This John Wayne casserole recipe is loaded with flavor. It combines taco seasoned ground beef with peppers, onions, a buttery biscuit-like crust, and a rich creamy cheesy topping that's to die for. Plus, this casserole is so, so easy to make. In fact, just 5 steps are all it takes to put it together.
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The Best John Wayne Casserole
Ok, so first off, you may be wondering why this recipe is called John Wayne casserole. Well, the initial version of the recipe was created by John Wayne himself. He actually shared it in a cookbook back in the '70s called "Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends."
Since then, there have been several takes on the casserole, and this is mine. I'd like to think that this is an elevated - and even more delicious - version of the cheesy casserole Wayne shared all of those years ago.
I mean, this recipe is just jam-packed with flavor. It starts off with a buttery biscuit layer, followed by a layer of spiced taco meat and veggies, and then all of that deliciousness gets topped off with some creamy, melty cheese. It's almost like a taco casserole, but I think it's so much better.
Ingredients Needed
- Biscuit Baking Mix- or any biscuit baking mix.
- Water
- Olive Oil
- Green Pepper- diced into small pieces.
- Onion- diced into small pieces.
- Ground Beef- I used an 80/20 split for the best flavor.
- Taco Seasoning
- Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
- Sour Cream- Greek yogurt works too.
- Mayonaisse- for the delicious creaminess.
- Cheddar Cheese- shredded for topping the casserole.
By the way, you can use a lot of these same ingredients to make this Johnny Marzetti casserole and Doritos casserole next! So, if you end up having some extras, I definitely recommend giving those easy casserole recipes a shot too.
How To Make John Wayne Casserole
1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180ºC) and grease a baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Make the biscuit crust: In a bowl, mix the biscuit baking mix with the water until they fully combine. Spread the biscuit batter evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
3. Cook the veggies and beef: Pour the olive oil into a large skillet and cook onions and peppers for about 10 minutes - until they're soft. Add the ground beef and break it apart as you cook it until it's browned on all sides. Add the taco seasoning with a splash of water to the pan and stir to coat the browned ground beef, onions, and peppers in the seasoning.
4. Assemble the casserole: Spread the ground meat mixture over the biscuit crust, and top it with diced tomatoes and green chiles. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and cheddar cheese in a bowl. Top the casserole with the sour cream mixture and sprinkle more shredded cheese on it.
5. Bake and serve: Bake the casserole for about 25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top. Let it cool for a minute, serve warm, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Add some heat. If you like a bit of spice, don’t hesitate to add diced jalapeños or a dash of cayenne pepper to the beef mixture. This gives the casserole an extra kick without overwhelming the other flavors.
- The more cheese, the better. Use a mix of cheeses for the best flavor. Sharp cheddar is a classic choice, but adding some pepper jack or Monterey jack cheese can add another dimension of cheesy flavor. You can even grate your own cheese if possible. I love grating my own cheese for a fresher flavor since pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can affect melting.
- Customize your veggies. Feel free to customize the vegetables in this beef casserole based on your preferences. Adding mushrooms, corn, or even black beans can bring additional texture and flavor to the dish.
- Let the casserole rest. Once baked, let the casserole rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set and makes it easier to slice and serve without falling apart.
- Make it ahead. This is the perfect make-ahead casserole. You can assemble the casserole a day in advance, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, let it come to room temperature before placing it in the oven and baking as directed above.
- Serve with some toppings. Consider serving your casserole with a variety of toppings like sour cream, fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, or even a side of salsa. These extras can enhance the flavor and make the dish even more satisfying.
How To Store and Reheat This Casserole
In the fridge: You can either cover the casserole dish or transfer everything to an airtight container, and it will remain fresh in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
In the freezer: If you want to store this Bisquick beef casserole to last even longer, you can freeze it. Just transfer it to an airtight container, and it'll stay good in there for up to 6 months.
Reheating: To the casserole just put it back in the oven at 350°F and heat it for about 10 minutes or until the casserole is fully warmed through.
Alternatively, you can reheat single portions of your casserole in the microwave in 20-second increments until the cheese has melted and it reaches your desired temperature.
John Wayne Casserole Recipe FAQS
What is the story behind the John Wayne casserole?
Marion Robert Morrison, known as John Wayne, was an American actor in a number of popular television shows and movies. The casserole was created by himself and featured in Cara Connery's cookbook in 1979 "Cooking With Love From Cara and Her Friends." The casserole has since been adapted, and there are multiple versions of it that exist today.
What was in the original casserole?
The original John Wayne casserole was made with biscuit dough, chopped onions, red bell peppers, jalapenos, ground beef, and tomatoes covered in a creamy topping made from mayonnaise, sour cream, taco seasoning, and cheddar cheese.
