Can you increase or decrease the heat level of cattle drive casserole?

Increase the heat by swapping the poblanos with spicier peppers, including jalapeños, serrano peppers, Fresno peppers, and more, or by adding cayenne pepper into the mix. You can decrease the heat by leaving the poblanos and/or diced green chiles out of the casserole.

What types of cheeses work well for cattle drive casserole?

Feel free to add any cheeses you prefer, including a Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, fontina, and more.

Can cattle drive casserole be made kid-friendly?

This casserole is pretty kid-friendly, but feel free to decrease the heat level (as described above) for younger palates.

Cattle Drive Casserole Recipe

Active Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 5 mins

Servings:

If cattle drive casserole is new to you, be prepared to make space in your recipe tin. This will be a new favorite.

The savory biscuit bottom of this casserole acts as a nice base for a taco-seasoned beef mixture. A layer of mayonnaise, sour cream, and cheese is saucy and creamy. The diced tomatoes and chiles add pops of sweetness, tang, and brightness.

Learn how to make cattle drive casserole. It's everything you love about a family-friendly dinner, and it's made in the weeknight favorite 9x13 dish. Feel free to make it your own by adding corn, black beans, or other vegetables. If there's anything to love about cattle drive casserole, it's that it's easy to adapt.

Southern Living Cattle Drive Casserole on a plate to serve — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

Ingredients for Cattle Drive Casserole

Cheddar-Bay biscuits provide a savory, cheesy base, with a taco-seasoned ground beef, poblano chiles, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, and canned diced green chiles adding a punch of flavor to this hearty casserole. A creamy cheese layer made with pepper Jack, Cheddar, and sour cream adds richness to offset the intensity of the additional ingredients. To make cattle drive casserole, you'll need:

Cooking spray: Keeps the casserole from sticking to the baking dish.
Cheddar-Bay Biscuit mix: A buttery, cheesy, shortcut base for the casserole.
Water: To form the biscuit mix into a dough.
Olive oil: To sauté the beef, helping it cook evenly.
Ground beef: The main protein of the casserole, adding a rich, meaty flavor and texture to the dish.
Yellow onion: Adds an aromatic depth.
Poblano chile: For a mild heat and smoky, earthy flavor.
Taco seasoning: A blend of spices, often including chili powder, cumin, and garlic, for a robust flavor.
Kosher salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the casserole.
Mayonnaise: A creamy base for the top layer of the casserole, adding richness and moisture to the dish.
Sour cream: For a tangy, creamy addition that balances the richness of the beef, mayo, and cheese.
Smoked paprika: For a smoky depth.
Pepper Jack and Cheddar cheese: A combo of cheeses to add a melty, cheesy goodness to the casserole.
Fire-roasted diced tomatoes: Adds a slightly smoky touch and concentrated tomato flavor.
Canned diced green chiles: For a mild heat and tangy flavor, adding a Southwestern kick.

Southern Living Cattle Drive Casserole ingredients — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

How To Make Cattle Drive Casserole

Hearty enough to serve a crowd, with just 25 minutes of active time—It doesn't get much better than that. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Add biscuit dough to baking dish: Use spray to coat a baking dish. Stir together biscuit mix, seasoning packet, and water. Spread into baking dish and bake until just starting to brown. Set aside.
Step 2. Cook ground beef: Heat oil in a large skillet. Add beef and cook until browned and almost cooked through.
Step 3. Add seasoning to ground beef: Add onion and poblano. Stir occasionally and cook until beef is cooked through. Stir in taco seasoning and salt. Remove from heat.
Step 4. Make creamy topping mixture: In a bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, and paprika. Stir in some of each cheese.
Step 5. Assemble casserole: Spoon beef mixture into baking dish.
Step 6. Add tomatoes: Top beef with diced tomatoes and green chiles.
Step 7. Add cheese mixture: Top with mayonnaise mixture and spread to coat.
Step 8. Add remaining cheese: Sprinkle with remaining cheeses.
Step 9. Bake casserole: Bake until cheese is melted and and mixture is bubbling around edges. Let stand before serving.

