John Wayne Casserole Recipe Lets You Eat Dinner Like "The Duke" (10 Ingredients) by Donna John

Casseroles are so easy to throw together during the week, and can be reheated easily for leftovers. A win-win. This high-protein John Wayne Casserole recipe is simple to make and a simple and hearty dinner, just as you'd expect from The Duke. (Plus you get the health benefits of protein, which is important for everyone, including cowboys.)

John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison in 1907. While there are many stories out there about why his nickname was The Duke, most are not true. John Wayne actually got his nickname because of his beloved dog, Duke, when he was a kid.

"There've been a lot of stories about how I got to be called Duke. One was that I played the part of a duke in a school play, which I never did. Sometimes, they even said I was descended from royalty! It was all a lot of rubbish. Hell, the truth is that I was named after a dog!" — @JohnDukeWayne

Photo credit (all photos): Donna John

Cooking Tip: I divided the ingredients in two, using a casserole dish and a disposable 8x8-inch baking pan a lid so I could freeze one for later.

All you need to make this high-protein casserole recipe is ground beef, taco seasoning, refrigerated biscuit dough, sour cream, mayonnaise, onion, cheddar cheese, red bell pepper (read about the health benefits of red bell pepper), a tomato and pickled jalapenos.

Serve this ground beef recipe with a fresh vegetable or salad on the side.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 ounce (1 packet) taco seasoning
• 16 ounces (1 can) large refrigerated biscuits
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 8 ounces grated cheddar cheese (divided)
• 1 onion, chopped (divided)
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large tomato, sliced
• 4 ounces sliced pickled jalapenos

Here's how to make it: 

1. Put the biscuits in a single layer in a 13x9-inch casserole dish that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Press them onto the bottom and halfway up the sides, sealing them together, to form the crust.
   
2. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 12 to 14 minutes or until very light brown. Remove and set aside.
   
3. In a skillet, cook the ground beef until cooked through. Add the taco seasoning and water according to taco seasoning package directions. Once the liquid has evaporated, add half of the onions and red bell pepper. Cook until soft, about 3 minutes.
   
4. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, half of the cheddar cheese and remaining onions (raw).
   
5. Layer the ingredients in the following order on the biscuit dough: taco meat, tomato slices, onion mixture, jalapenos, sour cream mixture and remaining cheddar cheese. (You could use fresh sliced jalapenos instead of pickled jalapenos. Remove the ribs and seeds for less heat. Monterey Jack, colby-jack, pepper-jack or your favorite Mexican cheese blend can be used instead of cheddar cheese.)
   
6. Bake for about 30 minutes. Store any leftovers covered in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.
   

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