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Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

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★★★★★

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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Find it online: https://cookedbycleo.com/cattle-drive-casserole-recipe/