John Wayne Casserole

Just like John Wayne is the cowboy of cowboys, this John Wayne Casserole is the casserole of casseroles. Popular since the 1970s, this is my take on the classic. Of the dozens of versions out there, most of them share at least three common ingredients: tomatoes, peppers, and of course, cheese.

Talk Low, Talk Slow…and Pass the Casserole So maybe the Duke said, “ and don’t say too much.” But we talk (a lot) at our family dinner table. And this casserole is so good that people are, I love to say it, gonna want seconds!

Variations of this recipe have been popular in church cookbooks since the 70s. The casserole itself has been a favorite at picnics and potlucks for just as long.

My version adds 2 pounds of ground meat to keep my family full, a biscuit crust, fresh tomatoes, and a creamy cheesy topping. I started making this when the kids were younger and I swear they had hollow legs they could eat so much. This is one of the best casseroles for filling them up and it’s still a huge family fav!

This is no one-trick pony either. I’ve got plenty more casseroles sure to satisfy cowboys and city slickers alike—try hamburger casserole, sloppy Joe casserole, taco casserole, and cowboy casserole.

So make this for your next potluck—or the next time your family circles the wagons!

Why is it called John Wayne Casserole?

Interesting story! Well, allegedly, John Wayne himself actually contribute the original recipe in 1979, to a cookbook titled, Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends, written by Cara Connery. The cookbook was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

The original John Wayne casserole recipe appears to have many of the same ingredients as my recipe but is a simpler version.

John Wayne Casserole Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Oil: Use any neutral flavored oil.
• Onion: I like to use a yellow onion.
• Red Bell Pepper or Green Bell Pepper: I like the red variety because it’s a bit sweeter.
• Ground Beef: I use 80/20 lean to fat ratio ground beef. You can use a lower fat version or even ground turkey if you prefer.
• Taco Seasoning: I choose mild taco seasoning to keep it kid friendly.
• Water: Plain ol’ tap.
• Bisquick mix: I use the original version of Bisquick.
• Mayonnaise: I use Best Foods.
• Sour Cream: I use regular, full fat sour cream.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: You can use mild or medium, too.
• Jack Cheese: If you’d like to spice it up try pepper jack.
• Roma tomatoes: I like this variety because they have fewer seeds.
• Green Chiles: These come in a can. They’re milder than a  jalapeño.

Tips:

• Dough – When you spread the dough into the prepared baking pan, make sure the edges of the dough cover the bottom of the dish.

Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead

• How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? As with most casseroles, this recipe makes a dish that will last up to four days in the fridge stored tightly covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container. Any longer, and you risk bacteria growth.
• Can You Freeze This? Definitely! What’s a casserole if it doesn’t freeze? Pop this recipe into the freezer for up to three months. When you need it, thaw it in the fridge overnight, then bake according to the recipe.
• Make-Ahead Tips: This recipe whips together so fast and bakes so quickly that you can’t get any more make-ahead-friendly! If you need, you can always make it the day before, and just store it in the fridge until you need to bake it.

Variations

• Switch The Protein: Instead of browned ground beef, make this casserole with ground turkey.
• Switch The Cheese: I often switch the 4 ounces of cheddar cheese (1 cup) with an equal amount of pepper jack cheese. My son Ky’s favorite!
• Make It Richer: Beat 4 ounces of softened cream cheese into the mayo mixture. Evenly spread the new cream cheese mixture over the top of the tomatoes and green chiles
• Make It Gluten-Free! Instead of making the biscuit crust, spread an even layer of thawed shredded potatoes.
• Spice It Up: Add a can of well-drained Rotel tomatoes to the browned beef. You may want to reduce the amount of water you add. It shouldn’t be runny.
• Optional Toppings: This is deliciously served with fresh salsa and or sour cream.

Serving Recommendations

I like to serve this with my easy Bisquick biscuits or a hunk of fresh beer bread. Then I add either Southern green beans, brown sugar carrots, or KFC coleslaw.

For dessert, I like to make my easy cherry dump cake, chocolate bundt cake (that starts with a mix!), heaven on earth cake, or million dollar pie!

How To Make John Wayne Casserole

1. In a skillet heat oil. Add onions and red pepper and sauté until they begin to soften about 5 minutes.
2. Add ground beef to the vegetables, and cook over medium-high heat, crumbling with the back of a spoon, until there is no longer any pink. Drain excess fat.
3. Add ¾ cup water and taco seasoning to the beef in the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens.
4. In a small bowl mix together the Bisquick mix and ⅔ cup water to make a soft dough. Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides about ½ inch in the prepared baking dish. The dough was a little sticky so I used parchment paper to press it out on the bottom, and I used a spatula to bring it up the sides.
5. In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise, the sour cream, and half the cheddar and jack cheeses. Set aside.
6. Spread the ground beef mixture evenly over the biscuit layer, then top with a layer of the sliced tomatoes. Evenly sprinkle the green chilies over the tomatoes. Spread an even layer of the the sour cream mixture over the green chilies. Sprinkle top with remaining cheese.
7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

***See Full Instructions Below.

More Meaty Casseroles Your Family Will Love

• Shredded Beef Enchiladas
• Stuffed Shells
• Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
• Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
• Mexican Chicken Casserole
• Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
• Mostaccioli 
• Mexican Casserole

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John Wayne Casserole

This hearty classic John Wayne casserole has wonderfully southwest flavors, ground beef, a biscuit crust, fresh tomatoes, and a cheesy creamy topping.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time50 minutes mins

Servings: 10 servings

Author: Kathleen

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ▢ 1 small onion, chopped
• ▢ 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• ▢ 2 pounds ground beef, browned, crumbled and drained
• ▢ 1 (1-oz.) packet taco seasoning
• ▢ water
• ▢ 2 ¼ cups Bisquick mix
• ▢ water
• ▢ ½ cup mayonnaise
• ▢ ½ cup sour cream
• ▢ 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
• ▢ 1 cup jack cheese
• ▢ 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced thin
• ▢ 1 (4-oz.) can green chiles

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 325° F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a 12-inch skillet heat vegetable oil (1 tablespoon). Add onions (1) and red pepper (1) and sauté until they begin to soften about 5 minutes.
• Add ground beef (2 pounds) to the vegetables, and cook over medium-high heat, crumbling with the back of a spoon, until there is no longer any pink. Drain excess fat.
• Add ¾ cup water and taco seasoning (1 packet) to the beef in the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens.
• In a small bowl mix together the Bisquick mix (2 ¼ cups) and ⅔ cup water to make a soft dough. Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides about ½ inch in the prepared baking dish. The dough was a little sticky so I used parchment paper to press it out on the bottom, and I used a spatula to bring it up the sides.
• In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise (½ cup), the sour cream (½ cup), and half the cheddar and jack cheeses. Set aside.
• Spread the ground beef mixture evenly over the biscuit layer, then top with a layer of the sliced tomatoes (2). Evenly sprinkle the green chilies (1 can) over the tomatoes. Spread an even layer of the the sour cream mixture over the green chilies. Sprinkle top with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Fans Also Made:

• 
  Beef Noodle Casserole
• 
  Chili Cornbread Casserole
• 
  Dorito Casserole
• 
  Hamburger Potato Casserole

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Notes

1. Dough – When you spread the dough into the prepared baking pan, make sure the edges of the dough cover the bottom of the dish.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 548kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 702mg | Potassium: 400mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 756IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 246mg | Iron: 3mg

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