Spicy and bursting with an authentic western flavor, this Pioneer Woman John Wayne Casserole recipe couldn’t be simpler to prepare. The hands-on time required is only 15 minutes because of the use of premade and canned materials. The oven will take care of the rest.

The end product is an exquisite blend of tastes and textures that will send your taste buds into overdrive. It has a lot of flavors, including cheese, heat, and spice.

Pioneer Woman John Wayne Casserole Recipe

This casserole has a unique name and a flavor that’s just as unique. This popular meal has multiple components that work together to make a magnificent final product.

The very bottom consists of a bed of tender biscuit crust. Don’t worry, you won’t have to create biscuits from scratch because you have a reliable biscuit mix on hand. Ground beef, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, chiles, sour cream, and mayonnaise mixture come next. What I’m saying is, that’s the ultimate taco!

The casserole is not complete without a hefty helping of cheddar cheese. When baked, it forms a crust that is both beautiful and delightfully gooey when you bite into it. Upon taking your first bite of this dish, you will realize that it has been the sole thing lacking in your existence.

Why Is It Called John Wayne Casserole?

After doing some digging, I discovered that John Wayne had contributed this casserole recipe to Cara Connery’s 1979 booklet, Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends.

Even though I can’t prove the authenticity of the folklore, it makes for a pleasant tale.

Pioneer Woman John Wayne Casserole Ingredients

• Biscuit Baking Mix – This casserole’s crust was so soft that it was practically melt-in-your-mouth. Use whatever brand you choose; my personal favorites are Bisquick and Pillsbury.
• Ground Beef – Because of the rich beefy umami flavor, it imparts.
• Taco Seasoning – To take your ground beef from tasty to mouth-watering.
• Tomato – In order to provide a juicy and energizing contrast to the heavy dish.
• Green Pepper – Add some spice for a refreshing flavor!
• Onion – Sauteed onions are used in this Pioneer Woman John Wayne Casserole dish, but raw onion slices can be added for a bolder taste.
• Canned Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies and Diced Chilies – In order to make a spicy casserole.
• Sour Cream and Mayo – The luscious, creamy ingredients that temper the spicy peppers.
• Cheddar Cheese – Part and parcel of any casserole. When baked, the exterior forms a golden crisp while the interior remains deliciously melty.

John Wayne Casserole Toppings

Even though this casserole is already packed to the gills, you may add even more pizzazz to your meal by piling on the toppings.

Color and texture both benefit from the addition of sliced jalapenos, black olives, and chopped green onions.

To complete what is essentially a casserole version of tacos, serve with your favorite salsa and guacamole. Yum!

Sour cream, a refreshing complement to the spicy casserole, works well as a finishing touch.

How To Make Pioneer Woman John Wayne Casserole

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 913-inch baking pan with cooking spray or oil.
• In a large mixing bowl, add baking mix and 1 cup of water. Spread into the oiled pan’s bottom. Place aside.
  
• Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes more, stirring often, after adding taco spice and 1/4 cup of water. Spread the baking mix batter evenly. Top with diced canned tomatoes.
  
• In a skillet over medium heat, cook the green pepper and onion until the latter is translucent, about 5 minutes. Serve over diced tomatoes. Top with canned diced chilies.
  
• In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and 1 cup of cheese. Serve with diced chilies. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
  
• Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Allow it to set for 5 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!

What To Serve With John Wayne Casserole?

• 7 Layer Salad
• Watermelon Salad
• Paella Salad
•  Salad Nicoise
• Broccoli Salad
• Bierocks
• Roasted Red Potatoes

How To Store John Wayne Casserole?

Allow your John Wayne Casserole to cool to room temperature then store the leftovers in an airtight container then move to the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You may keep any leftover John Wayne Casserole in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.

How To Reheat John Wayne Casserole?

To reheat John Wayne Casserole, just cover the dish with foil and place it in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Sometimes food needs a little extra moisture to prevent it from drying out, like a dash of milk in baked macaroni and cheese.

Recipe Tips

• Stickiness from the baking mix batter could make spreading it in the pan difficult. Once the batter is in the pan, cover it with parchment paper and press down firmly.
• This casserole, like many others, can be altered to suit individual preferences. Don’t worry too much about being precise with the measurements. Change the proportions of the ingredients to suit your own palate.
• Put in as many or as few of your preferred ingredients as you wish. I’m referring to the kernels, olives, and peppers. Add some spice with taco or pepper jack cheese. A good rule of thumb is that whatever goes well in tacos will also go well in this casserole.
• If you’re watching your weight, you should probably steer away from this casserole. If you just can’t help yourself, you may cut down on the calories by substituting ground turkey or chicken for the beef. Reduce the amount of cheese you use and switch to low-fat sour cream and mayonnaise.

Try More Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Black Bean Burgers 
• Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pioneer Woman John Wayne Casserole Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

• Calories 510.3
• Total Fat 35.1g
• Saturated Fat 13.4g
• Cholesterol 82mg
• Sodium 616.1mg
• Potassium 424.7mg
• Total Carbohydrate 28.4g
• Dietary Fiber 1.3g
• Sugars 3.5g
• Protein 20.9g
• Vitamin A 16.9%
• Vitamin C 54.2%
• Calcium 23.6%
• Iron 9.3%

Nutrition Facts Source: Source