Description
One-Pan Cheesy Tex-Mex John Wayne Casserole is a hearty, crowd-pleasing dinner layered with a biscuit-style crust, seasoned ground beef, tender peppers, a creamy tomato filling, and plenty of melted cheese. It bakes up golden, bubbly, and full of bold Tex-Mex flavor, making it a reliable choice for busy weeknights or casual family dinners.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 packet taco seasoning
1/3 cup water
1 can refrigerated biscuit dough, 16.3 ounces
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup diced tomatoes, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons sliced jalapeños, optional
2 tablespoons chopped green onions, for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a large oven-safe skillet or a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat, then cook the onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly softened.
3. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
4. Stir in the taco seasoning and water, then simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from the heat.
5. Flatten the biscuit dough pieces and press them into the bottom of the prepared pan, pinching seams together to form an even crust.
6. Bake the crust for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly set.
7. In a bowl, mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, cream cheese, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, chili powder, and black pepper until smooth.
8. Spread the beef mixture over the partially baked crust.
9. Spoon and spread the creamy mixture over the beef layer.
10. Top with cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and jalapeños if using.
11. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
12. Let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes, then garnish with chopped green onions and serve.
Notes
Use softened cream cheese so the creamy layer blends smoothly without lumps.
Drain the diced tomatoes well so the casserole stays rich and not watery.
Let the casserole rest before slicing so the layers hold together better when served.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: John Wayne casserole, Tex-Mex casserole, cheesy beef casserole, one-pan dinner