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Cattle Drive Casserole: The Ultimate Comfort Food with Bold Tex-Mex Flavor

Cattle Drive Casserole: The Ultimate Comfort Food with Bold Tex-Mex Flavor
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Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty, crowd-pleasing dish inspired by the bold flavors of the Old West with a Tex-Mex twist. Layers of seasoned ground beef, tender vegetables, a soft biscuit base, and creamy, cheesy toppings come together to create a comforting meal that’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or cozy nights at home.

Ingredients

Scale

For the casserole

  • 1½ pounds lean ground beef

  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

  • 1 yellow onion, chopped

  • 1 oz taco seasoning mix

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • ½ cup mild salsa

For the biscuit base

  • 2½ cups biscuit mix (such as Bisquick)

  • 1 cup water

  • Cooking spray

For the creamy layer

  • ½ cup sour cream

  • ½ cup mayonnaise

  • 4 oz diced green chiles, drained

  • 1½ cups shredded cheddar or fiesta blend cheese, divided

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven
    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

  • Cook the ground beef
    Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat.

  • Prepare the biscuit base
    In a mixing bowl, combine the biscuit mix and water until a soft dough forms. Spray the casserole dish with cooking spray and press the dough evenly into the bottom.
    Bake for 5–8 minutes, until just set and lightly golden. Remove from the oven and set aside (leave the oven on).

  • Cook the vegetables
    Add the chopped onion and red bell pepper to the cooked beef. Cook for about 4 minutes, until softened. Stir in the taco seasoning, then remove from heat.

  • Assemble the casserole
    Spread the beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the baked biscuit base.

  • Make the creamy layer
    In a bowl, mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, green chiles, ¾ cup of the shredded cheese, and garlic powder until smooth. Spread this evenly over the beef layer.

  • Top and bake
    Spoon small dollops of salsa over the creamy layer (no need to spread). Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
    Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until hot, bubbly, and lightly golden.

Notes

  • Spice it up: Use hot salsa or add jalapeños if you like extra heat.

  • Make it lighter: Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream or mayo.

  • Add-ins: Black beans or corn make great additions for extra texture and flavor.

  • Rest before serving: Let the casserole sit for 5–10 minutes so it slices more cleanly.

Find it online: https://tastyquickly.com/cattle-drive-casserole-the-ultimate-comfort-food-with-bold-tex-mex-flavor/