Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (2024)

This John Wayne Casserole is made with meat, cheese, onions, peppers and just the right amount of Southwestern spice. A total comfort food recipe that makes a great family dinner any night of the week.

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (1)

Contents hide

1 What Is A John Wayne Casserole?

2 John Wayne Casserole

2.1 Ingredients:

2.2 Directions:

3 A Recipe Made To Be Tweaked

4 A Great Recipe For A Crowd

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What Is A John Wayne Casserole?

So, what exactly is a John Wayne Casserole? Why is it named after the famous actor? Well, it appears that years ago, he donated this recipe to a charity cookbook. But, over the past several decades, it has evolved quite a bit. While doing research for this recipe, I found so many different versions of this recipe. In fact, it appears that the original John Wayne Casserole recipe (meaning, the version that John Wayne created!) didn’t even have meat in it, only egg. But over the years, ground beef has been inserted into most of the recipes. Regardless, from what I can tell, no matter how this recipe is tweaked, it seems to be a huge hit at dinner tables everywhere.

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (2)

But, really, what’s not to love? Taco meat, peppers, onions, chilis and tons of cheese all piled on a layer of biscuits? Yes please! This is literally what comfort food is all about, and we are proud to have it here at Bubba Pie! So, without wasting any more time, let’s head to the wild west and whip up our version of this John Wayne Casserole. For a step-by-step instructions on a printable recipe scroll to the bottom of the post.

John Wayne Casserole

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups bisquick mix
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1 can, 10 oz, diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 1 can, 4 ounces, diced chilies
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1/2 cup real mayonnaise
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, add bisquick and 1 cup water. Mix well. Spray bottom of casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spread the dough into prepared baking dish. Make sure edges of dough are cover the bottom of the dish. Set aside.Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (3)
  3. Brown beef in a large skillet until no longer pink. Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water and heat for an additional 3-5 minutes. Spread browned ground beef mixture on top of bisquick layer. Add diced tomatoes on top.Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (4)
  4. Heat green bell peppers and onion in a skillet until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle on top of beef. Add green chilies spooning evenly on top. Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (5)
  5. In a separate medium sized bowl, add sour cream, mayonnaise and 1 cup of cheese. Stir and mix well. Spoon sour cream mixture on top of peppers.Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (6)
  6. Top with remaining cheeseEasy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (7)
  7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Let set for 5 minutes before cutting into slices and serving.

A Recipe Made To Be Tweaked

One way to tweak this recipe to your tastes is the level of spice involved. For this version, we used green chiles to add a little heat. And, while technically green chiles and jalapenos are the same thing, I think putting from fresh sliced jalapeno peppers into this recipe would be delicious. You could also mix in some taco cheese or pepper jack cheese to add even more kick!

Let’s be honest, this recipe wouldn’t be considered a light and lean dish. So, if you are looking to pump the breaks on the calories, you could certainly make some adjustments there as well. Try subbing the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken. You could also use low fat or light mayonnaise, cheese or sour cream.

A Great Recipe For A Crowd

Try this recipe at your next dinner party or if you have friends over to watch the big game. It does a great job feeding a larger number of people. Or, if you have it for a weeknight family dinner, you will certainly have leftovers.

We love to bake casseroles in our Le Creuset Casserole Dish because it comes with a lid! You can just keep your leftovers right in your casserole dish in the fridge! No more aluminum foil! Or, if you are looking for something a little less expensive, this one works great too!

Or, you can get this 6 piece non-stick oven bakeware baking set. It comes with just about ANY pan you’ll ever need to bake with! From muffins to bread loafs to cookie sheets. And it’s only $26.00!!!

And trust me, this is one of those dishes that will taste just as good, if not better, reheated the next day!

I hope you enjoy this John Wayne Casserole recipe. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (8)

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (9)

Rate this Recipe

John Wayne Casserole

Course Main Course

Servings 8 people

The tasty dish with the weird name, this John Wayne Casserole is made with meat, cheese and just the right amount of spice to make your dinner table the happiest place on this side of the Mississippi!

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups bisquick
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 packet 1 oz, taco seasoning
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 green pepper diced
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1 can 10 oz, diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 1 can 4 oz, diced chilies
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup real mayonnaise
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, add bisquick and 1 cup water. Mix well. Spread into prepared pan. Set aside.

    Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (10)

  • Brown beef in a large skillet until no longer pink. Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water and heat for an additional 3-5 minutes. Spread on top of Bisquick layer.

    Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (11)

  • Add diced tomatoes on top.

    Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (12)

  • Heat green pepper and onion in a skillet until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle on top of beef. Add green chilies spooning evenly on top.

    Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (13)

  • In a separate bowl, add sour cream, mayonnaise and 1 cup of cheese. Mix well. Spoon on top of peppers.

    Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (14)

  • Top with remaining cheese

    Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (15)

  • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Let set for 5 minutes before cutting into slices and serving.

    Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (16)

Notes

One way to tweak this recipe to your tastes is the level of spice involved. For this version, we used green chilies to add a little heat. And, while technically green chilis and jalapenos are the same thing, I think putting from fresh sliced jalapenos into this recipe would be delicious. You could also mix in some taco cheese or pepper jack cheese to add even more kick!

Let’s be honest, this recipe wouldn’t be considered a light and lean dish. So, if you are looking to pump the breaks on the calories, you could certainly make some adjustments there as well. Try subbing the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken. You could also use low fat or light mayonnaise, cheese or sour cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal

Love this recipe?Follow @bubbapie for even more delicious recipes!!

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (17)

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (2024)

FAQs

What is John Wayne casserole made of? ›

In Cara's cookbook, Wayne's casserole is described as being made with eggs and cheese — it wasn't until much later that other ingredients such as biscuits, onions, bell peppers, and jalapeños were added to the recipe to give it a more Southwestern taste.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Try different herbs for added flavour: sage or lemon thyme work wonderfully well. For a meatier casserole, add chopped sausage or pancetta when cooking the chicken. Stir wholegrain mustard through the casserole at the end of cooking (to taste); this is especially good if you have sausage in the casserole.

What was the original casserole? ›

Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices. In 1787, returning from Italy, Thomas Jefferson brought home a pasta machine.

What are five basic components of most casseroles? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

Is it better to bake a casserole covered or uncovered? ›

In general, you'll want to bake a casserole covered with aluminum foil for most of the cooking time. Covering the casserole helps lock in moisture and prevents it from drying out. If you don't cover the casserole or uncover it too soon, the casserole will dry out.

What is cowboy casserole made of? ›

What is cowboy casserole made of? The filling is made with ground beef, chopped onion, garlic, spinach, and corn. It gets its creaminess from a can of cream of mushroom soup and milk. Once the filling is done, you add it to a casserole dish, top with cheddar cheese, a layer of tater tots, and parmesan on top.

What is Jackie Kennedy casserole? ›

It is reported that Jackie O served this side dish of sour cream egg noodles and chives while she stayed in the White House. On one occasion she served the dish at a private dinner to the Prince and Princess Radziwill (her sister and brother-in-law).

What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What thickens a casserole? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

How long should a casserole be in the oven? ›

The time a casserole takes to cook will vary from 2-2½ hours for chuck, blade and thick flank, up to 4 hours for shin, leg and neck. Pork cuts for braising and casseroling normally take 1½ hours, and lamb much the same.

Why add egg to casserole? ›

Chicken Eggs: Chicken eggs are the most common and widely used eggs in baking. They provide structure, moisture, and act as a binding agent in recipes.

Why is it called a John Wayne casserole? ›

John Wayne Casserole is a crustless, vegetarian, cheese and egg casserole recipe. Its origins are traced back as far as John Wayne, the American actor (26 May 1907 – 11 June 1979.) Wayne directly contributed the recipe to a 1979 cookbook titled, “Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends”, compiled by a Cara Connery.

What is the Midwest term for casserole? ›

The dish originates in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, where it remains popular, particularly in Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and eastern Montana. Hotdish is cooked in a single baking dish, and served hot (per its name).

What is American casserole? ›

Main dish casseroles include hotdish, a Midwestern staple. Side-dish casseroles may include green bean casserole, mac and cheese, kugels, and gratins. Breakfast casseroles include strata, baked French toast, and bread pudding.

What are the basics of a casserole? ›

There are 3 main parts that make up a casserole: the starchy base, the filling, and the sauce. The base: The starchy base is the foundation of the casserole. It isn't going to be the most flavorful part of the dish, but it is what will make the casserole filling and satisfying.

What makes a casserole dish a casserole? ›

They're often defined by the vessel they're baked and served in, which is called a casserole dish. The ingredients in a casserole can be layered or simply mixed together. And although oven-baked pasta dishes like lasagna and baked ziti are technically casseroles they're not known as such; those are called baked pastas.

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