John Wayne Casserole
This John Wayne Casserole is the perfect dinner recipe for the family that loves tacos and that traditional Mexican food taste. Easy to throw together and so delicious this recipe has quickly become a fan favorite in my home.
I consider myself a casserole connoisseur and I think I can confidently say that this is the best casserole I have had in a long time. In Fact this John Wayne Casserole is so good that I received multiple texts after I shared it with family asking for the recipe.
And as a perk for those who love to meal prep this casserole is even better the second day.
The Story of John Wayne Casserole
With such a unique name everyone wants to know why it is called John Wayne Casserole. In the late 1970’s John Wayne contributed this recipe to a cook book that benefited the American Cancer Society.
The cookbook was created by a 10 year old named Cara Connery. She had the idea to create a cookbook filled with recipes from famous people. She wrote to over 1000 famous people and John Wayne was one of those that sent in a recipe.
The Cook Book was titled “Cooking With Love From Cara And Her Friends”. The best part is that the proceeds went to benefit those fighting cancer.
The cook book became fairly well known and this ground beef casserole became affectionately known as the John Wayne Casserole.
John Wayne Casserole Ingredients
This is a layered ground beef casserole that has the taste of a loaded taco. The base is made of Bisquick and is a light base that soaks up all the yummy flavors from the layers on top of it.
The next layer is a ground beef mixture made up of taco seasonings, green and red bell peppers, diced green chiles, tomatoes, and onions. This is the layer that brings all of the layer to this John Wayne Casserole.
The last layer is a sour cream mixture with mayonnaise and cheddar cheese.
Trust me this is a quick and easy recipe to throw together and it tastes so delicious it is more than worth the effort to make it.
Bisquick Dough for the Base
- 2 Cups Bisquick
- 1 Cup Water
Meat Mixture
- 1 tbsp Cooking oil
- 1 Pound Ground Beef: Can substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken
- 1 Packet Taco Seasoning
- 1 10 ounce can Diced Tomatoes 2 Large fresh tomatoes can be substituted
- 1 Cup Canned Corn
- 1/2 Green Bell Pepper Diced
- 1/2 Red Bell Pepper Diced
- 1/2 White Onion Diced
- 1 4 ounce Can Fire Roasted Diced Green Chiles I prefer the mild flavor
- 1 tsp Garlic Salt
- 1/4 Cup Water
Topping
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
- 2 Cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
How to Make John Wayne Casserole
Making the Casserole Base
Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray like Pam.
In a mixing bowl mix together the Bisquick and 1 cup of water. The dough will be a bit sticky but it is supposed to be.
Pour the Bisquick mix into the pan, using a spatula or flat knife evenly spread it into the bottom of the pan. Once it is evenly spread into the bottom of the pan set it aside.
Making the Meat Mixture
Dice up the onion and the red and green bell peppers. Whenever I am dicing up vegetables I try to make them bite sized.
In a large non-stick skillet I add the cooking oil and heat the pan over medium heat.
To sauté the vegetables add the onion, and diced peppers to the pan and stir covering in the oil. Cook the vegetables until the onions are translucent and the peppers have softened.
I will cook them until there is a slight brown to the peppers, this gives them a fire roasted taste. Once they are cooked to your liking remove the vegetables and set them aside.
In the same skillet that I cooked the vegetables I will add the ground beef and cook. Making sure to crumble the meat as it cooks making it a minced ground beef. I like to cook the meat all of the way through until there is no pink showing.
Add the taco seasoning and garlic salt to the meat and stir it into the meat mixture.
Once the meat is cooked all the way through I will add 1/4 cup of water to the meat and stir it in. At this point I let the meat cook for another minute.
To the skillet that has the meat I will add the sautéed vegetables, diced green chiles, tomatoes, and corn.
Next I stir all of the ingredients mixing them completely.
I will take the 9×13 baking dish with the Bisquick mixture on the bottom. On top of that I pour the meat mixture on top of the Bisquick and spread it evenly over the top.
Making the Sour Cream Mixture
I mix the sour cream and mayonnaise together and spread it evenly over the top of the meat mixture. My preference is to always use full fat sour cream and mayonnaise as it brings the most flavor to this recipe.
Then I take the shredded cheese and spread it over the top of the casserole. It is possible to use pre-shredded store bought cheese but shredding it myself from a block is always my go to.
Cooking John Wayne Casserole
Place the casserole into an oven that has been preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
I cook the casserole for 30-35 minutes. Keep in mind that all ovens cook differently. My oven has a tendency to run hot so this casserole cooks in 30 minutes for me.
You will see that the Bisquick is cooked on the bottom of the casserole and the cheese will be melted on the top.
