John Wayne Casserole is a hearty, flavorful dish that is perfect for a busy weeknight. It has a biscuit base, layers of ground beef, rotel diced tomatoes, and onions, and a cream cheese mixture topping. Then the whole thing is baked until hot and bubbly.
This casserole is sure to please even the most finicky eaters!
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Why you'll love this recipe
This John Wayne Casserole is the ultimate comfort food—layer after layer of hearty, flavorful goodness that’s impossible to resist. The buttery biscuit base soaks up all the savory juices, while the creamy, cheesy filling wraps everything in a rich, melty hug. Juicy seasoned beef, zesty peppers, and tangy tomatoes bring just the right amount of kick, making every bite a satisfying mix of flavors and textures.
It’s the kind of hearty, stick-to-your-ribs dinner that has everyone coming back for seconds—no spurs or cowboy hat required.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card below.
John Wayne Casserole
Ingredients
- 16.3 ounce can refrigerated biscuits
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef preferably 85% lean
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
- ½ cup salsa
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper diced
- 10.5 ounce Rotel diced tomatoes with peppers
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 jalapenos, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place the biscuits in a single layer in the baking dish. Press them together to create one layer of dough.
- Transfer to the oven and bake until golden, about 14-16 minutes.
- While the biscuits bake, cook ground beef. Place a large heavy-duty skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
- Drain the excess fat from the skillet. Add the taco seasoning, salsa and rotel. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the sour cream and half the shredded cheddar cheese. Slice the jalapeño into thin slices.
- Layer the ingredients evenly on top of the baked biscuit crust in this order; start with the ground beef onion-pepper-tomato mixture, sour cream-cheddar mixture, top with sliced jalapeños. Top with remaining cheese.
- Bake until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown slightly, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
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Nutrition
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions refer to the recipe card.
FAQ's
This casserole is credited to the famous actor John Wayne. It is said to be one of his favorite dishes, and it has become a popular dish in the South. The original recipe was published by Cara Connery in Cooking with Love from Cara and friends, this book is a compilation of recipes from famous people like Alan Alda, John Wayne and Walter Cronkite.
Yes, you can make this easy recipe up to two days in advance. Just store it in the refrigerator wrapped with plastic wrap or foil and bake it when you are ready to eat.
Deb’s top tips
If you don't have Rotel on hand, you can make your own with diced tomatoes and green chilies added.
I used homemade taco seasoning for this recipe, but if you don't have your own on hand you can use your favorite brand's packet taco seasoning.
More of our favorite casserole recipes
Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole is another hearty favorite, made with ground beef, tater tots, a southwestern mix of spices, and plenty of gooey cheese—guaranteed to be a hit with the whole family.
If you’re feeding a crowd, the Johnny Marzetti Recipe or the Lazy Lasagna Casserole are both satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs meals that never disappoint.
Serve with
Keep the cowboy vibes going with some tasty sides! Try pan roasted vegetables for a little charred goodness, steamed green beans for a pop of color, or a crisp green salad to freshen things up.
They’re quick, easy, and the perfect sidekicks for your hearty casserole!
Wrapping it up
So what do you think? I think it's an excellent casserole recipe. It's hearty and flavorful. Once you give it a try, leave a note below. I'd love to hear your feedback!
Lee Warren says
Hi! I am making this tonight and looking forward to try it. However, there is no mention of jalapeños listed in the ingredients list. It talks about it in the instructions. So no jalapeños tonight! You might want to add it to the ingredients list. Otherwise I think it’s going to taste great!
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Lee I made that correction, much appreciated!
Hf says
Still shows no jalapeños so I missed that tonight as well. Didn’t read the comments until now. Ingredients need the jalapeño amount listed😞
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks for letting me know, I updated the ingredient list. Add thinly sliced jalapenos to taste.
Misty White says
Hi. Did you use a 9X13" baking dish?
Bowl Me Over says
Yes that's correct, great question Misty, I'll update the recipe card - thanks for asking. Enjoy the recipe!
Jana says
Can you use jiffy cornbread instead of biscuits. I made it with the biscuits and it’s really good but want to try cornbread.
Bowl Me Over says
I think it would work. I haven't made it that way so I can't tell you for sure but my recipes for tamale pie and cowboy casserole both use cornbread (but the cornbread is on top). You may need to adjust the cooking time. If you try it, I'd love to hear how it turns out for you!