Get ready to saddle up your taste buds with this hearty, cheesy John Wayne Casserole—an easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing classic that’s straight out of the Wild West! It’s an easy ground beef casserole recipe with a biscuit base and loaded with diced tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, cream cheese, mozzarella and cheddar.
John Wayne Casserole is a delicious ground beef and biscuit casserole made with Bisquick.
This simple and flavourful casserole is sure to please the whole family.
This ground beef casserole recipe takes about an hour from start to finish and serves six people.
Ingredients You’ll Need for John Wayne Casserole
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 cups water
- 1 oz taco seasoning
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 20 oz Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
- 12 oz canned corn, drained
Biscuit Layer
- 3 cups Bisquick mix
Topping
- 7.5 oz Philadelphia whipped chive cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.
Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don’t miss out on any important tips and tricks!
Step by Step Instructions for Making John Wayne Casserole
STEP 1:
To make this casserole, I started by dumping a pound of lean ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat.
I crumbled the ground beef well as it cooked.
STEP 2:
Once the ground beef was fully cooked, I drained the grease from the pan.
Then I added some water and taco seasoning to the pan with the ground beef.
STEP 3:
I stirred well and left the ground beef and taco seasoning mixture to simmer over medium-high heat for four minutes.
After four minutes, I added some diced onions, two cans of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies and some canned corn to the pan with the ground beef.
STEP 4:
I stirred well and reduced the heat to low.
Then I poured some Bisquick mix into a large mixing bowl.
STEP 5:
I added water to the bowl.
Then I stirred until a sticky dough formed.
STEP 6:
I dumped the dough into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Then I scooped the ground beef mixture on top of the dough and spread it out evenly.
STEP 7:
I dumped some whipped chive cream cheese and mayo into a medium mixing bowl.
Then I added some garlic powder and salt to the bowl.
I used an electric mixer to cream together the mayo and cream cheese until smooth.
STEP 8:
Then I spooned the cream cheese mixture over the ground beef layer in the baking dish and spread it out as evenly as possible.
I sprinkled some shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top of the cream cheese mixture.
STEP 9:
Then I placed the dish in the oven and baked it for 40 minutes.
After 40 minutes I removed the casserole from the oven and left it to sit for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
This cheesy ground beef and biscuit casserole is the perfect comfort food.
The Rotel and taco seasoning give this dish a bit of a kick but it’s not overly spicy.
If you are looking for a tasty casserole recipe using ground beef, then you need to try this John Wayne Casserole!
FREQUENTLY AKSED QUESTIONS
How should I store this casserole?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat thoroughly before serving.
What substitutions could I make?
- Ground Beef: Any ground meat could be used in this recipe including ground turkey, ground chicken and ground pork.
- Mozzarella and Cheddar Cheese: You can experiment with different types of cheese such as Havarti, Swiss or Monterey Jack to suit your taste.
- Cream Cheese and Mayo: Instead of cream cheese and mayo you can use sour cream, plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt as a substitute. They provide a similar creamy tang to the dish.
- Canned Corn: Feel free to add or swap vegetables based on your preferences. You can include diced bell peppers, peas, carrots, zucchini, or any other vegetables you enjoy.
Remember, substitutions may alter the taste and texture of the casserole slightly, so it’s best to experiment and find combinations that you enjoy.
What should I serve with this casserole?
John Wayne casserole is a hearty dish on its own, but if you’re looking to serve it with some complementary sides, here are a few suggestions:
- Salad: A fresh green salad with a light dressing can help balance the richness of the casserole. Consider a simple garden salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and your favorite dressing.
- Steamed Vegetables: Lightly steamed vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or green beans can add a healthy and vibrant element to the meal. Season them with a touch of salt and pepper or a drizzle of lemon juice.
- Baked Beans: Another popular side dish to serve with casseroles is baked beans. The sweet and savory flavors of baked beans can complement the flavors of the casserole nicely.
John Wayne Casserole
John Wayne Casserole is an easy ground beef casserole recipe with a biscuit base and loaded with diced tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, cream cheese, mozzarella and cheddar.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup water
- 1 oz taco seasoning
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 20 oz Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
- 12 oz canned corn, drained
Biscuit Layer
- 3 cups Bisquick mix
- 1 cup water
Topping
- 7.5 oz Philadelphia whipped chive cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F.
- Dump ground beef into a large saute pan over medium-high heat.
- Crumble ground beef well as it cooks.
- Once the ground beef is fully cooked, drain the grease from the pan.
- Add the water and taco seasoning to the pan with the ground beef.
- Stir well and leave to simmer over medium-high heat for 4 minutes.
- Add the diced onions, Rotel and corn to the pan.
- Stir well and reduce the heat to low.
- Dump the Bisquick mix and water into a mixing bowl.
- Stir until a sticky dough forms.
- Dump the dough into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Dump the ground beef mixture on top of the dough and spread it out evenly.
- Dump the cream cheese, mayo, onion powder and salt into a mixing bowl and cream together with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture on top of the ground beef mixture in the baking dish and spread it out as evenly as possible.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top.
- Place the dish in the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
- After 40 minutes remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to sit for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
- Enjoy!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, 10 Oz
-
Kraft Natural Pizza Style Mozzarella and Cheddar Shredded Cheese (8 oz Pouch)
-
Philadelphia Chive Whipped Cream Cheese Spread, 7.5 oz Tub
-
Bisquick Original Pancake and Baking Mix (96 oz. box) (pack of 2)
-
Black+Decker MX600T Helix Performance Premium Hand, 5-Speed Mixer, Teal
-
Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix, Original, 1 oz
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 451Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 660mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 29g
This post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Hi! My name is Erin and I have been here since 2016 sharing simple family friendly recipes that can be prepared by any home cook. Get ready to whip up delicious meals in no time!
Lgayle
Monday 6th of May 2024
Can you sub cornbread mix for the bisquick mix in the john Wayne casserole?
Erin
Monday 6th of May 2024
I've done very similar recipes using cornbread mix so I imagine it would work.
Dawn
Friday 11th of August 2023
This was surprisingly good. The only thing I might change when I make this again is to add another half pound or pound of ground beef because I live with serious carnivores. Might also try prebaking the biscuit mix just a little before I add the meat mixture, and I might try a cornbread biscuit base.
Littlebit78
Friday 30th of December 2022
I had this for dinner tonight, & it's definitely going to my fav's list!
Jessica
Sunday 1st of August 2021
My goodness this was yummy! I did leave out the corn because my kids dont like it. I wish i would have added it .i used the pioneer brand baking mix instead of bisquick .1 major change i made: i used 1/2 container of chive and onion cream cheese and 1/4 cup mayo . I saw this variation on another site. It was so delicous. Cant wait to make it again
Suzanne
Sunday 21st of February 2021
Delicious! I basically did a pantry pull, so didnโt completely follow the recipe- but OMG!!!