John Wayne Casserole
This John Wayne Casserole is a hearty, flavorful dish featuring a biscuit base topped with seasoned ground beef, sautéed vegetables, a creamy sour cream-mayonnaise blend, and a generous layer of melted Cheddar cheese, garnished with fresh tomatoes and jalapeños. It's a robust, crowd-pleasing meal.
Equipment
- 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish
- 1 Large Skillet
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Spatula or wooden spoon
- 1 Cutting Board and Knife
Ingredients
Main
- 1 16.3 ounce can refrigerated biscuits
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 1 ounce package taco seasoning
- 0.75 cup water
- 1 medium onion halved and sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper halved and sliced (1 1/2 cups)
- 0.5 cup sour cream
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise
- 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese divided
- 2 medium tomatoes sliced
- 1 4 ounce jar sliced jalapeno peppers, drained
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Press the refrigerated biscuits onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form an even crust.
- Bake the biscuit crust for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden; remove from oven and set aside.
- While the crust bakes, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the taco seasoning and water to the browned beef; stir well and simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken.
- In the same skillet (or a separate one if needed), sauté the sliced onion and red bell pepper until tender-crisp.
- In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, and half of the shredded Cheddar cheese; mix until well blended.
- Spread the seasoned ground beef mixture evenly over the partially baked biscuit crust.
- Top the beef layer with the sautéed onions and bell peppers, then spread the sour cream-mayonnaise mixture over the vegetables.
- Arrange the sliced tomatoes and drained jalapeno peppers over the top, then sprinkle with the remaining Cheddar cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Notes
For best flavor, ensure the ground beef is well-browned and any excess fat drained before adding taco seasoning. Sautéing the onions and bell peppers until tender and slightly caramelized will deepen their sweetness and integrate better into the filling. When pressing the biscuits, aim for an even layer to ensure consistent baking. For extra richness, consider using full-fat sour cream and mayonnaise. Don't overbake once the cheese is added, as this can make the casserole dry; bake just until bubbly and golden.