Go Back
John Wayne Casserole

John Wayne Casserole

The ultimate comfort food, the John Wayne Casserole combines savory ground beef, zesty taco seasoning, and cheesy goodness, all nestled in a flaky biscuit base. It's an easy weeknight dinner that will satisfy your cravings and bring the family together. Make it tonight for a delicious meal!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can 16-ounce can refrigerated large biscuits
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pounds ground beef preferably 85% lean
  • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning or 1 1-ounce packet
  • ½ teaspoon salt optional. Only add if your taco seasoning is salt free.
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 can 14-ounce can ROTEL diced tomatoes & green chilies see note
  • 1 can 14-ounce can canned corn drained, or 2 cups frozen or fresh corn kernels
  • 1 medium yellow onion sliced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper sliced
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • 9×13 casserole dish
  • Skillet

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C, and spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with non stick cooking spray.
  2. Press the biscuits into the bottom of pan so they overlap and cover the entire surface. Bake for 15 minutes.
  3. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook and crumble the ground beef until browned. Drain away the fat, then season with taco seasoning. Add salt if needed, then add water and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring to combine.
  4. Add the ROTEL tomatoes and the corn to the meat and cook until the mixture is just warmed through, then pour the meat over the cooked biscuit layer.
  5. Wipe the skillet clean, heat the remaining oil and saute the onion and peppers for about 2 minutes until they are cooked but still firm. Season with a pinch of salt. Layer the vegetables over the ground beef in the casserole dish.
  6. To make the topping, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, onion powder and half of both the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses in a bowl. Layer this over the vegetables, then sprinkle the remaining cheeses on top.
  7. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheeses are melted and starting to brown. Remove from the oven, and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

You can buy ROTEL in mild, original, or hot varieties. Choose your spice level. If you want the casserole extra mild, use plain diced tomatoes instead. You do not need to add salt to the meat mixture if the taco seasoning you use has salt in it. Most taco seasoning packets have plenty of salt in them already. You can use Mexican blend shredded cheese in place of the mozzarella and cheddar if you prefer. Feel free to leave out the corn if you like. To Store: Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days and can be easily reheated in the microwave or oven. To Freeze: transfer leftovers to a freezer container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.