Ree Drummond, the celebrated Pioneer Woman, has won hearts with her approachable and delicious recipes. Among her many crowd-pleasers, the nacho cheese casserole stands out as a weeknight dinner champion. Drummond herself admits it’s not a “fancy” dish, but its comforting Tex Mex flavors and ease of preparation make it a family favorite. According to The Pioneer Woman star, this casserole is so popular that “there’s never a crumb left” when she serves it.
Drummond showcased this easy casserole recipe on her Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman. “If you’re looking for a weeknight dinner that everyone is going to love, you can’t get any better than nacho cheese casserole,” she explained. “It’s one of those dinners that completely disappears — there’s never a crumb left.” Her enthusiasm for this dish highlights its simple yet irresistible appeal for busy families seeking a satisfying meal.
To start the casserole, Drummond creates a base sauce by whisking flour into hot oil in a skillet, cooking it to a light golden brown roux. “I have to say, this casserole is so Middle America,” Drummond remarked, acknowledging its unpretentious nature. “I don’t mean to make generalizations. By that I mean, there is nothing fancy about it. It’s just a good old Tex Mex casserole — meaty, cheesy. It’s got tortilla chips in it. How bad can that be?” This self-aware humor adds to the recipe’s charm, emphasizing its focus on simple, enjoyable flavors over culinary complexity. She then incorporates chicken broth, canned enchilada sauce, and cumin into the roux, simmering it until thickened into a flavorful sauce.
In a separate skillet, Drummond prepares the meaty component by browning ground beef with diced onions and minced garlic. This foundational layer of savory beef is key to the casserole’s hearty nature. “This casserole is great because you can eat it on its own after it’s baked and it’s delicious,” she notes, highlighting its standalone appeal. “I like to serve it with a whole bunch of fixings. The same fixings you’d use if you were making tacos, nachos, anything like that.” Drummond emphasizes the versatility of Tex Mex cuisine and how easily this casserole fits into that beloved category. “Tex Mex dishes and fixings — it’s kind of a religion in our house,” she adds, underscoring the personal connection and love for these flavors within her family.
Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond Shares Her Famous Nacho Cheese Casserole Recipe.
The Pioneer Woman then moves on to the cheesy heart of the casserole. She combines grated sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheese in a bowl, creating a blend that promises both sharpness and a bit of spice. Drummond then pours the prepared sauce over the browned ground beef mixture, ensuring it’s well combined and ready for layering.
Drummond demonstrates how to assemble not one, but two casseroles – one for immediate dinner and another for future convenience, destined for the freezer. This batch-cooking tip is a hallmark of her practical approach to home cooking. The assembly process begins with a layer of crushed nacho chips in the bottom of the pans, providing a crunchy base. This is followed by the savory beef mixture, and then a generous blanket of the cheese blend. These layers are repeated, building a substantial and flavorful casserole.
To bake the nacho cheese casserole, Drummond covers the pans with foil and bakes them in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 25 minutes. Removing the foil for the last 15 minutes of baking allows the cheese to melt and become golden brown and bubbly, adding visual appeal and textural contrast. Once out of the oven, Drummond crowns the casserole with fresh toppings: shredded romaine lettuce, diced roma tomatoes, sour cream, black olives, and green onions. These cool, crisp additions provide a refreshing counterpoint to the rich, cheesy casserole.
The full, detailed recipe is readily available on the Food Network website, inviting everyone to try this easy and beloved dish.
Drummond’s nacho cheese casserole has garnered rave reviews on the Food Network site, with home cooks praising its taste and ease. Reviewers also offer helpful suggestions for customization. One reviewer noted, “Loved this meal. The only change I made was I used Mexican cheese instead of doing the pepper jack. I didn’t want it to get too spicy for my four and six-year-old,” showcasing the recipe’s adaptability to different spice preferences. Another enthusiastic reviewer exclaimed, “Tastes and eats like a gourmet taco salad!! Fabulous!” highlighting its familiar and comforting Tex Mex profile. A practical tip from another reviewer suggests, “From previous experience and as some other reviewers suggested, I only put the chips on top… Overall, it was delicious and I will definitely make it again,” indicating that some prefer to keep the chips from softening in the casserole. Another reviewer shared, “With changes, it was an instant hit with all family members, this rarely happens,” emphasizing the recipe’s broad appeal, even with slight modifications.
In conclusion, Ree Drummond’s nacho cheese casserole is more than just an easy weeknight meal; it’s a testament to the power of simple, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing recipes. Its Tex Mex inspired flavors, ease of preparation, and customizable nature make it a winning dish for families and home cooks of all skill levels. Whether you follow the recipe exactly or adapt it to your liking, this Pioneer Woman staple is sure to become a requested favorite in your own kitchen.