Cattle Drive Casserole Variations

To put your own spin on this casserole, consider these variation ideas:

Protein: Although you might need to change the name, you can swap the ground beef with ground chicken or turkey, chorizo, or a vegetarian option like black beans.
Veggies: Amp up the veggies by adding bell peppers or corn into the mix.
Biscuits: Swap the store-bought mix with homemade biscuit dough, if preferred, or cornbread mix for a unique twist.
Heat: Increase the heat by swapping the poblanos with spicier peppers, including jalapeños, serrano peppers, Fresno peppers, and more.
Seasoning: Add a twist by swapping the taco seasoning with Cajun seasoning.
Herbs: Add fresh parsley or cilantro for a fresh touch.
Cheese: Substitute the pepper Jack or Cheddar cheese with other types as preferred, including a Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, fontina, and more.
Toppings: Add some variety with an assortment of flavorful toppings, from ripe avocado or diced tomatoes, to lime wedges, fresh cilantro, sour cream, and more.

Can I Make Cattle Drive Casserole Ahead?

To prepare this casserole in advance, assemble without baking. Wrap well and refrigerate for up to two days or freeze for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator if frozen and bake as directed before serving (the casserole may need additional time in the oven).

How To Store and Reheat Leftover Cattle Drive Casserole

Refrigerate leftover casserole for up to four days or freeze for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator if frozen and reheat, covered with foil, in a preheated 350°F oven until hot throughout.

What To Serve With Cattle Drive Casserole

This satisfying casserole comes with biscuits, cheese, tomatoes, chiles, and meat for a meal that stands up well all on its own. To round out the meal, serve with a side salad or favorite veggie sides for a dinner the whole family will love.

More Tex-Mex-Inspired Dinner Recipes You'll Love

These Tex-Mex dishes are a crowd-pleasing option when you're in the mood for bold flavors and satisfying dishes:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

Cooking spray
1 (11.36-oz.) package Cheddar-Bay Biscuit mix (such as Red Lobster)
3/4 cup tap water
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lb. ground beef round (85/15)
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion (from 1 small [6 oz.] onion)
1/2 cup chopped poblano chile (from 1 medium [4 oz.] chile)
1 (1-oz.) packet taco seasoning
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
8 oz. pepper Jack cheese, shredded (2 cups), divided
8 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups), divided
1 (15-oz.) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained
1 (4-oz.) can diced green chiles, drained

Directions

Add biscuit dough to baking dish:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9- x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Stir together biscuit mix and seasoning packet with water in a medium bowl. Spread into baking dish.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

Bake in preheated oven until just starting to turn golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
Cook ground beef:

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add beef in large chunks and cook, undisturbed, until well browned on first side, about 3 minutes. Stir and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until almost cooked through but some pink remains, about 5 more minutes.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
Add seasoning to ground beef:

Add onion and poblano and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking beef into small pieces, until beef is cooked through and onions are starting to soften, about 3 more minutes. Add taco seasoning and salt and stir to combine. Remove from heat.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
Make creamy topping mixture:

Stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, and smoked paprika in a medium bowl. Stir in 1 cup of the pepper Jack and 1 cup of the Cheddar.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
Assemble casserole:

Spoon beef mixture evenly over par-cooked biscuit in baking pan.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
Add tomatoes:

Dollop spoonfuls of diced tomatoes and green chiles on top of beef.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
Add cheese mixture:

Spoon mayonnaise mixture over beef and peppers and gently spread to cover.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
Add remaining cheese:

Sprinkle evenly with remaining pepper Jack and Cheddar.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
Bake casserole:

Bake until cheese is melted and starting to turn brown in spots, and mixture is bubbling around edges, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit 10 minutes before serving.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you increase or decrease the heat level of cattle drive casserole?

Increase the heat by swapping the poblanos with spicier peppers, including jalapeños, serrano peppers, Fresno peppers, and more, or by adding cayenne pepper into the mix. You can decrease the heat by leaving the poblanos and/or diced green chiles out of the casserole.
What types of cheeses work well for cattle drive casserole?

Feel free to add any cheeses you prefer, including a Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, fontina, and more.
Can cattle drive casserole be made kid-friendly?

This casserole is pretty kid-friendly, but feel free to decrease the heat level (as described above) for younger palates.