Can I make this casserole ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the casserole ahead of time. Just make it following the first 4 steps I listed above, then, cover it with a lid, and store it in the fridge for a day or so. When you want to cook it, just pop it in the oven and bake it following my instructions in step 5.
More Casserole Recipes
- Million dollar chicken casserole
- Cheddars broccoli cheese casserole
- Chicken divan
- Ground turkey casserole
- Crack chicken casserole
- Corn casserole
- Chicken enchilada casserole
John Wayne Casserole
This John Wayne casserole recipe is loaded with flavor. It combines taco seasoned ground beef with peppers, onions, a buttery biscuit-like crust, and a rich creamy cheesy topping that's to die for. Plus, this casserole is so, so easy to make. In fact, just 5 steps are all it takes to put it together.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Biscuit Baking Mix
- 1 cup Water
- 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1 Green Pepper, dcied
- ½ Onion, diced
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 2 tbsp. Taco Seasoning
- 1 can Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180ºC).
- Grease a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Mix the biscuit baking mix with water and spread in the bottom of the baking dish.
- In a skillet, add olive oil and cook onions and peppers until soft - about 10 minutes. Add the beef and cook until browned. Add the taco seasoning and stir to combine.
- Spread the meat over the biscuit mix, and top with diced tomatoes.
- In a bowl combine sour cream, mayonnaise and cheddar cheese.
- Top the casserole with the cheese mixture and bake for 25 minutes, or until bubbly.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 440Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 21g
Gabe
Great stuff love his recipes
Gloria
my family uses Famous Dave's Cornbread in place of the bisquick biscuit. It is the most addicting casserole ever!!!
Jen
Your not wrong about that
Lauren
One of the best casseroles that I have.
Judy Shea
This was great
Thanks for the recipe
Brendan Cunningham
We're so happy you liked it!
Nancy
What size can of rotel please?
Brendan Cunningham
A 10 oz. can
Gloria
For the base we use Famous Dave's Corn Bread in place of the biscuit.
This casserole is so addicting!!!❤❤❤
Brendan Cunningham
That sounds great! We're so glad you like it!!
Johnny
This was hands down the best casserole I have ever made.
Elaine Keenan
I'm making it for my oldest son for Thanksgiving dinner I just saw the recipe so I'm going to surprise him with it we're all Big John Wayne fans and always have been and I knew that he'll love it. So Happy Thanksgiving to you and thank you for the recipe. God bless and be safe.
Brendan Cunningham
That's great!! We hope you like the recipe and have a happy Thanksgiving!
Rebekah L. Rotondo
What size baking dish?
Brendan Cunningham
A 9x13-inch works great!
Angelica
The entire casserole was truly excellent and we are looking forward to the next time we have it.
Mellisa
My husband is allergic to sour cream can I not use the sour cream or substitute something for it? Thank you!
Brendan Cunningham
Hi Mellisa! Yes, 3 oz. of softened cream cheese should work great
Maureen
Is the biscuit mixture bisque k? Pls reply.
Brendan Cunningham
Yes!
Michael Tobias
Getting ready to make this recipe and excited about it, however, we don’t care for the Rotel tomatoes with chilies. If I use the same amount of just diced tomatoes, should I drain the juice from the can? Thanks
Brendan Cunningham
Hi Michael, yes that should work great!
Pam
Since I'm allergic to tomatoes I made it with drained peas and it went over really good. The kids and I loved it.
Brendan Cunningham
Great substitution! We're so glad everyone liked it!
Judy Ellinger
The casserole was top notch. Whole family loved it and we're making it again next week.
Tammy Burns
My husband and kids devoured this. They thought it was the tastiest casserole they have ever tried.! I was a popular cook last night!!
Max
Wildly delicious I could have this for dinner every night!
Pamela Dawson
Thank you John Wayne for somehow making this casserole a thing. It was wonderful. My husband won't stop talking about it. Making this again for sure!!!
Amber
So happy to have come across this casserole. Delicious!!!
Pam Lyons
I wasn't sure about this but it turned out soooo good!!!
Shane
No joke the best casserole recipe that I have ever tried.
James
This casserole has it all.
Olivia F
The layers in this casserole are a delight. Thanks for the great recipe!
Liam Farkas
Tasted as good as it looks.
Greg Dorsett
You won't find a better casserole than this one. It wasn't too hard to make and has a flavor combination I have yet to discover in any other recipe. Truly incredible recipe right here.
Olivia
What size baking dish does this recipe call for? I couldn't find it.
Thanks!
Brendan Cunningham
Hi Olivia! I used a 9x13-inch dish