Remove from the oven and Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make John Wayne Casserole With Canned Biscuits?
There are several variations to this recipe and ways to adapt it for what you have on hand, or what you like. I have tried this recipe with canned biscuits laid down on the bottom in place of the Bisquick.
If this is the choice that you go with I would recommend the butter flavored grands biscuits from Pillsbury. These are canned biscuits that are found in the refrigerator isle.
The secret in using canned biscuits is to make sure that the bottom of the pan is covered in them evenly. This creates a crust that the casserole is then layered on top of.
While this option does taste good my preference is still in using the Bisquick mixture. I find that if I make this casserole the way that John Wayne intended it tastes so much better and does not dry out.
Can I make John Wayne Casserole With Tater Tots?
Besides the Bisquick mixture or canned biscuits there is another option for the base of this John Wayne Casserole. Shockingly enough tater tots are another option.
I find that tater tots are good in this dish but they have a less rich texture and taste. They are good in a pinch but again not my preference. Also I find that the structure of this dish holds up better and is less crumbly with the Bisquick mixture than with tater tots.
But if tater tots is all that you have on hand or if you want to be creative and give them a try then it is absolutely an option in making this John Wayne Casserole.
I am a huge fan of creativity so I say do what you think your family will like best.
Can You Freeze John Wayne Casserole?
Yes this casserole can absolutely be frozen. This John Wayne Casserole is great to make ahead and stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Freezing Process:
- Cool Down: Allow your freshly baked John Wayne Casserole to cool completely before freezing. Placing it in the refrigerator for an hour or two will expedite this process.
- Portioning: If you have a large casserole portion that won’t be consumed in one go, divide it into smaller portions suitable for individual servings. This way, you can freeze only what you need at any given time.
- Wrapping: Wrap each portion tightly using high-quality plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Make sure there are no exposed areas to prevent freezer burn and maintain the flavors.
- Additional Protection (optional): For extra protection against freezer burn and odors, place each wrapped portion inside a resealable freezer bag.
- Labeling and Dating: Don’t forget to label each package with the name of the dish and its freezing date—this ensures easy identification when retrieving from the freezer later on.
Other Recipes to Try
John Wayne Casserole
Equipment
- 1 Large Non-Stick Skillet
- 1 9×13 Pyrex Baking Dish
- 1 Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Bisquick Dough for the Base
- 2 Cups Bisquick
- 1 Cup Water
Meat Mixture
- 1 tbsp Cooking oil
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 1 Packet Taco Seasoning
- 1 10 ounce can Diced Tomatoes 2 Large fresh tomatoes can be substituted
- 1 Cup Canned Corn
- 1/2 Green Bell Pepper Diced
- 1/2 Red Bell Pepper Diced
- 1/2 White Onion Diced
- 1 4 ounce Can Fire Roasted Diced Green Chiles I prefer the mild flavor
- 1 tsp Garlic Salt
- 1/4 Cup Water
Topping
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
- 2 Cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl mix together the Bisquick and 1 cup of water.Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray like PamPour the Bisquick mix into the pan, using a spatula or flat knife evenly spread it into the bottom of the pan.Once it is evenly spread into the bottom of the pan set it aside.
- Dice up the onion and the red and green bell peppers.In a large non-stick skillet add the cooking oil and heat the pan over medium heat.To saute the vegetables add the onion, and diced peppers to the pan and stir covering in the oil. Cook the vegetables until the onions are translucent and the peppers have softened. I like to cook them until there is a slight brown to the peppers, this gives them a fire roasted taste.Remove the vegetables and set them aside.
- In the same skillet that you cooked the vegetables add the ground beef and cook. Make sure to crumble the meat as it cooks making it a minced ground beef. Cook the meat all of the way through until there is no pink showing.Add the taco seasoning and garlic salt to the meat and stir it into the meat mixture.Once the meat is cooked through add 1/4 cup of water to the meat and stir it in. Let the meat cook for another minute.To the skillet that has the meat add the sautéed vegetables, diced green chiles, tomatoes, and corn. Stir all of the ingredients mixing them completely.
- Take the 9×13 baking dish with the Bisquick mixture on the bottom.Pour the meat mixture on top of the Bisquick and spread it evenly over the top.
- Mix the sour cream and mayonaise together and spread it evenly over the top of the meat mixture.Take the shredded cheese and spread it over the top of the casserole.
- Place the casserole into an oven that has been preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.Cook the casserole for 30-35 minutes.You will see that the Bisquick is cooked on the bottom of the casserole and the cheese will be melted on the top.Remove from the oven and Enjoy!
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