Description
Cattle Drive Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish featuring a flavorful ground beef and vegetable base topped with creamy mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, and crispy tater tots. Perfect for a satisfying family meal, it combines savory flavors with a delightful crispy topping baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can (15 oz) kernel corn, drained
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
Sauce
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
Topping
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 package (32 oz) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the casserole evenly.
- Cook Beef and Onions: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion together until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat to keep the casserole from being greasy.
- Season Beef Mixture: Add garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to the cooked beef and onion mixture. Stir well to distribute the seasonings evenly.
- Add Vegetables: Mix in the drained corn and the undrained diced tomatoes to the beef mixture, combining all ingredients thoroughly.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup and milk until smooth to create a creamy sauce layer.
- Layer Beef Mixture: Spread the beef and vegetable mixture evenly across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish to form the casserole base.
- Add Sauce Layer: Pour the mushroom soup mixture over the beef layer, smoothing it out evenly to cover the entire surface.
- Sprinkle Cheese: Distribute 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the sauce for a cheesy layer beneath the tater tots.
- Add Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese, covering the entire casserole.
- Bake Initial Phase: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, starting the melting and cooking process.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Continue Baking: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots, then return it to the oven to bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking to set before serving.
Notes
- Drain excess fat from the cooked beef to avoid a greasy casserole.
- Use fresh or frozen diced onions if preferred but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- For a creamier sauce, use whole milk or add a splash of cream instead of milk.
- Frozen tater tots do not need to be thawed before baking.
- Letting the casserole rest helps it set and makes serving easier.
