Why You’ll Love This John Wayne Casserole
If you’re looking for a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal that brings together the best of Southwestern flavors, this John Wayne Casserole is about to become your new go-to dinner. I’ve served this at countless family gatherings, and the dish is always licked clean.
What makes it special? Layers of seasoned ground beef, gooey cheese, fresh veggies, and a creamy sour cream mixture all sitting on a biscuit base.
It’s comfort food with a kick—thanks to those jalapeños.
The Duke himself would appreciate this no-nonsense, satisfying meal. Perfect for busy weeknights or weekend gatherings when you need something that’ll stick to your ribs.
What Ingredients are in John Wayne Casserole?
The Duke-Inspired Cowboy Casserole brings together the best of Southwestern comfort food in one delicious dish. This hearty casserole, based on the classic John Wayne Casserole recipe, features layers of savory ground beef, melted cheese, and fresh vegetables all resting on a biscuit base.
It’s the kind of stick-to-your-ribs meal that satisfies the hungriest appetites and brings everyone to the table with its irresistible aroma.
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 (1 1/4 ounce) packet taco seasoning
- 4 ounces sour cream
- 4 ounces mayonnaise (or light sour cream as an alternative)
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 2 cups biscuit mix
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 (4 ounce) can sliced jalapeño peppers
When shopping for ingredients, I recommend choosing a good quality sharp cheddar for the most flavorful result, though any cheddar will work in a pinch.
The recipe notes you might want to find a substitute for the biscuit mix if you’re watching carbs—cauliflower crust or a low-carb biscuit alternative could work.
And don’t be afraid of the jalapeños; they add just the right amount of heat, but you can always reduce the quantity if you’re serving folks who prefer milder flavors.
The beauty of this cowboy casserole is its flexibility—you can easily adjust to your family’s taste preferences.
How to Make This John Wayne Casserol
Making this Duke-inspired casserole is simpler than breaking in a new pair of cowboy boots. Start by preheating your oven to 325°F and browning 2 pounds of ground beef in a skillet. Once it’s cooked through, drain off the excess fat and stir in the 1¼ ounce packet of taco seasoning along with the water specified on the packet instructions.
This seasoned meat mixture becomes the hearty foundation of our casserole, so let it simmer for a few minutes to really absorb those Southwestern flavors.
While the beef is cooking, prepare your creamy layer by combining 4 ounces of sour cream, 4 ounces of mayonnaise, 4 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese, and half of your sliced yellow onion in a bowl. This mixture might seem like an odd combination at first glance, but trust me, it creates the most delicious tangy sauce that perfectly complements the spicy beef.
In another bowl, follow the directions on your 2 cups of biscuit mix to form a soft dough. Press this dough evenly across the bottom and about half an inch up the sides of a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish. Think of it as creating a shallow biscuit boat to hold all those delicious fillings.
Time for assembly! Sauté your remaining onions and 1 sliced green bell pepper until they’re slightly tender but still have some bite.
Then layer your ingredients on top of the biscuit base in this order: the seasoned ground beef, sliced tomatoes (about 2 medium), the sautéed green peppers and onions, the creamy cheese mixture, and finally the remaining 4 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese. For a kick of heat, arrange the sliced jalapeños from the 4-ounce can across the top.
Pop the whole casserole into your preheated oven and bake until the biscuit base is cooked through and the top is beautifully golden and bubbling, about 30-35 minutes. The aroma that fills your kitchen? Pure cowboy heaven.
John Wayne Casserole Substitutions and Variations
While Duke’s classic casserole recipe deserves respect, even cowboy cooking allows for a little trail-blazing creativity.
I’ve swapped the biscuit mix for crushed tortilla chips or thinly sliced potatoes when I’m watching those carbs. Not a beef fan? Ground turkey or chicken works beautifully, though I miss that rich flavor sometimes.
Vegetarians in your bunkhouse? Black beans and corn make a hearty substitute.
And cheese options? Don’t get me started—pepper jack adds kick, while Mexican blend creates that stretchy, gooey texture we all crave.
My secret twist? Adding a layer of green chiles and using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
What to Serve with John Wayne Casserole
Since this hearty cowboy-inspired dish stands tall on its own, choosing the right sides for John Wayne Casserole means complementing rather than competing with those bold Southwestern flavors.
I love serving mine with a crisp green salad dressed simply with lime vinaigrette, or some tangy coleslaw to cut through the richness.
A side of corn on the cob, maybe with a chili-lime butter if you’re feeling fancy, works beautifully too.
For something lighter, try roasted vegetables like zucchini or asparagus.
And honestly, sometimes just a basket of warm tortilla chips and fresh guacamole is all you need, folks.
Final Thoughts
This Cowboy Casserole has become a staple in my home, bringing that Duke-inspired rugged comfort to our dinner table whenever we need something hearty and satisfying.
There’s something magical about how the layers of beef, cheese, and vegetables come together beneath that golden biscuit topping.
I’ve served it for family gatherings, potlucks, and quiet Sunday dinners. The recipe’s flexibility is part of its charm—swap in ground turkey, adjust the spice level, or play with different cheeses.
Whatever your variation, the spirit of this casserole remains true to its namesake: straightforward, unpretentious, and reliably good.
John Wayne Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain excess fat. Stir in taco seasoning with specified water and simmer.
- In a bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the sliced onion.
- Prepare biscuit mix according to package directions to form a soft dough.
- Press dough into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a greased 9x13 inch casserole dish.
- Sauté remaining onions and green bell pepper until slightly tender.
- Layer ingredients on the biscuit base in this order: seasoned ground beef, sliced tomatoes, sautéed peppers and onions, creamy cheese mixture, remaining cheddar cheese, and jalapeños.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the biscuit base is cooked through and the top is golden and bubbling.
