Have you ever heard of John Wayne Casserole? Delicious layers of ground beef, cheese mixture, fresh vegetables and Jalapeno peppers baked on top of a biscuit crust make for an amazing weeknight dinner!
There’s an interesting story about this casserole below, but what you really need to know is that it’s a delicious option for a dinner leftovers too!
John Wayne Casserole Recipe
Like my taco empanadas, this recipe is one of my top picks for dinner ideas that use ground beef. Casseroles are really popular, but it’s taken me up until the last ten years to really embrace them. This is one of my favorites, along with my Hamburger Casserole!
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Why is it called John Wayne Casserole?
Apparently, this John Wayne Casserole recipe has some interesting origins, including information on why it’s named what it is. Regardless of its origins, it’s a tasty dinner that your family will love. The jalapenos do not make this too hot, so don’t be too concerned about that. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Ingredients you will need:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or you can use my homemade taco seasoning)
- 1 16-ounce can large biscuits (or homemade biscuits)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 8-ounces cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 1 medium onion, halved and sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, halved and sliced
- 1 (4-ounce) can sliced Jalapeno peppers
- 13×9 baking dish (I just bought two of these and LOVE them!)
Making this casserole
I used Pillsbury Grands biscuits. I’m sure a generic or store brand would be fine as well. I don’t think I would bother making biscuits from scratch for this since they are just going to get buried, but if you prefer to do that, here’s a recipe for homemade biscuits you can use.
Place biscuits in greased 13×9 pan in a single layer and press into the pan, joining them together, pressing the dough halfway up the sides of the pan. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake dough in preheated oven for 15-25 minutes at 350 F; checking every few minutes after 15.
The dough should be very light brown where the edges are just starting to get color. Remove from oven and set aside, leave oven on.
In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of onions. Stir well and set aside.
Combine the browned ground beef with the taco seasoning and water, and cook according to packet instructions. Transfer cooked taco meat to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out pan.
Saute remaining onions and bell peppers on the taco meat pan until slightly tender.
On top of baked biscuit crust, layer ingredients in the following order: taco meat, tomato slices, bell pepper and onion mixture, Jalapeno peppers, sour cream mixture and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes or until edges of dough are lightly browned and cheese is melted.
Hope you enjoy it, I know we did!
More Casseroles you might like:
A lot of people have commented below saying they love this John Wayne Casserole and it’s become a regular part of their recipe rotation. I have some more casseroles you’ll like as well. Try some of these and let me know!
- A very popular ground beef or lamb recipe is Shepherd’s Pie. It’s one of those comforting recipes, and one that’s been around for a long time. There are so many different versions of Shepherds and Cottage Pie. This is my take on the classic, and it’s one the whole family loves!
- I grew up eating beef stew. Turning it into a simple casserole, especially fun little single servings was easy to do. My Beef Stew Biscuit Pot Pie pictured below has become a family favorite. It’s a great way to combine comfort food and the ease of a casserole in one. It’s also perfect for leftover stew!
- One of my favorite casseroles of all time doesn’t actually have any meat in it. On top of it, yes, but not in it! I’m a potato lover through and through, and I live in Wisconsin, so cheese is pretty much inevitable. The first time I made these Bacon Topped Three Cheese Potatoes I knew they would be a hit.
- This Chicken Tostada Casserole is truly delicious. If you’re looking for something to use leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken in, try this enchilada flavored dish. I use homemade enchilada sauce, the recipe for that is available in the tostada casserole post as well. But if you prefer, you can use canned.
- I remember when I made this Sweet Italian Sausage, Pepper and Potato Bake for the first time. It was a recipe I developed on my own and it ended up with a bit too much liquid. But that did not stop us from eating the entire dish! In fact, it’s kind of like a stew and casserole in one!
More from other blogs:
- Southwestern Tatertots Casserole from Tatertots & Jello
- Skinny Turkey Enchilada Casserole from DIY Candy
John Wayne Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef browned and drained
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning plus water listed on the back
or my homemade taco seasoning - 16 ounce can large biscuits
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded and divided
- 1 medium onion halved and sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper halved and sliced
- 4 ounces canned sliced Jalapeno peppers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F and spray a 13x9 glass baking dish.
- Place biscuits in pan in a single layer and press into the pen, joining them together, pressing the dough halfway up the sides of the pan. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake dough in preheated oven for 15-25 minutes; checking every few minutes after 15. The dough should be very light brown where the edges are just starting to get color. Remove from oven and set aside, leave oven on.
- While biscuits are baking, combine the browned ground beef with the taco seasoning and water, and cook according to packet instructions. Transfer cooked taco meat to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out pan.
- In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of onions. Stir well and set aside.
- Saute remaining onions and bell peppers on the taco meat pan until slightly tender.
