Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

Introduction

Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty and comforting layered dish inspired by rustic cowboy cooking. It combines seasoned ground beef, vegetables, and a creamy cheese layer atop a biscuit crust, making it perfect for family dinners or gatherings. This casserole offers a delicious blend of flavors and textures that is 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 (like Pam)
• 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
• ½ cup mild salsa

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Step 2: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, until no longer pink. Drain excess fat. While the beef cooks, prepare the biscuit dough.
3. Step 3: In a mixing bowl, combine biscuit mix and water. Mix thoroughly, ideally using your hands. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray, then press the dough evenly to the edges.
4. Step 4: Bake the biscuit crust for 5–8 minutes until set and lightly golden. Remove and keep the oven on.
5. Step 5: Add chopped onion and red bell pepper to the cooked beef. Cook and stir for about 4 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning and mix well. Remove from heat.
6. Step 6: Spread the beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the baked biscuit crust.
7. Step 7: In a medium bowl, mix sour cream, mayonnaise, drained green chiles, ¾ cup shredded cheese, and garlic powder until smooth. Carefully spread this mixture over the beef layer.
8. Step 8: Spoon small dollops of salsa over the sour cream layer without spreading. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly on top.
9. Step 9: Bake the casserole uncovered for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Tips & Variations

• You can prepare the casserole a day ahead; simply assemble and refrigerate, then bake when ready, adding a few extra minutes if cold.
• For added spice, include jalapeños or extra taco seasoning.
• Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter or vegetarian option.
• Use gluten-free biscuit mix to make the casserole gluten-free.

Storage

Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the entire casserole in a 350°F oven until heated through. The casserole can also be frozen before baking; wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking or bake from frozen with extra time.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

What food was on the cattle drive?

Cattle drive food was simple and practical, including beans, bacon, hardtack (dry biscuits), dried meats, and stews. Fresh vegetables were scarce, so cowboys relied on easily stored, nourishing foods.

Why is it called a John Wayne casserole?

The “John Wayne Casserole” is a hearty, traditional casserole reflecting the rugged, all-American spirit of the actor. It typically features ground beef, cheese, and filling ingredients symbolizing Western comfort food similar to what John Wayne might have enjoyed.

Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

Print Recipe

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Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty, layered comfort food combining seasoned ground beef, vegetables, and a biscuit crust, topped with a creamy, cheesy sour cream layer and salsa for a flavorful, Tex-Mex inspired meal. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, this casserole offers robust flavors with easy preparation and a crispy, golden finish.

• Author: Dylan
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 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
• 4 ounces Diced Green Chiles, drained

Biscuit Crust

• 2 ½ cups Biscuit Mix (such as Bisquick)
• 1 cup Water
• Cooking Spray (like Pam)

Sour Cream Layer

• ½ cup Sour Cream
• ½ cup Mayonnaise
• 1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese, Fiesta Blend, shredded, divided (¾ cup and ¾ cup)
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Toppings

• ½ cup Salsa, mild

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole layers.
2. Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until no pink remains. Drain excess fat to keep the dish lean. You can prepare the biscuit dough during this step.
3. Prepare the Biscuit Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the biscuit mix with water and stir well, using your hands for thorough mixing. Spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Press the dough evenly into the dish, spreading it to the edges. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes until lightly golden and set. Remove from oven but keep oven on.
4. Cook the Vegetables: Add chopped onions and red bell pepper to the cooked ground beef in the skillet. Stir and cook for about 4 minutes until softened. Mix in the taco seasoning thoroughly and then remove from heat.
5. Assemble the Layers: Spread the cooked beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the baked biscuit crust in the casserole dish.
6. Prepare the Sour Cream Layer: In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, drained diced green chiles, ¾ cup shredded cheese, and garlic powder. Mix until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Spread this mixture carefully over the ground beef layer in the casserole dish.
7. Add Salsa and Cheese: Spoon small dollops of mild salsa on top of the sour cream layer—no need to spread it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining ¾ cup shredded cheese evenly on top of the salsa layer.
8. Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole back into the oven uncovered and bake for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.

Notes

• This casserole can be prepared ahead of time by assembling and refrigerating up to 24 hours before baking. Just add extra 5-10 minutes to baking time if cold from the fridge.
• You can freeze the assembled but unbaked casserole, tightly wrapped, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before baking or bake from frozen adding extra time (45-60 minutes).
• To make a lighter version, substitute lean ground turkey or plant-based ground meat and reduce or replace mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
• Avoid adding too much liquid to prevent sogginess; adjust soup or salsa quantity accordingly.
• Pre-cooking the biscuit crust before layering helps ensure a crispy bottom and prevents undercooked dough.
• Adjust seasoning to taste and add extra chili powder or jalapeños for a spicier variation.

Keywords: Cattle Drive Casserole, ground beef casserole, Tex-Mex casserole, comfort food, biscuit crust casserole, layered casserole recipe