Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

Introduction

Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty, layered dish inspired by cowboy cuisine, perfect for a filling family meal. Combining ground beef, vegetables, and a creamy cheese topping, it offers comforting flavors with a rustic touch. This one-pan casserole is easy to prepare and full of satisfying textures.

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

Tips & Variations

• Make the casserole a day ahead: assemble and refrigerate, then bake when ready, adding 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.
• For more heat, add jalapenos or use a spicy salsa.
• Swap ground beef with turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter or vegetarian option.
• Try adding extra vegetables like zucchini or corn for more nutrition and color.
• Use gluten-free biscuit mix to make the casserole gluten-free.
• Double or triple the recipe for larger gatherings, using a bigger baking dish and adjusting baking time accordingly.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm individual portions in the microwave or reheat the whole casserole in a 350℉ oven until bubbly. You can also freeze the fully baked casserole for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

What food was on the cattle drive?

Food on cattle drives was simple and practical, including beans, bacon, hardtack biscuits, dried meats, and stews. Fresh vegetables were rare, so cowboys relied on durable, easy-to-store ingredients that provided lasting energy.

Why is it called a John Wayne casserole?

The “John Wayne Casserole” reflects the rugged, hearty meals associated with the iconic actor’s Western films. It typically includes ground beef, cheese, and filling ingredients, embodying the straightforward, robust spirit of the Old West.

Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 101 reviews

Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty and flavorful layered dish inspired by classic cowboy cuisine, combining ground beef, vegetables, a biscuit crust, and creamy cheesy layers topped with salsa. This dish is perfect for family dinners or gatherings, offering a comforting blend of Tex-Mex flair and rugged Western spirit with easy preparation and satisfying taste.

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

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 Layer

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

Sour Cream Layer

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

Topping

• ½ cup Salsa, mild

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking your casserole.
2. Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and break it apart with a spoon. Cook until there is no pink remaining, stirring occasionally. Drain any excess fat from the skillet. While the meat cooks, you can start making the biscuit dough.
3. Prepare the Biscuit Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine 2½ cups of biscuit mix with 1 cup of water. Stir until well blended, ideally kneading with your hands for thorough mixing. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the dish, spreading it out to the edges. Bake in the preheated oven for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the dough is set and lightly golden. Remove from oven but keep the oven on.
4. Cook the Vegetables and Season: Add the chopped yellow onion and red bell pepper to the cooked ground beef in the skillet. Stir and cook for about 4 minutes until the vegetables soften. Sprinkle in the taco seasoning mix and stir well to combine all flavors. Remove the skillet from heat.
5. Assemble the Meat Layer: Spread the cooked and seasoned ground beef and vegetable mixture evenly on top of the pre-baked biscuit crust in your casserole dish.
6. 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. Mix thoroughly until smooth and homogeneous. Carefully spread this creamy mixture evenly over the ground beef layer in the casserole.
7. Add Salsa and Cheese Topping: Dollop small spoonfuls of the mild salsa across the sour cream layer without spreading it. Then sprinkle the remaining ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the entire casserole top for a melty and flavorful finish.
8. Bake the Casserole: Return the casserole to the oven uncovered. Bake for about 30 minutes until the dish is hot throughout, bubbly, and the cheese on top is melted and slightly golden.

Notes

• You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 5-10 minutes to baking time if baking straight from the fridge.
• Freeze the unbaked casserole tightly wrapped for up to 3 months; thaw overnight before baking or bake from frozen with additional baking time (about 45-60 minutes).
• For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey or plant-based meat and reduce mayonnaise or replace with Greek yogurt.
• Adjust taco seasoning or salsa to taste if you prefer more or less heat.
• Make sure to cook the biscuit layer partially before adding other ingredients to prevent sogginess.
• Use a large enough casserole dish to allow even cooking; overcrowding can cause uneven texture.
• Drain excess fat from beef thoroughly to avoid greasy casserole.

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