John Wayne Casserole

This 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!

Next time try the Stuffed Pepper Casserole, this is SO GOOD!

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this recipe   
• Ingredients
• Instructions 
• Equipment
• FAQ's
• Things to know
• Variations
• Storage
• More of our favorite casserole recipes
• Serve with
• John Wayne Casserole

Why you'll love this recipe   

✔️ It's hearty, filling, and easy to make.

✔️ It's made with simple ingredients that are all easy to find at your local grocery store.

✔️ Rather than using a biscuit mix like Bisquick, using store-bought rolls is a time-saving substitute.

Like the recipe for Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe's it's great for a busy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

• large can biscuit dough - you could also use crescent rolls.
• olive oil
• lean ground beef
• taco seasoning
• medium onion
• I used red and green peppers but you can certainly use all red or all green bell peppers.
• sliced jalapeño peppers, if you want less heat, use diced green chilis.
• Rotel - diced tomatoes with green chiles. If you prefer you can substitute with tomato slices.
• sour cream
• mild cheddar cheese

Instructions 

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Place the biscuits in a single layer in the baking dish. Press them together to create one layer of dough.
3. Transfer to the oven and bake until golden, about 12 minutes.
4. While the biscuits bake, brown 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.
5. Drain the excess fat from the skillet. Add the taco seasoning, salsa and rotel. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the water evaporates, 3 to 4 minutes.

6. Combine the sour cream and half of the cheese.
7. Layer the ingredients evenly on top of the dough in this order; the ground beef mixture, and sour cream mixture, then top with the sliced jalapeño and remaining cheese.
8. Bake until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown slightly, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Equipment

• casserole dish
• large skillet or fry pan

FAQ's

Things to know

• If you don't have Rotel on hand, you can make your own with diced tomatoes and green chilies added.
• I like to shred my own cheese, but you can use pre-shredded if you want to save a little time.
• Add a little more flavor to your casserole by adding garlic powder, onion powder, or extra chili powder to the ground beef while it is cooking.
• 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.

Variations

• If you are a fan of spicy foods you can red pepper flakes or diced jalapeno peppers to this recipe.
• You can switch out the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or even black beans in place of the meat.
• If you don't like sour cream, you can substitute plain yogurt.
• Add more vegetables to this recipe by adding zucchini, corn, fresh tomatoes, or even black beans to this casserole.

Storage

Refrigerate - Store the leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Freezer - You can freeze this easy casserole, but it's best to do so before baking it. Wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe dish. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking.

Reheat - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.

You can also reheat this cheesy casserole in the microwave, but it won't be as crispy. Just heat on high power for 2-3 minutes, stirring every minute.

More of our favorite casserole recipes

• The Lemon Chicken Casserole and Ultimate Chicken Casserole are classic comfort food recipes that are simple to make.
• Change up your Taco Tuesday routine by making this family favorite Chicken Taco Casserole recipe. You won't regret making this simple dish.
• Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole - another hearty casserole dish, with ground beef, tater tots, a southwestern mix of spices and loaded with cheese. It's sure to be a family favorite.
• The Johnny Marzetti Recipe and Lazy Lasagna Casserole are both hearty meals, perfect if you're serving a crowd.
• Frito Pie Casserole is one of my personal favorites, I think it's the crunchy, cheesy topping!
• Next time you are looking for something different but don't know what to make, give this Ham Tetrazzini Casserole a try. It's a twist on a classic casserole recipe and even the picky eaters in your house will enjoy it.
• There's nothing better than this Salisbury Steak Recipe - just like your favorite diner, it has the best gravy!

Serve with

• Make this hearty casserole into a complete meal by serving it alongside these Pan Roasted Vegetables. They are a tasty side dish that is packed full of flavor and nutrients.
• These Yeast Rolls are soft, and buttery and pair well with this easy meal. You can never go wrong with a yeast roll as a side dish.
• This Apricot Pie is a sweet treat that is perfect for summer and your whole family will love this fruit pie.

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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!