Cattle Drive Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (browned and drained)
• onion powder (to taste, for seasoning beef)
• garlic powder (to taste, for seasoning beef)
• 1 packet taco seasoning (about 1 oz)
• 0.25 cup water (for the taco meat)
• 1 box Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix (plus water and cheese as required by package instructions)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 packet dry ranch seasoning (about 1 oz)
• 2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (divided; Colby Jack is a suitable substitute)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a baking dish with cooking spray or butter.

2. 2

   In a pot or large skillet, brown 1 lb of ground beef over medium-high heat. Season with onion powder and garlic powder while cooking.

3. 3

   Once the meat is fully browned, drain the excess grease from the pan.

4. 4

   Add 1 packet of taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water to the beef. Stir well to incorporate, then remove from heat and cover with a lid.

5. 5

   In a medium bowl, prepare the Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix according to the package instructions, adding the required water and a handful of shredded cheese. Mix until combined and set aside.

6. 6

   In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 packet of dry ranch seasoning, and approximately 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. Mix well and set aside.

7. 7

   Spread the prepared biscuit mixture into an even layer across the bottom of the greased baking dish.

8. 8

   Spread the taco meat mixture evenly over the top of the biscuit layer.

9. 9

   Spread the sour cream and mayonnaise mixture in a nice even layer over the meat.

10. 10

    Top the entire casserole with the remaining shredded cheese.

11. 11

    Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. For a golden brown top, switch the oven to broil for the final 2 minutes of cooking.

12. 12

    Remove from the oven and let the casserole sit for 10 minutes to cool and set before serving.

Notes

The author recommends shredding your own cheese for better melting. If you don't have sharp cheddar, Colby Jack works well. Ensure the casserole rests for 10 minutes after baking to make it easier to slice.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• casserole
• easy recipe
• ground beef
• baked
• family dinner