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

5 John Wayne Casserole

5.1 Ingredients 1x2x3x

5.2 Instructions

5.3 Notes

5.4 Nutrition

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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

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Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (17)

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe - BubbaPie (2024)

FAQs

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.

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.

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 are 5 components of a casserole? ›

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 are the main ingredients of this 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 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 most popular casserole dish size? ›

"The standard size of a casserole dish is 9 by 13 inches. However, due to varying shapes, they are often measured by volume, with three quarts being average,” says Contrino. “It is important to note that if a recipe calls only for a 'casserole dish,' it is most likely asking for a 9- by 13-inch rectangular size.

What do Midwesterners call casseroles? ›

The term hot dish is typically utilized in the upper parts of Minnesota and North Dakota because people up there like to coin their own verbiage, much like “uff da” or “you betcha.” You probably called it a casserole, like this one, and, not to sound like a hot dish snob, but the parameters of hot dish are a bit more ...

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.

Should you put tin foil over casserole? ›

Covering a casserole traps heat and steam and gets the casserole cooking. However, you also have to take the cover off to get a crunchy, browned top. Covering a casserole in the oven depends on what you're making, and whether or not the ingredients inside are already cooked when the dish goes into the oven.

Why add egg to casserole? ›

If you add more eggs, it will result in a casserole that is more firm and less likely to deflate.

How long should a casserole be cooked for? ›

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.

Do you put the lid on a casserole dish in the oven? ›

A tight-fitting lid on your casserole dish ensures the dish doesn't lose moisture during the long cooking process.

Do casseroles have to have cheese? ›

Starchy Foods: Many casserole are often considered comfort foods, typically because these include starchy foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, and different forms of bread. Cheese: Though cheese isn't always included in a casserole, in many savory versions, it's typically very common.

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 are the characteristics of a casserole? ›

A casserole can have layers, as in the case of an Italian lasagna or a deep-dish pizza, or composed of some evenly distributed combination of veggies, a protein, and a starchy binder. A casserole is often a one-pot meal that involves combining the ingredients in an oven-safe dish and baking them.

What dictates 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.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

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