredded cheese.
- Unroll the remaining crescent roll dough and lay on top of the cheese.
- Bake 20-25 minutes, until the rolls are golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
- Top with favorite taco toppings and serve
Notes
- Gluten free? Use gluten free Bisquick to create a ¼ inch thick crust on top. Details in the post above.
- Be sure to spray your casserole dish well with cooking spray for easy clean-up.
- If you can find the crescent dough sheets you can use those instead of crescent roll tubes that you have to pinch together.
- Try to pinch the dough triangles together on your crescent roll dough so that you don't have large holes.
- You can tell this recipe is ready when the top is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
🤫 Cook's secrets -
Add a layer of refried beans over the bottom crust before adding the remaining ingredients. It's more like nachos!
📖 Variations
- Cheese options. Switch up the cheese and use pepper jack or cheddar cheese for a different flavor.
- Cut the fat. Use ground turkey instead of ground beef for a lower-fat option.
- Beans. Add drained black beans, pinto beans, or refried beans to the beef mixture for more protein and to stretch the grocery budget.
- Toppings. Top with black olives, sour cream, guacamole, green onions, or salsa.
- Spice it up. Add green chiles for some additional spicy flavor.
- Alternative crust. If you don't have crescent rolls or the crescent sheets use pie pastry or even biscuits, instead.
- Gluten-free. Use gf baking mix to create a ¼ inch crust and bake as directed.
If you love easy casseroles with great Tex-Mex flavor try my beef nacho casserole, too!
Marye's Tips
- Easy clean up. Be sure to spray your casserole dish well with cooking spray for easy clean-up.
- Sauteing. Saute the peppers until they start to become tender for the best flavor.
- Seasoning. You can use a packet of taco seasoning or your favorite homemade taco seasoning.
- Crescent Dough. If you can find the crescent dough sheets, use those instead of crescent roll tubes that you have to pinch together. Pinch the crescent dough triangles together to avoid large holes.
- Doneness. The recipe is ready when the top is golden brown.
👩🍳 FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
I would use gluten-free bisquick and pat out a rectangle to lay over the top (skip the bottom crust), keeping the dough no more than ¼ inch thick. Bake as directed - but make sure the dough is baked through before removing it from the oven. Just before taking it out of the oven consider adding a ¼ cup of cheese over the top and letting it melt.
Yes! If you are assembling this taco casserole ahead of time either leave the crust off the bottom or bake it until done before assembling the rest of the casserole. This will keep it from being soggy. Then prep the casserole and wrap it in plastic wrap in the fridge until you are ready to bake.
📚 Related recipes
More easy recipes made with crescent rolls! Check out these other budget friendly Mexican recipes!
🍽️ Serve with...
Grilled pineapple is a quick and easy side. If you don't feel like firing up the grill use a grill pan inside or broil in the oven. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn!
Jalapeno popper corn salad is a delicious addition to this easy meal. Make it the night before!
Mexican hot chocolate cupcakes are moist and chocolatey with a touch of warm spices.
🍽️ Repurpose leftovers
- Taco bake breakfast burritos. Create breakfast burritos by scrambling some eggs and mixing in chopped up leftover taco bake. Wrap the mixture in flour tortillas with some shredded cheese and avocado slices. Serve with salsa or hot sauce for a delicious morning meal.
- Create a dip. Chop up the taco bake and stir in a can of refried beans. Heat up and serve with chips.
- Leftover taco meat. Use it in this meat lover's Tater Tot pizza casserole or stir it into this easy Spanish rice skillet!
It's no secret that I love Tex-Mex flavors and when a recipe is as easy as this?
Well, that goes on my "A" list!
I like topping each serving with sour cream and some chopped cilantro. I'll put a bowl of extra sour cream on the table for those who want more.
It's a great main dish for back to school and soccer practice nights, and it disappears at potlucks. So good!
Another easy recipe that I absolutely love is this King Ranch Casserole. Give it a try - I bet it's a favorite at your house, too.
Don't lose this recipe!!
Pin to your favorite Pinterest board to find this easily when you want it!
Karla Kretschmer says
Chicken instead of beef???
Marye says
should be fine. 🙂
Claire Hoetker says
You forgot to include where the bell peppers are to be added in the instructions in the green area.
Marye says
You saute them with the meat. 🙂