John Wayne Casserole

Hearty and satisfying John Wayne Casserole is one of my favorite casseroles to make with ground meat. This easy meal is total comfort food, and a delicious family favorite.

Many consider John Wayne Casserole to be the best casserole recipe ever.

While I don’t know if there is any real scientific evidence to prove this superiority, I can certainly understand why it’s a favorite of so many. This casserole is so, so tasty!

It’s also quite filling, hearty, meaty, and perfect for feeding a hungry family at the end of a long day.

What is a John Wayne Casserole, you ask?

This is a deliciously meaty layered casserole with hints of veggies and lots of cheese!

A thick layer of buttery biscuits creates the base layer, which we’ll top with a ground meat and veggie mixture that’s perfectly seasoned with tomatoes, chiles, and your favorite taco seasoning.

After all that, we’ll top our casserole with a creamy cheesy mixture that browns up so beautifully in the oven.

If you love cheesy casseroles, you have to check out my Pizza Casserole recipe next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Step by Step Instructions – This casserole recipe has a few different layers and quite a few steps to get everything cooked and assembled. I am giving you step-by-step photos and directions so you don’t miss a thing.
2. Tex Mex Flavors – Anything can be a Tex-Mex casserole when you add a can of ROTEL and some taco seasoning to the mix. This John Wayne casserole recipe uses both of those, plus some veggies and canned biscuits to make a delicious Tex Mex inspired meal.
3. Versatile Recipe – You can adjust many things in this recipe to ensure that it meets your family’s needs. I’ll make suggestions along the way of substitutions and changes that you might enjoy.

Key Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make the best casserole recipe ever:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Biscuits: I tested this recipe using Pillsbury refrigerated canned biscuits. You can use another brand, or even your tried and true homemade biscuit recipe.
• Meat: Use lean ground beef to make the classic version of this recipe. You could also make it with ground turkey, ground game meat, or vegan ground meat if you prefer.
• Taco Seasoning: Typically a mixture of ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, and other spices, this blend gives the dish lots of warm, smoky flavor. Take a look at your seasoning to see if it contains salt. If it does, great! If it doesn’t, you’ll want to add salt as you’re cooking. If you have time, make my homemade taco seasoning, it’s much better than the store-bought stuff!
• ROTEL: If you know it, you already love it. This shortcut canned tomato product is the perfect mix of tomatoes and diced green chilies. You can use the regular, mild, or hot variety, depending on how spicy you like things. Want less spice? Use plain canned tomatoes instead.
• Veggies: Peppers, onions, and canned corn are nutritious and delicious additions to the casserole.
• Creamy Cheese Topping: A blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses.

How To Make John Wayne Casserole

1. Get Ready: Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C, and spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with nonstick spray. Gather your ingredients.
2. Biscuit Layer: Press the biscuits into the casserole dish, overlapping them and making sure to fill in the whole surface. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.
3. Cook Beef: While the biscuits are baking, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet and cook the ground meat, breaking it up, until it’s fully cooked. Drain off any fat, then season with taco seasoning. Add the water, stir, and cook for 3-4 minutes to combine.

1. Finish the Meat Layer: Add the ROTEL and corn to the cooked beef and cook to warm through. Add the meat to the casserole dish on top of the baked biscuits.
2. CookPeppers and Onions: Wipe out the skillet, then add another tablespoon of oil and the sliced peppers and onions. Sautee for a few minutes until the veggies are cooked but still crisp. Season with a bit of salt and remove from the heat.
3. Mix the Topping: In a bowl, combine mayo, sour cream, onion powder, and half of the cheeses. Stir well to avoid any pockets of seasoning.

1. Layer: Add the peppers and onions over the meat layer, then spread the cheese mixture over the veggies. Finally, top the casserole with the remaining shredded cheese.
2. Bake: Cook in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.

Recipe Tips

• If you don’t want your casserole to be very spicy, you can replace the Rotel with plain canned tomatoes instead.
• You do not need to add salt to the meat mixture if the taco seasoning you use has salt in it. Most taco seasoning packets have plenty of salt in them already.
• Replace the cheeses here with any melty shredded cheeses that you like. Mexican blend works really well here as well.

Storing Tips

Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days and can be easily reheated in the microwave or oven.

To freeze, transfer leftovers to a freezer container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Make Ahead Instructions

You can make this casserole up to three months ahead of time! Simply make the recipe as directed below, including the final bake time. Allow it to cool down completely, then wrap well with plastic wrap and freeze.

To cook, bake in a 350°F/180°C oven until warmed through. I suggest letting it thaw overnight in the fridge so that it bakes more quickly. It should take 40-45 minutes to reheat thawed casserole.

What To Serve With John Wayne Casserole

The beauty of casseroles with meat like this one is that it’s a full and balanced meal all by itself. It includes bread, meat, and veggies, layered into a tasty dish.

You can add light side dishes like a fresh green salad, Mexican fruit salad, or steamed broccoli to up the nutritional value of the meal.

Or you can focus your attention instead on making a delicious dessert, like my Lemon Icebox Cake, or a decadent Red Velvet Layer Cake.

FAQs

I think you’ll agree that John Wayne Casserole is the best casserole recipe ever! It’s the perfect recipe to fill hungry bellies and will be a new family favorite for sure.