Description
John Wayne Casserole is a hearty, comforting layered casserole featuring seasoned ground beef and vegetables topped with a biscuit crust and creamy cheese layer. This dish is baked to golden perfection, making it a perfect family meal loaded with bold flavors and melt-in-your-mouth textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 20 oz Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
- 12 oz canned corn, drained
- 1 oz taco seasoning (about 2–3 tablespoons)
- 1 cup water (for seasoning mixture)
Biscuit Crust
- 3 cups Bisquick mix
- 1 cup water
Cream Cheese Topping
- 7.5 oz Philadelphia whipped chive cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Cheese Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook ground beef: In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and crumble it as it cooks until browned. Drain excess grease from the pan to keep the casserole from becoming too greasy.
- Add seasonings and vegetables: Stir in 1 cup water and the taco seasoning, then let it simmer for 4 minutes to meld the flavors. Add the diced onions, drained diced tomatoes with green chilies, and drained corn. Mix thoroughly, reduce heat to low, and keep warm.
- Prepare biscuit crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the Bisquick mix and 1 cup water, stirring until a sticky dough forms. Evenly spread this dough into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish forming the base layer.
- Assemble layers: Pour the cooked ground beef mixture evenly over the biscuit crust. In a separate bowl, cream together the whipped chive cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and salt until smooth. Dollop and spread this creamy mixture over the beef layer. Finally, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend evenly on top.
- Bake: Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes to set. Slice and serve warm for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- This casserole can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
- You can substitute the biscuit crust with refrigerated biscuit dough for convenience.
- For a spicier kick, add extra green chilies or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the beef mixture.
- Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Using lean ground beef helps reduce excess grease in the dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
