Are you in the market for a surefire hit with practically no labor involved? This classic, oven-baked five-ingredient John Wayne casserole is a retro gem! It’s got a buttery, flaky biscuit crust that is layered with heavily seasoned ground beef, a generous dollop of sour cream, and a big, bubbly mound of cheddar cheese. It’s been a favorite in church cookbooks since the late 70s because it’s simple and delicious.
I turn to this ridiculously easy casserole when I want a big, meat-and-potatoes-style dinner but don’t have any time to spend prepping. The homemade feel of this dish comes from using refrigerated biscuit dough and a packet of prepared taco seasoning, which means no rolling out or measuring anything. It takes less than 15 minutes to put together before baking, making it the perfect weeknight dinner.
The best part about this bake is the gorgeous, sturdy biscuit crust on the bottom. It forms a sort of edible bowl to hold all the ingredients, which are perfectly seasoned and moist without being soggy. Grab your spatula, because this comforting pie will get seconds from even the hungriest of eaters.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This recipe is a total savior on busy nights! It takes advantage of amazing grocery store hacks to make your ingredient list super short. Just pop the pre-made dough in your pan, brown the beef, and assemble everything in one glass dish. No making complicated sauces and washing tons of pots and pans!
What I love about this big beef bake is that it can please even the fussiest eaters. The classic taco flavors kids love are all in this giant slice-able pie that is fun to eat and super satisfying! It’s also a great cheap meal to serve that can stretch a pound of meat to feed a whole hungry family!
What You Need
To make this simple retro casserole, you only need lean ground beef, one packet of taco seasoning, a can of refrigerated biscuit dough, sour cream, and a block of sharp cheddar cheese.
Refrigerated Biscuit Dough
A can of large, refrigerated biscuit dough (such as Pillsbury Grands!) is the ultimate shortcut to a buttery, flaky crust in no time. You press the raw biscuits flat into the bottom and up the sides of your baking dish to create a sturdy crust to hold all the meat. If you prefer a thinner crust, a tube of seamless crescent roll dough works great.
Lean Ground Beef
Lean ground beef serves as the main ingredient for this recipe. Make sure to fully cook the meat before transferring to the baking dish. If you want a healthier option, ground chicken or turkey works nicely too.
Taco Seasoning
A single packet of dry taco seasoning delivers all the flavor to this casserole without having to measure out a whole bunch of individual spices. It has the right amount of chili powder, cumin, garlic, and salt to give the beef a savory flavor. If you like things spicy, go with a hot or extra spicy taco seasoning packet to give the dish some heat.
Sour Cream
A thick layer of full-fat sour cream adds a tangy, creamy element to the dish. When the casserole cooks, the sour cream will melt into the cheese and create a luscious sauce. Avoid using reduced-fat or nonfat sour cream because they may break down in the oven.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Sharp cheddar brings the bold flavor and vibrant color you expect from a Tex-Mex-inspired casserole. Be sure to grate it fresh from a block, as pre-shredded cheese has additives that prevent a smooth melt. Spicy pepper jack or a Mexican blend can be used as substitutions for an added southwestern flair.
How to Make John Wayne Casserole
To make this classic comfort food recipe that’s perfect for serving at family gatherings or weeknight dinners, you’ll need a large skillet and your favorite glass baking dish.
Prep the Crust
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the biscuits from the tube and place them in the baking dish, lining the bottom and sides (about a half-inch up). Press the seams together.
Brown the Beef
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it cooks. Cook until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.
Season the Meat
With the skillet still over the heat, reduce the temperature to low. Sprinkle the contents of the entire packet of taco seasoning over the cooked meat. Pour in ½ cup water and stir. Cook for 3 minutes until the beef is covered in a thick sauce.
Layer the Casserole
Pour the cooked ground beef over the crust. Spread the sour cream over the beef, spreading it out to cover the beef completely. Top with grated cheddar cheese.
Bake and Serve
Bake uncovered until the crust is golden brown on the edges and the cheese is melted, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes, then cut into large squares to serve.
My Top Recipe Tips
The most important part of this recipe is making sure to press your biscuits up the sides of your dish, so they act as a barrier to keep your juicy meat and sour cream from leaking out. It’s what makes this casserole possible without having a soggy bottom crust.
Give your sour cream an extra 2 minutes to be spread on top of the ground beef. Because it is such a loose ingredient, it’s much easier to drop dollops of sour cream over the entire casserole, then connect the dots with a rubber spatula than trying to spread a large glob from the center outward.
Don’t cut into your casserole right away! After removing the casserole from the oven, you must let it sit for at least 10 minutes for the sour cream and cheese layer to firm up. Otherwise, it will make a mess when you try to cut your casserole into perfect squares.
Oven Baked 5-Ingredient John Wayne Casserole
Equipment
- 9×13 inch glass baking dish
- Large skillet
- Wooden spoon
- Cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning 1 ounce package
- 1 can refrigerated large biscuit dough 16 ounce can, such as Pillsbury Grands
- 1 cup sour cream full fat
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13 inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Open the biscuit dough and separate the biscuits. Press them onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish and about ½ inch up the sides. Pinch the dough together at the seams to seal.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until fully cooked through and no pink remains. Drain the grease.
- Reduce the heat to low, stir in the taco seasoning and ½ cup water. Cook for 3 minutes until thickened.
- Spread the beef over the unbaked biscuit dough.
- Drop dollops of sour cream over the beef and use a spatula to spread into an even layer.
- Grate the cheddar cheese over the sour cream.
- Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until the edges of the biscuit are deep golden brown and the cheese has melted.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Nutrition
Storage and Reheating
- Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Freeze the fully baked and cooled casserole in heavy duty foil for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Microwave each square for 90 seconds or bake in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes to restore the crispy biscuit crust.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve alongside a simple iceberg salad with Catalina dressing.
- Serve alongside a big scoop of sweet skillet corn.
- Serve with fresh pico de gallo and sliced jalapenos on top.
- Top with a generous splash of your favorite hot sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add vegetables to this recipe?
While this is the classic 5 ingredient version, lots of people love to add a diced bell pepper and yellow onion to the pan while cooking the ground beef. Also, you can drain a can of Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies) and pour it on top of the beef before the sour cream.
Can I mix the sour cream and cheese together?
Another variation of this classic recipe involves combining the sour cream and cheese in a bowl before spreading on top of the beef. This method results in a much thicker layer of cheese topping.
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