Description
John Wayne Casserole is a hearty and flavorful layered dish combining seasoned ground beef, a biscuit crust, creamy whipped chive cream cheese, and a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. With a touch of Tex-Mex flair from Rotel tomatoes and taco seasoning, this baked casserole serves six and provides a comforting, satisfying meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 20 oz Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
- 12 oz canned corn, drained
- 1 oz taco seasoning (about 2-3 tablespoons)
- 1 cup water
Biscuit Crust
- 3 cups Bisquick mix
- 1 cup water
Cream Cheese Layer
- 7.5 oz Philadelphia whipped chive cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook ground beef: In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and crumble it as it cooks until browned. Drain excess grease from the pan.
- Add seasonings and vegetables: Stir in 1 cup water and taco seasoning, then simmer for 4 minutes. Add the diced onions, drained Rotel tomatoes and green chilies, and corn. Mix well, reduce heat to low and keep warm.
- Prepare biscuit crust: In a mixing bowl, combine Bisquick mix and 1 cup water, stirring until a sticky dough forms. Spread the dough evenly into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Assemble layers: Pour the cooked ground beef mixture evenly over the biscuit crust. In a separate bowl, cream together the whipped chive cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and salt until smooth. Dollop and spread this cream cheese mixture over the beef layer. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend evenly on top.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes before slicing and serving to allow the casserole to set and make serving easier.
Notes
- Make sure to drain excess grease from the cooked ground beef to prevent the casserole from becoming too oily.
- The biscuit crust uses Bisquick mix which provides a quick and easy base; spreading it evenly helps the casserole bake uniformly.
- The whipped chive cream cheese adds a flavorful creamy layer that balances the spicy taco seasoning.
- Letting the casserole rest after baking helps it hold its shape when sliced.
- If preferred, you can substitute regular cream cheese for the whipped chive variety, though it will change the texture and flavor slightly.
