Cheesy John Wayne Casserole

John Wayne Casserole fills some pretty big britches when it comes to casserole recipes. Hearty ground beef, seasoned with Southwest flavors, lots of cheese, on top of a fluffy biscuit layer.

You can tame some ornery appetites and ride off into the sunset if you like after you serve it. Named after the legendary actor, the dish is also affectionately referred to as “The Duke”.

But just like the actor was a real person as well as a character on screen, there are actually two sides to John Wayne casseroles too…

John Wayne Casserole

For starters, John Wayne casserole is definitely comfort food. In fact, it is like layers of great comfort foods all working together.

A biscuit layer on the bottom forms the foundation. The dough on the bottom bakes and absorbs the liquids from the ground beef, sour cream mixture, cheese, chilis, and tomatoes.

So the biscuit mix actually creates a great biscuit crust that also makes serving easier.

Then you have savory ground beef seasoned like tacos. Finally, cheese, tomatoes, and chilis get layered on top. So, pretty much each layer is a comfort food classic. Combined, they are greater than the sum of their parts!

If your cowboy loves this recipe, try my cornbread cowboy casserole.

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Ingredients Needed

• Ground beef – Substitute ground turkey if desired.
• Cheddar cheese – Pepper Jack can add some heat.
• Roma tomatoes – Substitute drained diced tomatoes
• Biscuit dough – Canned refrigerated works best but you can use frozen and thaw before pressing into pan.
• Taco seasoning – homemade is best or use 1 packet from the market.
• Onions – Vidalia or any sweet onion works well.
• Chilis – I like pickled jalapenos for this but fresh will work too.
• Sour cream – Substitute Greek yogurt if needed.
• Mayonnaise – Duke’s is my favorite brand!
• Water

How to make John Wayne Casserole

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray.
2. Open biscuits and spread in a single layer in bottom of pan. Pinch together to form a single layer. Bake for ten minutes, then remove and set aside.

3. Next, get the ground meat ready. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain. Add back to pan, add water and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
4. Add in the sliced pepper and onion. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until they get tender. Remove from the heat. Spoon the ground beef mixture over the biscuit mix. Layer with the sliced tomatoes and jalapenos.

5. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayo, and ½ cup cheese. Spread over the meat mixture.
6. Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the edges are bubbly. Remove from the oven. Serve warm.

Can I make it ahead of time?

You can make this casserole ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days before going in the oven. Just make sure to cover it tightly with foil or wrap. Even better if your casserole dish has a lid.

Can I freeze it?

Freezing John Wayne casserole is not a problem. The tomatoes lose a bit of texture, but they still work in the sauce. You can always add some fresh sliced tomatoes on top when you reheat if necessary too.

I recommend creating individual portion sizes to freeze just to make it easier to reheat from frozen.

• In a microwave, heat on medium high for about 5 minutes. Turn at least one half turn about halfway through.
• To heat from frozen in a sauce pan, use medium heat and cover. Uncover after about 5 minutes then continue heating until it is warm throughout.
• With an oven, set at 325 f. and heat the casserole until it is hot enough to serve.

Why is it called John Wayne Casserole?

Ok, so how did this casserole earn its spurs as John Wayne casserole? Well, the original recipe was actually submitted by John Wayne himself to a cookbook that was created to raise money for cancer research.

All sorts of celebs contributed recipes, including the Duke himself.

The Difference Between “John Wayne Casserole” And “The Duke Casserole”

But here is the catch.

John Wayne’s original casserole recipe didn’t actually have any meat in it! Yes, you could even say it was a vegetarian recipe, from back when eating eggs, cheese, and using milk was still considered being a vegetarian.

The meatier version of John Wayne casserole was actually created originally at a cafeteria in a Mississippi medical center. So, that version of the dish, goes by “The Duke” nickname.

I guess no one wanted to believe that John Wayne would eat anything that would peg him as a vegetarian. Either way. Hope ya like it, pilgrim.

Best Casserole Tips And Variations

• A light coat of non-stick spray to the bottom of your casserole pan is useful.
• You can substitute any type of ground meat like chicken, pork, or ground turkey instead of beef.
• Sub chopped green chilies for the jalapeno peppers.
• Make a vegetarian version with veggie chorizo, no need to add the taco seasoning since it is already seasoned.
• If you use a larger casserole pan, then you can reduce the cooking time by about ten minutes since the ingredients are less deeply layered.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, pin this to your favorite casserole Pinterest board and share it on your favorite social media channels!

Need Some Ideas For Sides?

This John Wayne casserole recipe is filling, so lighter sides are ideal, like salads or even some soups. Check out some of these recipes for inspiration:

• Southern Pear Salad
• Brussels Sprouts Salad

Craving More Casseroles?

• Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
• Easy French Onion Chicken Casserole
• How Many Quarts in a 9×13 Pan?
• What Size is a 2 Quart Baking Dish?
• 4 Ingredient Hamburger Casserole

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