John Wayne casserole is cozy comfort food at its best. You’re going to love the Southwestern flavor of this hearty family classic. This is one of my favorite easy ground beef recipes!
Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe
Have you ever thumbed through one of your Grandma’s old church cookbooks?
If so, you’ve likely spied a funny-sounding dish called John Wayne casserole.
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This layered casserole is a warm, comforting, and flavorful family dinner.
Because of this, it’s also a recipe that I return to over and over again.
Why is it Called John Wayne Casserole?
So, how did this funny ground beef casserole get its name?
After doing a little research, I found that John Wayne contributed this casserole recipe to a 1979 cookbook titled, Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends, compiled by an author named Cara Connery.
Of course, I can’t verify this legend, but it’s a nice story!
How to Make John Wayne Casserole
As you may have guessed by the title of this blog, I really appreciate great casserole recipes. This one is easy to make, following the instructions below.
John Wayne Casserole Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef, browned, crumbled and drained
1 ( 1 ounce) packet taco seasoning
¾ cups of water
a small onion, sliced thin in about 1-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin in about 1-inch pieces
2 ¼ cups Bisquick
⅔ cup of water
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
2 Roma tomatoes, sliced thin
1 4-oz. can
Cooking Method
First, preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Next, in a 12-inch skillet, brown the ground beef until thoroughly cooked, then drain and return to the skillet.
Add ¾ cup water, the taco seasoning packet and bring to a boil. Add the onion and the peppers.
Turn down the heat and simmer for three to five minutes, or until the onions and peppers begin to soften. Set aside.
In a small bowl mix together the biscuit mix and ⅔ cup water to make a soft dough.
Now, press the dough into the bottom and up the sides about ½ inch in the prepared baking dish.
The dough is sticky, so I used parchment paper to press it out on the bottom. Because of this, I also used a spatula to bring it up the sides. John Wayne casserole is all about layers, so, get ready to create your dish!
Now you’ll want to use a small mixing bowl to combine the mayonnaise, the sour cream, and half the cheese. Set aside.
Spread the beef mixture evenly over the biscuit layer. Evenly layer the sliced tomatoes over the beef mixture.
Next, layer the green chilies over the tomatoes. Now spread the sour cream mixture over the green chilies.
Finally, top with remaining cheese. Bake your John Wayne casserole for 30 to 35 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
You’re going to love this tasty ground beef casserole recipe.
Be sure to drop me a comment if you make it for your family, and Pin it while you’re here! Also, if you love ground beef recipes, don’t miss my Ground Beef Vegetable Soup.
More Easy Casseroles
- Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
- Mexican Spaghetti Casserole
- Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
- Chicken Hashbrown Casserole
- Ham and Noodle Casserole
John Wayne Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef browned, crumbled and drained
- 1 1- oz. packet taco seasoning
- ¾ cups water
- 1 small onion sliced thin in about 1 inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper sliced thin in about 1 inch pieces
- 2 ¼ cups Bisquick mix
- ⅔ cup water
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded and divided
- 2 Roma tomatoes sliced thin
- 1 4- oz. can green chiles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a 12-inch skillet brown the ground beef until thoroughly cooked, then drain and return to the skillet. Add ¾ cup water, the taco seasoning packet and bring to a boil. Add the onion and the peppers. Turn down the heat and simmer for three to five minutes, or until the onions and peppers begin to soften. Set aside
- In a small bowl mix together the biscuit 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.
- In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise, the sour cream and half the cheese. Set aside.
- Spread the ground beef mixture evenly over the biscuit layer. Evenly layer the sliced tomatoes over ground beef mixture. Evenly layer the green chilies over the tomatoes. Evenly spread the sour cream mixture over the green chilies. Top with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
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Where to next?
Mexican Spaghetti Casserole
German Cucumber Salad
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Crock Pot Chicken Orzo Soup
Crock Pot Ham and Beans
Ground Beef Vegetable Soup