Description
John Wayne Casserole is a hearty, flavorful baked dish featuring a savory ground beef and vegetable filling seasoned with taco and Ranch spices, layered over a tender biscuit crust, and topped with melted Cheddar cheese. Perfect for a comforting family meal, this casserole combines Tex-Mex flavors with creamy and cheesy elements for a deliciously satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 2 cups diced onion
- ½ cup diced bell pepper
- 1 ounce taco seasoning (1 packet)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons dry Ranch seasoning
- 10 ounces Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 2 cups Bisquick or favorite biscuit mix
- 1 1/4 cups water, divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 13×9-inch baking pan to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Brown Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the lean ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease to keep the dish leaner.
- Cook Vegetables and Seasoning: Add diced onion, bell pepper, and taco seasoning to the skillet with the beef. Stir in part of the water, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for 10 minutes to blend the flavors and soften the vegetables.
- Make Creamy Ranch Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese, and dry Ranch seasoning until smooth and creamy. This will add richness to the casserole layers.
- Prepare Biscuit Crust: Mix the Bisquick with the remaining water to form a dough. Press this dough evenly into the greased baking pan and bake for 5 minutes; this pre-bakes the crust to ensure it cooks through later.
- Assemble Layers: Spread the cooked beef mixture evenly over the biscuit crust. Next, layer with the drained Rotel diced tomatoes. Then add dollops of the creamy Ranch topping over the tomatoes to distribute flavor throughout.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining shredded Cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole for a delicious, melted cheese finish.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake the assembled casserole in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the casserole is cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve hot. Enjoy the satisfying blend of cheesy, creamy, and spicy flavors in every bite!
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for a leaner protein alternative.
- Make sure to drain the Rotel tomatoes well to prevent the casserole from becoming too watery.
- If you prefer a spicier casserole, add extra diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free biscuit mix instead of Bisquick.