- On top of baked biscuit crust, layer ingredients in the following order: taco meat, tomato slices, bell pepper and onion mixture, Jalapeno peppers, sour cream mixture and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes or until edges of dough are lightly browned and cheese is melted.
Video
Nutrition
This post was originally published here on Apr 22, 2015.
Amanda Formaro
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Carolyn Swank says
Make John Wayne Sherpard pie sometimes it’s delicious. Like to try some of other recipes you mention here have some picky Grandsons on lock down with me. Thanks for sharing with us.
Amanda Formaro says
I’ve never heard of that one, would love to try it!
carol masse says
my family loves this. it’s easy you pretty much have everything in your pantry. I used salsa instead of cutting up the veggies to give it extra kick.
carol masse says
I also added fiesta corn to the mix
Amanda Formaro says
Hooray, so glad you guys love it, thank you Carol!
David H says
If you precook the biscuits & then again after adding the other ingredients, won’t the biscuits get hard & dried out?
Do I need to “precook” per the receipe?
Amanda Formaro says
I’ve had readers say they have done it both ways. When prebaking the biscuits it creates a sturdy crust for the ingredients you will pile on next. The moisture in those ingredients should keep the biscuits from getting hard.
Vonda Johnson says
My husband loved this, but because I used 2 lbs. ground beef, I used 2 packs of taco seasoning and doubled the water. It came out perfectly. I will definitely make this again!
Amanda Formaro says
So glad you guys loved it!
Donna Bailey says
This was really good! I halved the recipe since it’s just my husband and I. I think the secret to the biscuits not being tough is to make sure to put your baking dish on a sheet pan to cook the biscuits first. Then when you assemble the other ingredients on top of the biscuits, put the baking dish back on the sheet pan. I baked for 30 minutes and it came out perfect. Not tough or mushy. I cut the mayo and sour cream down to a 1/4 cup each since I halved the recipe, but next time I think I’ll do a half cup of each to make it more saucy. Thanks for a great recipe
Amanda Formaro says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
dianne randolph says
I Just found this recipe on face book I Plan to make it for dinner soon it certainly sounds like it would taste very good thank you for sharing this recipe .
Amanda Formaro says
hope you enjoy it!
Tom says
Why is it called John Wayne casserole
Amanda Formaro says
This is what is linked in the post :) https://www.cooksinfo.com/john-wayne-casserole
ScottySauce says
Do not precook the biscuits. There’s absolutely no need to do that. Cook it all together!
Violet says
Can the pre-baking biscuit step really be left out? Does it not make the ‘crust’ mushy?
Rhonda says
Does this dish freeze and reheat well?
Amanda Formaro says
I have not tried it, but based on the ingredients I think it would be fine. :)
Linda Matta says
Why is it called John Wayne casserole? They said it was a interesting story.
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Linda :) There’s a link in the post – but here you go https://www.cooksinfo.com/john-wayne-casserole
Joyce Shelton says
Sounds good. I’m going to try this.
Betty Rinderknecht says
I just looked at the January Menu to see what’s for lunch. Lo and behold: John Wayne Beef Casserole. I live in housing for elderly here in Minnesota and was surprised to see this on the menu. Luckily I had signed up for lunch tomorrow and will try to remember to let you all know how I liked it and anything that I can add to the comments already posted here.
Stefanie Lemberg says
I made this a couple of days ago for my 15-year-old son and myself. Both of us loved it!! Because of my kiddo, I left out the jalapeños. Also, there is a reference in the recipe to the use of water when making the taco-seasoned beef; there is no mention of water in the ingredients, though. So, since the taco seasoning envelope calls for 2/3 cup, I added 1 cup of water to the browned beef in conjunction with the taco seasoning.
We are still enjoying the leftover casserole! Fantastic flavor!
Rob says
The water goes in with the beef and taco seasoning like it says on the package.
Lisa says
I made this tonight with a few “what I had on hand” substitutions. Crescent rolls instead of biscuits; drained canned stewed tomatoes instead of fresh; sweet mini peppers instead of red bell. Family loved it — this will definitely go in the rotation!
Amanda Formaro says
So glad you all enjoyed it, thank you so much!
Sheila Balvin says
This is amazing and feeds a large group.
Amanda Formaro says
So glad you liked it, thank you!
Jo says
I made this today and it was so good except the biscuit crust was so tough. I could barely cut them. I used Grand biscuits. I precooked the biscuits for 20 minutes…maybe too long?
Amanda Formaro says
Possibly too long. They should be a very light brown. It’s hard because everyone’s ovens are different!
Julie says
I had the same experience. The biscuits were tough but the topping is delicious. Husband loved it and said it’s a keeper.
Lynda Smith says
i wouldnt cook the biscuits before hand,way too long,,