John Wayne Casserole

This John Wayne Casserole is everything you want in a hearty home cooked dinner! A flaky biscuit layer is baked with spicy taco meat and lots of melty cheese. It’s an easy casserole recipe with a cowboy kick.

Looking for a flavorful and hearty ground beef casserole? This is it! Easy to make and totally satisfying, this John Wayne casserole is a dinnertime winner.

Why You’ll Love This John Wayne Casserole

Easy. Simple ingredients and basic techniques are all you’ll need to make this filling beef dinner.
Hearty. A slice of this John Wayne Casserole is a meal in and of itself! With the biscuit layer on the bottom, hearty taco meat filling, veggies and melted cheese, this recipe is the total package.
Packed with flavor! This Southwest-style ground beef-and-biscuit casserole is made with taco beef, chilies, tomatoes, sour cream, and plenty of cheese. Every bite is bursting with flavor.

What Is a John Wayne Casserole?

A John Wayne casserole is a ground beef dinner made with “cowboy” flavors. John Wayne was an American actor from Hollywood’s Golden Age famous for his roles in Western movies. According to legend, he helped create this recipe in the late 70s as part of a celebrity fundraising effort for charity. He added Tex-Mex flavors to a classic hamburger casserole and the rest, as they say, is history. 🤠

Ingredients for John Wayne Casserole in small bowls.

What You’ll Need

Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the veggies. You could also use vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil if needed.
Yellow Onion, Bell Pepper, and Roma Tomatoes: These veggies add flavor, texture, and freshness. If you’re out of any of these, use white onions instead, any color bell pepper, or substitute Roma tomatoes with any ripe tomatoes you have on hand.
Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is recommended, but you can also use ground turkey for a lighter option or a mix of ground beef and ground pork for a richer flavor.
Water: Helps incorporate the taco seasoning into the meat and prevents it from drying out during cooking.
Taco Seasoning: Adds the signature Tex-Mex flavor with a blend of spices. You can use store-bought or make your own with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of cayenne. Adjust to taste for spice preference.
Bisquick: This quick-mix makes an easy dough base that holds the casserole together.
Green Chili Peppers: The canned variety adds a mild heat and tang. Substitute with diced jalapenos for more spice or omit for a milder dish.
Mayonnaise and Sour Cream: These combine to create a creamy topping with a hint of tang. Greek yogurt can be used instead of sour cream.
Shredded Cheese (Mozzarella and Cheddar): This duo of cheeses provides a gooey, melty topping with the perfect balance of mild and sharp flavors. Feel free to substitute with Monterey Jack, Colby, or Pepper Jack if you’d like a bit more kick.

How to Make a John Wayne Casserole

Are you ready to make a cozy, bubbling cowboy casserole? Here’s a quick look at how to make it. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for more details.

Adding ground beef to onions and peppers in a skillet. — Cook onions and peppers, then add beef.

Adding taco seasoning to cooked beef and peppers. — Cook onions and peppers, then add beef.

Mixing dough ingredients in a glass bowl. — Combine Bisquick and water and mix.

Pressing dough into a baking dish. — Combine Bisquick and water and mix.

Add cooked beef filling to baking dish. — Add meat.

Tomato slices over meat and potatoes. — Add meat.

Add the sour cream layer. — Add sour cream.

Cheese sprinkled on top of John Wayne Casserole ready to bake. — Add sour cream.

Make the taco beef filling. Sauté diced onion and bell pepper in a skillet with a bit of oil, until softened. Next, add the ground beef to the skillet. Use a spatula to break apart any large clumps while frying the meat until browned and cooked through. Stir in the taco seasoning with a bit of water, then simmer to thicken.
Make the dough. Make a quick dough by combining Bisquick and water, then spread this into the bottom of a greased casserole dish.
Assemble the casserole. Add the ground beef to the casserole dish, and spread it over the dough. Top this with a layer of tomato slices and green chilies or jalapenos.
Top with cheese. Next, you’ll mix up a topping of sour cream, mayonnaise, and shredded mozzarella, then spread this over the tomato layer. Finally, sprinkle over additional shredded cheese.
Bake. Pop your John Wayne casserole into the oven at 325ºF for 35 to 40 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and the layers are hot throughout.

A slice of John Wayne Casserole getting scooped out of a casserole dish.

Recipe Tips & Variations

If you don’t have Bisquick: Refrigerated or frozen canned biscuit dough will also work for the base layer.
Adapt the heat levels: Use mild chilies or leave them out altogether if you’d prefer a milder casserole.
Use different meat: You can also use ground turkey, chicken, or pork.
Add more veggies: In addition to bell peppers and onions, you can add more veggies like diced carrots, zucchini, broccoli, or spinach.
Use different cheese. Any melty cheese will work in this recipe! You can even sub in a Mexican cheese blend if you’d like.

Serving Suggestions

For a deliciously full meal, pair this John Wayne Casserole with an avocado tomato salad, which adds a great contrast to the hearty flavors. These easy garlic knots are perfect for soaking up any extra sauce, while a creamy cheesy broccoli casserole adds a comforting veggie side dish. A crisp cucumber salad is also a great option, and for a touch of indulgence, finish with a slice of chocolate pudding cake for the ultimate sweet ending!

A slice of casserole resting on a dinner plate.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Fridge: Store any leftover casserole in the fridge airtight for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer: The baked and cooled casserole can be wrapped tightly, and then frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw the casserole in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To reheat: Reheat portions in the microwave for a minute or two, or in the oven at 350ºF until warmed through.

More Casserole Recipes

by Katerina | FesuvThis John Wayne Casserole recipe is made with juicy taco beef, tender veggies, fiery chilies, sour cream, and a generous sprinkling of cheese layered over a flaky biscuit base. Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Cooling Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients

For the beef

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 yellow or red bell pepper, chopped
2 pounds ground beef, I prefer lean beef
¾ cup water
1 ounce taco seasoning packet, or 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning

For the Biscuit Base

2 cups Bisquick mix
1 cup water

To Assemble

2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
4 ounce can green chili peppers
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Prep your tools. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with oil and preheat the oven to 325°F.
Saute the veggies. Heat the oil in a large skillet, add the chopped onion and chopped bell pepper, and saute for about 4 to 5 minutes to soften.
Add ground beef to the skillet. Stir in the beef and cook on medium-high heat until the beef is fully cooked. Add 3/4 cup water and the taco seasoning to the skillet, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the mixture thickens. This will take about 10 minutes.
Make the biscuit layer. Combine Bisquick mix with water and make the dough. Spread the dough over the bottom of the baking dish, pressing it in with your fingers.
Add beef and tomatoes. Add the ground beef mixture over the dough layer. Then, add a layer of sliced tomatoes over the beef and top with green chili peppers.
Make the sour cream layer. In a separate bowl, mix mayonnaise with sour cream and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Spread this mixture over the tomatoes and chilis.
Top with cheese. Sprinkle the top with cheddar and remaining mozzarella cheese.
Bake. Bake the casserole for 35-40 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 8 to 10 minutes before serving.

Equipment

Large Skillet
9×13 Baking Dish

Nutrition

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.