Cooking Lesson #631: Baked Crescent Roll Taco Ring

… from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? At the Lawry’s California Center test kitchen Sandy and I used to spend lunch time trying to come up with new recipes that used Lawry’s products.
 
This Taco Ring is still one of my favorites that we collaborated on. It is a dramatic, delicious appetizer or main dish that everyone loves. Lawry’s Taco seasoned ground beef and melty cheese wrapped in a buttery, flaky Pillsbury crust are perfect for game day, Taco Tuesday, or any night of the week! A Taco Crescent Ring brings together all the flavors of traditional tacos wrapped in a soft and flaky pastry instead of taco shells. Not only is this one of the best dinner ideas for picky kid eaters, it can also be an easy appetizer for food-loving adults. Try it once, and without a doubt, it will be a family favorite in no time!
 
Prep time:  10 minutes
Cook/bake time:  35 minutes
Yield:  10 servings
 
Ingredients 
1 pound ground beef
1 package taco seasoning (I prefer Lawry’s brand)
4 ounces chopped green chilies (small can—do not drain)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
2 cans (8 ounces) crescent roll dough (I prefer Pillsbury brand)
 
Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 375⁰ F. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. In a large skillet, add the ground beef, taco seasoning, and chopped green chilies. Cook, stirring continuously until the beef is cooked through and no longer pink.
3. Remove the pan from the stove and drain the meat.
4. Stir in 1-1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese. Let cool slightly.
5. Open the cans of crescent rolls and separate them into triangles.
6. On the prepared baking sheet, place a bowl that is 4-inches wide in the center of the pan. Place the wide edges of the dough up against the edge of the bowl allowing the pieces to overlap slightly. The points of the dough triangles should point away from the center. Remove the bowl.
7. When the dough is laid out, spoon the beef mixture onto the wide ends of the dough, leaving a small border on the inside and staying as close to the middle as possible.
8. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over the beef mixture.
9. Wrap the beef mixture by bringing the tips of the dough triangles up over the beef and tucking under the dough in the inner circle. Continue until the whole wreath is finished.
10. Bake at 375 ⁰F for 15-25 minutes or until the dough is cooked through and the tops are golden brown.
11. Remove from the oven when done and let cool slightly.
12. Gently remove from the pan using a big spatula.
13. Serve with your favorite toppings in the middle of the ring.

ChefSecrets:  Keep the crescent dough cold until ready to use. You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef. You can add diced onions to the meat mixture when cooking. Once the beef and onion are cooked down, add the taco seasoning and green chilies.
My favorite taco toppings are shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, black olives, taco sauce, pico de gallo, salsa, salsa verde, queso dip, jalapeños, shredded cheddar cheese, refried beans and guacamole.

Quip of the Day:  You cannot make everybody happy all the time, after all, you are not a taco.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America and/or American Red Cross.

#Baking #Appetizers #Entrees #CrescentRolls #TacoRing #Lawrys #Pillsbury #2023Recipes #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

                                                                                 ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2023

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