Description
Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty, comforting layered dish featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and creamy cheese layers atop a baked biscuit base. This easy-to-make casserole combines Tex-Mex flavors with a quick biscuit crust, perfect for a family dinner or potluck.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1.5 pounds Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 Yellow Onion, chopped
Seasonings and Sauces
- 1 ounce Taco Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ cup Salsa, mild
Biscuit Base
- 2 ½ cups Biscuit Mix (such as Bisquick)
- 1 cup Water
- Cooking Spray (such as Pam) for greasing the casserole dish
Cheese and Cream Layer
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- 4 ounces Diced Green Chiles, drained
- 1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese, Fiesta Blend, shredded, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (177°C) to prepare for baking the biscuit base and casserole.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until it is no longer pink. Stir occasionally for even cooking. Drain any excess fat once meat is cooked.
- Prepare the Biscuit Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the biscuit mix and water. Stir thoroughly, ideally using your hands to ensure the dough is well blended. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray, then press the biscuit dough evenly across the bottom, spreading it out to the edges. Bake in the preheated oven for 5 to 8 minutes until the dough is set and lightly golden. Remove from oven but keep oven on for later.
- Cook the Vegetables: Add the chopped onions and red bell pepper to the cooked ground beef in the skillet. Stir and cook for about 4 minutes until vegetables soften. Mix in the taco seasoning thoroughly. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the Layers: Evenly spread the cooked ground beef mixture over the baked biscuit crust in the casserole dish.
- Prepare the Sour Cream Layer: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, drained diced green chiles, ¾ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic powder. Stir until smooth. Carefully spread this creamy mixture over the top of the ground beef layer.
- Add Salsa and Cheese: Drop small spoonfuls of salsa over the sour cream layer—no need to spread it out completely. Then sprinkle the remaining ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the salsa layer.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the assembled casserole back into the oven, uncovered. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted and slightly golden. Serve warm.
Notes
- Drain excess fat from the ground beef to reduce greasiness in the casserole.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, use medium or hot salsa instead of mild.
- This casserole can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated; bake when ready to serve.
- For a lower-fat version, substitute reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
- Serve with a side of fresh salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
