Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

Introduction

Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish combining seasoned ground beef with a cheesy sour cream layer atop a warm biscuit crust. It’s perfect for family dinners when you want something that’s both satisfying and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 ounce taco seasoning mix
• 2 ½ cups biscuit mix (such as Bisquick)
• 1 cup water
• Cooking spray (such as Pam)
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 4 ounces diced green chiles, drained
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, fiesta blend, divided
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ cup mild salsa

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350℉.
2. Step 2: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a spoon. Cook until no longer pink, stirring occasionally, then drain excess fat.
3. Step 3: While the beef cooks, combine the biscuit mix and water in a bowl. Stir until well mixed, using your hands if possible, for even blending.
4. Step 4: Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray. Press the biscuit dough evenly into the dish, spreading to the edges. Bake for 5–8 minutes until set and lightly golden. Remove from oven but keep it on.
5. Step 5: Add chopped onion and red bell pepper to the cooked beef in the skillet. Stir and cook for about 4 minutes. Mix in the taco seasoning, then remove from heat.
6. Step 6: Spread the beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the baked biscuit base.
7. Step 7: In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, drained green chiles, ¾ cup shredded cheese, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth.
8. Step 8: Carefully spread the sour cream mixture over the beef layer.
9. Step 9: Spoon small amounts of salsa over the sour cream layer without spreading. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly on top.
10. Step 10: Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Tips & Variations

• Try swapping out the red bell pepper for green or yellow for a slightly different flavor and color.
• For extra spice, use a medium or hot salsa instead of mild.
• Mix in some black beans or corn with the beef for added texture and nutrition.
• If you prefer, substitute the biscuit base with refrigerated biscuit dough or a cornbread crust.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the entire casserole in the oven at 350℉ until heated through, about 15–20 minutes.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the casserole up to the assembly stage, then cover and refrigerate it. Bake it when ready, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time since it will be cold.

Can I use other types of cheese?

Absolutely. Cheddar works great, but you can use Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or a Mexican cheese blend to match your taste preferences.

Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

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4.4 from 79 reviews

Cattle Drive Casserole is a layered ground beef and biscuit dish with a creamy, cheesy topping that combines southwestern flavors like taco seasoning, green chiles, and salsa. It features a baked biscuit base topped with seasoned beef, a sour cream and mayonnaise mixture with cheese, and finishing with melted cheddar cheese for a hearty, flavorful comfort meal perfect for family dinners.

• Author: Victoria
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Casserole
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American, Southwestern

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat and Vegetables

• 1.5 pounds Lean Ground Beef
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 Yellow Onion, chopped

Seasonings and Mixes

• 1 ounce Taco Seasoning Mix
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Biscuit Layer

• 2 ½ cups Biscuit Mix, like Bisquick
• 1 cup Water
• Cooking Spray, like Pam

Creamy Topping

• ½ cup Sour Cream
• ½ cup Mayonnaise
• 4 ounces Diced Green Chiles, drained
• 1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese, Fiesta Blend, shredded (divided)
• ½ cup Salsa, mild

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Set the oven to 350℉ to prepare it for baking both the biscuit dough base and the casserole finishing phase.
2. Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain off any excess fat to avoid greasiness. While the meat cooks, you can prepare the biscuit dough to save time.
3. Prepare the Biscuit Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the biscuit mix and water. Stir well, preferably using your hands for thorough blending, until a dough forms. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray and press the dough evenly into the dish, spreading it out to the edges. Bake in the preheated oven for 5-8 minutes until the dough is set and lightly golden. Remove from oven but keep oven on.
4. Cook the Vegetables: To the cooked ground beef in the skillet, add the chopped onions and red bell pepper. Stir and cook about 4 minutes until vegetables soften. Add the taco seasoning mix and stir well to combine. Remove from heat.
5. Assemble the Layers: Evenly spread the cooked ground beef and vegetable mixture on top of the baked biscuit dough base in the casserole dish.
6. Prepare the Sour Cream Layer: In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, drained diced green chiles, ¾ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth and creamy. Carefully spread this mixture over the ground beef layer in the casserole dish.
7. Add Salsa and Cheese: Spoon small dollops of mild salsa over the sour cream mixture without spreading it out. Then sprinkle the remaining ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top to add a cheesy crust.
8. Bake: Place the casserole back in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly with melted, golden cheese on top. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

• Make sure to drain the ground beef well to prevent a watery casserole.
• You can use a pre-mixed taco seasoning or make your own for customized seasoning.
• Fiesta blend cheese includes cheddar and other cheeses for great flavor, but sharp cheddar works well too.
• If you like a spicier casserole, choose medium or hot salsa instead of mild.
• The biscuit mix base gives a quick and easy bread layer, but you can substitute with homemade biscuit dough if preferred.

Keywords: Cattle Drive Casserole, ground beef casserole, biscuit casserole, southwestern casserole, cheesy casserole, taco seasoning recipe