John Wayne Casserole

The John Wayne casserole is a hearty and satisfying dish that's sure to please everyone at your table. Despite the name, the John Wayne Casserole wasn't popularized by the actor himself, but by a fundraiser cookbook "Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends" and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Read all about this casserole's interesting history in our article, What Is a John Wayne Casserole?

John Wayne Casserole Ingredients

This John Wayne casserole recipe is easy to make with basic ingredients. Here's what you'll need to add to your grocery list:

· Biscuits: This convenient dinner starts with a can of refrigerated biscuits.
· Beef: You'll need a pound of ground beef for this meaty casserole.
· Taco seasoning: Use store-bought taco seasoning or make your own with our DIY recipe.
· Vegetables: Sliced onions and bell peppers are sautéed together, while sliced tomatoes are layered with the other ingredients. Jarred jalapeños, meanwhile, spice things up a bit.
· Sour cream and mayonnaise: A mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise is creamy, tangy, and adds tons of welcome richess.
· Cheese: Because isn't everything better with shredded Cheddar cheese? You could use shredded Pepper Jack if you like a little extra heat.

How to Make John Wayne Casserole

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this top-rated John Wayn casserole:

1. Make the crust: Press the biscuit dough in the bottom and up the sides of a prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned.
2. Cook the meat: Cook the beef until crumbly. Drain the fat, stir in seasoning and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer. Transfer the meat to a bowl.
3. Cook the veggies: In the same pan, cook the sliced onions and peppers until tender.
4. Make the creamy layer: Combine the sour cream, mayo, 1/2 of the Cheddar, and 1/2 of the cooked veggies in a bowl.
5. Layer and bake the casserole: Layer the meat, tomatoes, onion-pepper mixture, jalapeños, and sour cream mixture on top of the biscuit dough. Sprinkle it with cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is browned and bubbly.

How to Store John Wayne Casserole

Allow the leftover John Wayne casserole to cool completely before storage. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

Can You Freeze John Wayne Casserole?

Yes! You can freeze John Wayne casserole for up to three months. If you plan to freeze it, it's best to go ahead and bake it in a foil pan. Wrap tightly with at least one layer of storage wrap and at least one layer of foil. Reheat in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F until totally heated through.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"This was a huge hit with my family," raves Allrecipes Allstar fabeveryday. "The only change I made was to add some salt and garlic powder to the sour cream layer for some extra seasoning for our tastes."

"My whole family loved this," says Becca. "I didn't have fresh tomatoes so I used a can of Rotel. It turned out great. Thanks for the fantastic recipe!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams