John Wayne Casserole with Bisquick

John Wayne Casserole is a hearty ground beef dinner layered with seasoned beef, peppers, onions, and a creamy cheesy sauce over a buttery biscuit crust, baked until golden and bubbling.

If you’re craving more hearty casserole dinners, try Cowboy Cornbread Casserole or Beef Enchilada Casserole.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Hearty comfort food made with seasoned ground beef, creamy cheese, and a buttery biscuit crust.
  • Simple, everyday ingredients you can grab at any grocery store.
  • Perfect for busy weeknights and just as delicious the next day.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Labelled ingredients for John Wayne casserole with Bisquick recipe.
  • 2 cups Bisquick baking mix (mixed with 1 cup water)
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 20 ounces diced canned tomatoes, drained
  • 1 can (4 ounces) green chiles
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Step by Step Instructions

PREPARE THE BISCUIT LAYER

Bisquick and wtaer in mixing bowl with spoon.
Bisquick dough mixture spread in the bottom ox 9x13-inch baking dish.

STEP ONE – Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.

STEP TWO – In a large bowl, combine water and biscuit mix. Give it one minute to sit and thicken up a little.

STEP THREE- Spread the biscuit dough into the bottom of the prepared 9×13-inch casserole dish.

Ground beef mixture with peppers, onions, chilis and tomatoes are spread on top of biscuit layer in casserole dish.
Sour cream mixture and grated cheese sprinkled on top of ground beef mixture in casserole dish.

STEP FOUR – In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Stir in taco seasoning and add water according to directions on taco seasoning. (usually 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water).

Spread the meat mixture on top of the biscuit layer.

STEP FIVE – Drain the canned tomatoes, then spread the tomatoes on top of the ground beef.

STEP SIX – In the same skillet, cook the green pepper and sliced onions until softened over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the tomatoes and ground beef mixture, followed by the can of green chiles.

STEP SEVEN – In a small bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Spread on top of the beef mixture.

STEP EIGHT – Top with remaining cheese and bake in 350°F oven for 30 minutes. Let rest five minutes before serving.

Baked John Wayne casserole in a baking dish sitting on a wooden board.

Storage instructions

Cool casserole, then wrap casserole dish with plastic wrap, or carefuly transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to three days.

Reheating instructions

Reheat leftover casserole by cooking in 350°F oven until heated through. This should take about 20 minutes. Individual portions can be reheat in the microwave for one to two minutes.

Can you freeze John Wayne Casserole?

Yes! This casserole freezes and reheats well. Cook casserole completely, then cool. Wap entire casserole dish in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator, then reheat in 350°F oven until heated though.

Print
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John Wayne casserole on a white plate.

John Wayne Casserole with Bisquick


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 10 reviews

  • Author: Sandra Flegg
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Description

John Wayne Casserole is a hearty ground beef dinner layered with seasoned beef, peppers, onions, and a creamy cheesy sauce over a buttery biscuit crust, baked until golden and bubbling and ready to feed a hungry family.


Ingredients

2 cups Bisquick baking mix (mixed with 1 cup water)

2 pounds ground beef

1 packet taco seasoning

1 green pepper, diced

1 small onion, sliced

20 ounces diced canned tomatoes, drained

1 can (4 ounces) green chiles

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish. 
  2. In a large bowl, combine water and biscuit crust. Give it one minute to sit and thicken up a little. 
  3. Spread the biscuit dough into the bottom of the prepared 9×13-inch casserole dish.
  4. In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Stir in taco seasoning and add water according to directions on taco seasoning. (usually 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water). Spread the meat mixture on top of the biscuit layer. 

  5. Drain the canned tomatoes and spread the tomatoes on top of the ground beef. 

  6. In the same skillet, cook the green pepper and sliced onions until softened – about 5 minutes. Sprinkle on top of tomatoes and ground beef mixture, followed by the can of green chiles. 

  7. In a small bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Spread on top of the beef mixture.

  8. Top with remaining cheese and bake in 350°F oven for 30 minutes. Let rest five minutes before serving. 

Notes

Storage Instructions: Cool casserole, then wrap casserole dish with plastic wrap, or carefuly transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to three days. 

Reheating Instructions: Reheat leftover casserole by cooking in 350°F oven until heated through. This should take about 20 minutes. 

Freezing Instructions: This casserole freezes and reheats well. Cook casserole completely, then cool. Wap entire casserole dish in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator, then reheat in 350°F oven until heated though. 

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Oven Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 generous helping
  • Calories: 722
  • Sugar: 13.3 g
  • Sodium: 1293.3 mg
  • Fat: 35.4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 13.6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 49.5 g
  • Fiber: 3.2 g
  • Protein: 49.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 143.3 mg

21 Comments

  1. This is a blast from the past! I remember having it when I was little. I can’t wait to make it for my kids. Thanks for the recipe!

  2. Another amazing weeknight casserole from Shesnotcookin! So easy for leftovers and we loved the Bisquick layer!! Who can resist a John Wayne casserole!

  3. This is such a tasty, easy casserole to make, and that creamy, cheesy topping makes it SOOOO good! Another winner dinner!

  4. My husband made your casserole while he was off of work due to a stroke. He had to be off for one year due to the fact he is a truck driver. I put Pintrest on his phone and he started checking out recipes because he got tired of eating the same things all the time and we have a lot of picky people in my household. I would come home from work and dinner would always be ready or almost done. This meal was so good I swiped it off of his Pintrest page.

  5. I have made it twice now and it’s perfect. My family can’t make one complaint about anything in this casserole, they truly love it that much!

  6. Made this recipe for my 22 yr old daughter. This was the only school food she liked when she was there. She said it was spot on and made her feel like a kid again. I did half the recipe since it’s just the two of us and it was perfect for us for two dinners!

  7. This was very good. I didn’t have diced tomatoes but I did have chunky medium salsa and it came out delicious.

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