Name: John Wayne Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 (16.3 ounce) can refrigerated biscuits; 2 pounds ground beef; 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning; 0.75 cup water; 1 medium onion, halved and sliced; 1 medium red bell pepper, halved and sliced (1 1/2 cups); 0.5 cup sour cream; 0.5 cup mayonnaise; 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese, divided; 2 medium tomatoes, sliced; 1 (4 ounce) jar sliced jalapeno peppers, drained

Cook Time: 45 minutes

The John Wayne casserole is a hearty and satisfying dish that's sure to please everyone at your table. Despite its name, this casserole wasnt popularized by the actor himself, but rather through a fundraiser cookbook titled "Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends" by the University of Mississippi Medical Center. It's a flavorful, filling meal that brings together savory beef, vegetables, and creamy cheese, all topped on a biscuit base. Heres how you can make this tasty casserole at home.

Ingredients

1 (16.3 ounce) can refrigerated biscuits
2 pounds ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning
cup water
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, halved and sliced
cup sour cream
cup mayonnaise
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
2 medium tomatoes, sliced
1 (4 ounce) jar sliced jalapeo peppers, drained (Optional)

Directions

Follow these simple steps to create your John Wayne casserole:

Make the crust: Preheat your oven to 350F (175C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Open the can of refrigerated biscuits and press the dough evenly across the bottom and halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the dough is lightly browned. Leave the oven on.
Cook the beef: While the biscuits are baking, heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in the taco seasoning and water, bringing the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked beef to a bowl and set it aside.
Cook the vegetables: In the same skillet, add the sliced onion and bell pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until they are tender.
Prepare the creamy layer: In a separate bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, half of the shredded Cheddar cheese, and half of the cooked onion and pepper mixture. Stir until well blended.
Assemble the casserole: Once the biscuit dough is baked, layer the casserole in the following order: first, spread the cooked ground beef over the dough. Next, layer the sliced tomatoes, the remaining onion and pepper mixture, and the jalapeos (if using). Finally, spread the creamy sour cream mixture evenly over the top, and sprinkle with the remaining Cheddar cheese.
Bake the casserole: Place the assembled casserole back into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned on top.

How to Store John Wayne Casserole

If you have leftovers, allow the casserole to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight . Store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, you can use either the oven or microwave.

Can You Freeze John Wayne Casserole?

Yes! If youd like to freeze the casserole, bake it in a foil pan, wrap tightly with one layer of storage wrap and one layer of foil, and freeze for up to three months. To reheat, place the casserole in a preheated oven at 350F (175C) until it's heated through.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Information	Per Serving
Calories	538
Total Fat	41g (52%)
Saturated Fat	16g (79%)
Cholesterol	92mg (31%)
Sodium	781mg (34%)
Total Carbohydrate	21g (8%)
Dietary Fiber	1g (3%)
Protein	21g (41%)
Potassium	351mg (7%)

John Wayne Casserole Recipe

Comments

PlushMelt4773

10/06/2025 01:52:54 PM

I love the casserole and John Wayne. Very good!

SteadyZest7043

09/17/2024 01:42:44 AM

I used my tortilla press to smash the biscuits and it worked perfectly! Used a can of diced tomatoes instead of chopping my own, and doubled the shredded cheese. Did not need 30 minutes, came out perfect!! Another reviewer said don't use jumbo biscuits but I usually use jumbos for cooking because they are easy to peel into half and the ones with infused butter chips usually work fantastically. Great recipe that will get a lot of use in our home!

Charlotte

08/09/2023 01:18:38 AM

John Wayne was filming in my hometown a long time ago. He stayed at the resort I worked at. He had a breakfast he ordered every day. I'm positive I wrote it down somewhere. If I remember right it was a casserole. He really likes casseroles. It was eggs mixed with white cheese, roasted green chilies, the big ones? A cream sauce that had cheese in it, again White. And a few other things. But basically it was eggs chilies and cheese. He ordered it every morning.

patbuc66

10/04/2023 04:16:37 PM

I liked the meat mixture. Something different to do with ground beef that is not the usual meal. I had trouble with the biscuits and i felt the dish was too doughy and bottom burnt. next time I am going to get the layered biscuits and peel in half to make less doughy and cut down on pre-bake. It may have been an issue with the top smaller oven (closer to burner), so I'll use my bottom oven and put dish on middle rack. But, over-all, the taste was good and worth another try. Family liked as well.

Susan C

09/23/2022 12:53:08 AM

I needed something quick and easy to fix on a week night after a long day at work and this fit the bill perfectly. I substituted poblano for the bell pepper and drained petite diced tomatoes for fresh, used lite mayo and sour cream, and it turned out great! Even my picky husband liked it. This recipe is definitely a keeper.

Gwen

09/12/2022 05:37:16 PM

I used the refrigerated flaky roll 16 oz can, instead of biscuits. I oiled my rolling pin & flattened each roll on a mat to fit into the bottom of the pan. Instead of jalapeños I used a 4 oz can of green chiles. I used more cheese than called for. I would also use more onions, as you have to divide them.

Laura Robinson

10/05/2024 09:48:19 PM

My new comfort food 😋

CrispCod5811

03/11/2023 08:11:26 AM

We loved it! I added a couple of extra biscuits don’t do that. Do add corn and cream of mushroom in addition to the sour cream/mayo mixture for an extra flavor kick 😊

j cadwall

08/15/2023 10:04:15 PM

Had to leave out jalapenos because my son doesn't like them. I used jumbo buttermilk biscuits and added 5 minutes to the pre bake time. Delicious!

woolfolkclaire

09/08/2022 09:55:07 PM

My family doesn't like it spicy, so I used a 4 oz can of diced green chilies instead of the jalapeños. I also used Pillsbury spiral corn bread instead of the biscuits. My family liked it, but I thought it was just OK.

SavvyScone2725

12/14/2023 10:15:15 AM

This was so good made as directed but added more peppeŕs and onion

Chancadee Cantrell

09/02/2025 01:33:20 AM

So I followed the recipe almost to T, I did tweak it a bit. I used roasted green chillies instead of jalapeños and added hot sauce to the mayo/sour cream mixture. All in all it was a huge hit with the family and I'll be adding this to recipe book. Thank you for this recipe!

Peytra

08/03/2025 06:10:58 PM

I love this recipe !!! Extremely easy to make and very flavorful. I've also added a can of chili beans and a can of Mexico corn just to add a little more flavor and veggies. It turned out fantastic every time!!!!

janto2

07/05/2025 03:08:57 PM

I was out of sour cream, so I substituted cottage cheese I did add a can of drained beans and corn. I also used a small can of chopped jalapenos. The biscuit crust came out perfect, but next time I might try a cornbread crust.

SassyWheat1423

04/27/2025 11:18:51 PM

Very good recipe, I'm keeping it!!

Julie Hernandez

03/23/2025 05:32:03 PM

I’m definitely making this again soon.

RowdyCarp3788

02/07/2025 01:33:23 AM

I used crescent rolls instead of biscuits. Going to dry rotisserie chicken instead of ground beef next time

Rhonda Johnson

01/16/2025 03:44:27 AM

Total go to for football games!!!

WorthyFrog2497

01/03/2025 01:15:46 PM

I get why biscuits are used as the crust, otherwise it'd lose it's "cowboy" contribution. But, can't help thinking something else would make a better crust...crescent rolls, maybe? My family loved it anyway. I'll be cooking it again. Great comfort food for wintertime.