Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

Introduction

Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish inspired by classic cowboy cuisine. This layered casserole combines ground beef, vegetables, and a creamy topping, making it perfect for a comforting family meal or a crowd-pleasing gathering.

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
• 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 the 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. Drain off any excess fat.
3. Step 3: In a mixing bowl, combine the biscuit mix and water. Stir well, ideally using your hands, until thoroughly blended.
4. Step 4: Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Press the biscuit dough evenly into the dish, spreading to the edges.
5. Step 5: Bake the biscuit layer for 5–8 minutes, until set and lightly golden. Remove from the oven but keep it on.
6. Step 6: Add the chopped onions 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.
7. Step 7: Spread the cooked beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the baked biscuit layer in the casserole dish.
8. Step 8: In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, drained diced green chiles, ¾ cup shredded cheese, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth.
9. Step 9: Carefully spread the sour cream mixture over the beef layer.
10. Step 10: Add small spoonfuls of salsa on top of the sour cream layer without spreading it out. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly over the casserole.
11. Step 11: Bake the casserole uncovered for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Tips & Variations

• To add more heat, mix in jalapeños or use spicy salsa.
• Use lean turkey or plant-based meat to make a lighter version.
• Swap biscuit mix for gluten-free options to suit dietary needs.
• Prepare the casserole a day ahead, cover tightly, and refrigerate before baking to save time.
• For a smoky twist, add a sprinkle of smoked paprika to the ground beef mixture.

Storage

Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or the whole dish in a 350℉ oven until warmed through. This casserole can also be frozen before baking for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

What food was on the cattle drive?

During cattle drives, cowboys ate simple, durable foods like beans, bacon, hardtack (dry biscuits), dried meats, and stews made from available ingredients. Fresh vegetables were rare due to storage limits.

Why is it called a John Wayne casserole?

The “John Wayne Casserole” is named after the iconic Western actor and reflects a hearty, all-American casserole featuring ground beef and cheese. It embodies the rugged, comforting spirit associated with John Wayne’s roles.

Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 100 reviews

Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty, layered comfort dish inspired by classic cowboy cuisine. Combining seasoned ground beef, vegetables, a biscuit crust, and creamy cheese toppings, this casserole delivers a satisfying blend of flavors and textures perfect for family dinners or gatherings. With its easy assembly and baking method, it embodies rustic simplicity with a Tex-Mex flair.

• Author: Cleo
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat and Vegetables

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

Biscuit Crust

• 2 ½ cups Biscuit Mix (such as Bisquick)
• 1 cup Water
• Cooking Spray (such as Pam), for greasing the dish

Sour Cream Layer

• ½ cup Sour Cream
• ½ cup Mayonnaise
• 4 ounces Diced Green Chiles, drained
• 1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese, Fiesta Blend, shredded, divided
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Additional Toppings

• ½ cup Mild Salsa

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃) to ensure it’s ready for baking your biscuit crust and casserole.
2. Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and break it apart with a spoon. Cook until it’s no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish light. While the meat cooks, you can prepare the biscuit dough to save time.
3. Prepare the Biscuit Dough: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the biscuit mix and water. Stir well until fully blended – using your hands can help mix thoroughly for an even dough. Spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray, then press the dough evenly into the dish, spreading it out to the edges to form a crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 5-8 minutes or until the dough is set and lightly golden. Remove and set aside, keeping the oven on.
4. Cook the Vegetables and Season: To the cooked ground beef in the skillet, add the chopped onion and red bell pepper. Stir and cook for about 4 minutes until softened. Add the taco seasoning mix and stir to incorporate evenly. Remove the skillet from heat.
5. Assemble the Layers: Spread the seasoned ground beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the baked biscuit crust in the casserole dish.
6. Prepare the Sour Cream Layer: In another medium bowl, mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, drained diced green chiles, ¾ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic powder until smooth and well combined. Carefully spread this creamy mixture evenly over the ground beef layer in the casserole dish.
7. Add Salsa and Cheese Toppings: Spoon small dollops of mild salsa over the sour cream layer without spreading, to create bursts of flavor. Then sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top of the casserole to cover it.
8. Bake the Casserole: Return the assembled casserole to the oven uncovered. Bake at 350℉ (175℃) for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot throughout, bubbly, and the cheese topping is melted and lightly golden.

Notes

• You can prepare this casserole a day in advance by assembling it and refrigerating it covered with plastic wrap, then bake when ready, adding 5-10 extra minutes to baking time if cold.
• For larger crowds, double or triple the recipe and use a larger baking dish, adjusting baking time as needed.
• Substitute plant-based ground meat or omit meat entirely to make a vegetarian version.
• Use gluten-free biscuit mix and omit breadcrumbs or fried onions in toppings to make it gluten-free.
• Ensure potatoes or other fresh vegetables are precooked if added separately to avoid undercooked veggies.
• Avoid adding too much soup or liquid to prevent a soggy casserole.
• Use a sufficiently large casserole dish to prevent overcrowding and ensure even cooking.

Keywords: Cattle Drive Casserole, cowboy casserole, ground beef casserole, Tex-Mex casserole, layered casserole, comfort food