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Delicious Cattle Drive Casserole ready to serve with fresh ingredients

Cattle Drive Casserole

A comforting, layered ground-beef bake with a quick biscuit base, seasoned beef layer, and creamy, cheesy topping — perfect for feeding a crowd with minimal fuss.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 38 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Casserole, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat and Vegetables
  • 1.5 pounds lean ground beef (90/10 or 85/15) Browned and seasoned.
  • 1 piece red bell pepper, seeded and chopped Can use any color.
  • 1 piece yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 ounce taco seasoning mix Or homemade: 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp oregano, ½ tsp salt, pinch cayenne.
Biscuit Base
  • 2.5 cups biscuit mix (like Bisquick) For gluten-free use a GF baking mix adjusted per package.
  • 1 cup water
  • Cooking spray (like Pam) For greasing the casserole dish.
Creamy Mixture
  • 0.5 cup sour cream Substitute: plain Greek yogurt for tang and protein.
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise Substitute: light mayo or more Greek yogurt for lower fat.
  • 4 ounces diced green chiles, drained Can be mild or hot.
  • 1.5 cups cheddar fiesta blend, shredded Reserve some for topping.
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Topping
  • 0.5 cup mild salsa Or medium for more kick.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until no pink remains (about 6–8 minutes). Drain any excess fat.
  3. Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the beef, cooking until softened, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle in the taco seasoning and stir to coat evenly. Remove from heat.
  4. In a medium bowl, mix the biscuit mix and 1 cup water until just combined. Spread the dough into the prepared casserole dish in an even layer. Bake the biscuit layer for 5–8 minutes — it should be set but not fully browned.
Assembly
  1. Spoon the cooked beef mixture over the par-baked biscuit base in an even layer.
  2. In a separate bowl, stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, drained diced green chiles, ¾ cup of the shredded cheese, and garlic powder until smooth. Spread this mixture over the beef.
  3. Dollop the salsa across the top, then sprinkle with the remaining ¾ cup of cheese.
Baking
  1. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly golden. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Par-baking the biscuit layer prevents a gummy center and helps the casserole slice neatly.