John Wayne Casserole
This hearty and filling John Wayne Casserole Recipe layers taco-seasoned beef, veggies, creamy cheese topping, and a Bisquick base into one easy, comforting dinner bake.
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John Wayne Casserole is a Tex-Mex-inspired dish that has all the cozy comfort a casserole brings to the table. Casseroles always fill everyone's bellies and are usually so simple to make. You can change things up with my Chicken Casserole or try a kid favorite Sloppy Joe Casserole.
Why You Need to Make This Hamburger Casserole
With layers of seasoned ground beef, peppers, Rotel, corn, and a cheesy sour cream topping over a fluffy Bisquick crust, this beef casserole dish is perfect for feeding a hungry family or a crowd. I love that this family dinner uses simple ingredients, is so flavorful, super filling, and is surprisingly simple to put together.
This delicious John Wayne Casserole is flavorful, filling, and full of family-friendly ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or meal prepping, this casserole delivers big taste with minimal fuss. Plus, it uses pantry staples you probably already have on hand.
Lets Gather The Ingredients
- Bisquick mix
- Ground beef- I used lean ground beef, but ground turkey or chicken works well and makes a great leaner option.
- Veggies- diced white onion, diced green peppers, can of Rotel with green chiles, and frozen corn
- Taco seasoning- you can use a packet or make some Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Sour cream: Greek yogurt can be used in a pinch.
- Mayonnaise: Use real mayonnaise.
- Cheese: I used Colby Jack but you can use whatever cheese you prefer.
How To Make John Wayne Casserole
- Step 1: Add Bisquick and water to a bowl and mix until well combined.
- Step 2: Prep a baking dish by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray and transfer the Bisquick dough mixture to it. Spread the dough out to reach the sides of the dish.
- Step 3: Add ground beef, peppers and onion to a large skillet and cook until ground beef is browned and veggies are tender. Drain excess fat and grease from the browned ground beef, pepper, and onion mixture.
- Step 4: Add the can of Rotel, corn, and taco seasoning to the mix. Stir and cook.
- Step 5: Transfer the taco meat mixture to the dish the.
- Step 6: In a separate bowl, mix sour cream, mayo, and some of the shredded cheese until combined.
- Step 7: Spread this sour cream mixture over the ground beef mixture.
- Step 8: Finish off with the remaining shredded cheese before placing the dish in the preheated oven to bake uncovered until the cheese is melted and may start to turn golden brown.
Recipe Tips
- A can of drained black beans or pinto beans adds extra texture and protein. This could help bulk out this main dish even more.
- Try Monterey Jack, cheddar, pepper Jack, or a Mexican blend instead of Colby Jack.
- For a kick of heat, choose a hot version of Rotel or add diced jalapeños.
- Spray your spatula with nonstick cooking spray to help make spreading the Bisquick dough around the dish easier.
Recipe Faq's
This casserole recipe was inspired by a recipe contributed by the actor John Wayne to a cookbook in the 1970s that was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The original recipe has been adapted and changed many times since.
Yes! Assemble it up to the baking step, cover tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and place the casserole dish in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Remove dish from the fridge, take off plastic and foil and then bake when ready to serve. If you bake from chilled, you may need to add a few minutes to the bake time, otherwise you can pull it out and let it come to room temperature before popping in the oven.
It’s a meal on its own, but it pairs nicely with a side salad, Chopped Greek Salad ,tortilla chips, or fresh fruit. You can serve with slices of Garlic Bread.
More Casserole Recipes
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John Wayne Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 14/ cups bisquick mix
- 1 cup water
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ½ cup white onion diced
- 1 cup green bell pepper diced
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 10.5 ounce can Rotel tomatoes with green chiles, do not drain
- 1 ½ cups frozen corn
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 ½ cups colby jack cheese shredded, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl add the bisquick and water and mix until combined.
- Spread the dough into the bottom of the baking dish. (use a spatula sprayed with non stick cooking spray to press it out if the dough is to sticky)
- Heat a large skillet on medium high heat and add the ground beef, onion and belle peppers. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until meat is browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add in the taco seasoning, Rotel, and corn and cook another 2-3 minutes.
- Spread the meat mixture on top of the dough in the baking dish.
- In a small bowl mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise and 1 ½ cup of cheese until combined.
- Spread the sour cream mixture on top of the beef.
- Followed by the remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly browned.
- Let cool 5-10 minutes and serve!
