John Wayne Casserole 

John Wayne Casserole is a hearty, no-fuss dish featuring a savory ground beef and biscuit base, layered with diced tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, creamy toppings, and melted cheese. Named after the rugged actor John Wayne who originally contributed a recipe for a 1979 fundraising cookbook this modernized version honors his legacy with bold Southwestern flavors and comforting simplicity.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• Ground Beef Layer:

  • 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

• Creamy Topping:

  • 7.5 oz Philadelphia whipped chive cream cheese

  • ½ cup mayonnaise

  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder (noting: the instructions say onion powder, but ingredient list indicates garlic powder)

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella & cheddar cheese blend

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 °F (approximately 163 °C).

2. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain the excess fat

3. Add water and taco seasoning to the beef, stir well, and simmer for 4 minutes.

4. Stir in diced onion, Rotel, and corn, reduce heat to low, and mix thoroughly.

5. In a separate bowl, combine Bisquick mix and 1 cup water, stirring until a sticky dough forms.

6. Grease a 9×13‑inch baking dish. Spread the Bisquick dough evenly across the bottom to form a crust.

7. Spoon the beef mixture over the crust and spread it evenly.

8. In a bowl, beat together the chive cream cheese, mayo, garlic powder (or onion powder as used in instructions), and salt until smooth. Spread this creamy mixture over the beef layer.

9. Sprinkle the shredded cheese blend on top of the creamy layer.

10. Bake for 40 minutes. Once done, allow it to rest for a few minutes before cutting and serving.

Nutrients (per serving, yields 6 servings)

• Calories: 451 kcal

• Total Fat: 30 g (Saturated Fat: 10 g; Trans Fat: 1 g; Unsaturated Fat: 18 g)

• Cholesterol: 96 mg

• Sodium: 660 mg

• Carbohydrates: 17 g (Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 5 g)

• Protein: 29 g