Instant Pot John Wayne Casserole—baked biscuits are topped with a layered mixture of seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos and cheese. An easy weeknight meal that everyone loves!
Instant Pot John Wayne Casserole
I’ve heard of John Wayne Casserole but have never made it before. I was skeptical as I looked at the list of ingredients and I wondered how it would turn out. However, it was completely loved by me and my family. I will definitely be adding this to my rotation of meals.
Instant Pot John Wayne Casserole starts with freshly baked biscuits. I chose to use Pillsbury Grands Biscuits instead of making homemade biscuits. But if you prefer you can definitely make homemade biscuits. While the biscuits are baking a mixture of beef, tomatoes, rice, onions and bell peppers pressure cooks in your Instant Pot. After pressure cooking the mixture is topped with pickled jalapenos (don’t worry they aren’t too spicy, especially if you get the mild version), dollops of sour cream and cheddar cheese. Spoon the mixture over split biscuits and enjoy a delicious meal!
Why is it called John Wayne Casserole?
John Wayne contributed a casserole recipe to a 1979 cookbook titled, Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends, compiled by an author named Cara Connery. The original recipe was quite different than today’s version (it contained eggs). Somewhere along the way a Mississippi hospital cafeteria developed a version that looked more like my recipe with a biscuit base. It became so popular that on the days they served John Wayne Casserole there was a line out the cafeteria door!
More Instant Pot Casserole Recipes…
Instant Pot Macho Nacho Casserole
Instant Pot Kitchen Sink Casserole
Instant Pot Beef Chow Mein Casserole
Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
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Instant Pot John Wayne Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Description
Baked biscuits are topped with a layered mixture of seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos and cheese. An easy weeknight meal that everyone loves!
Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz) can Pillsbury Grands Biscuits or homemade biscuits
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 1/2 Tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/4 cup long grain white rice
- 1 green or red bell pepper, diced
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp water
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup pickled tame jalapenos
- 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat oven and bake biscuits according to package directions.
- Turn Instant to sauté setting. When display says HOT add in the beef, taco seasoning and onions. Break up the beef* and brown it for about 5 minutes.
- Add in the beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off sauté setting.
- Sprinkle in the rice over the broth. Add in the bell pepper and tomatoes on top, do not stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 5 minutes. When time is up let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Turn Instant Pot to sauté setting. In a small bowl stir together 2 Tbsp of cornstarch with 2 Tbsp of water, until smooth. Then pour the mixture into the Instant Pot. Stir. The cornstarch mixture will thicken up contents of pot quickly.
- Turn off Instant Pot. Add dollops of sour cream on top and sprinkle on the jalapenos and the cheddar. Let cheese melt.
- On each serving plate place an open sliced biscuit. Scoop casserole on top of biscuits. Eat and enjoy.
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. No changes needed for the 3 quart pot. If making in an 8 quart pot increase beef broth to 1.5 cups.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I wanted to quadruple the batch size for a large group. Should I increase cooking time? Thanks!
Nope! Do not change the cooking time
Tried this for the first time tonight. It was delicious!!! I left the sour cream, jalapeños, and cheese on the side so everyone could add their own toppings. The kids turned up their noses at the tomatoes and green peppers but they tasted it……and really liked it!! Thank you for the recipe. Any suggestions on what I should make with the rest of the taco seasoning packet?
★★★★
Tacos? haha! I just like stirring it in with ground turkey and using the meat over salads (like taco salad).
I have been cooking with my Instant Pot for years and I’ve made this twice to be sure… this recipe takes double the liquid to avoid the burn error. NOT a fan of an easy dinner taking twice as long and multiple pots, including one with burnt ingredients stuck on.
★
Made this today and it was delicious 😛. Being new to the cooking scene I wasn’t sure when I added the diced tomatoes whether to drain them or not. I elected to not drain them and the result (even with the corn starch) was rather soupy. Didn’t affect the taste. Of course the IP needs lots of liquids which was why I didn’t drain them. Definitely be making this again.
★★★★★
I did add in the juice with the tomatoes when I made it. Did you thicken with cornstarch slurry? That should thicken everything up nicely!
Do it make a difference whether or not the 5min is on low or high pressure? I noticed yours was on less instead of high pressure.
It should be on high pressure. The less isn’t indicating pressure level. It’s for the saute setting (less, normal, more).
I can’t buy tamed jalapeños what amount of regular picked can be substituted? Half or a quarter?
I’d start with less…you can always add more later.
This recipe is a definite keeper! I made it last night in my new Instant Pot and my husband and (picky) kids loved it. Instead of white rice, I used brown rice and extended the cooking time. It came out perfect! Oh, and one more tiny change lol…I made a pan of good ole southern cornbread and spooned it over top. Delish! Thanks so much for putting these recipes together for all of us. They are a lifesaver!
★★★★★
Spooning the cornbread over the top mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
May I ask how long you adjusted the cook time for brown rice?
Hi There! Do you drain the beef grease or keep it other pot?
There wasn’t a lot of grease at all because I used lean ground beef. If you don’t use lean then I would drain grease off.
Looks delicious, please change the name of this dish.
Why you don’t like the words, “Instant Pot”?
LOL
★★★★★
Please send me more ínsta pot recipe
★★★★★
Hi Elizabeth you can sign up to receive daily Instant Pot recipes here: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/join-the-365-days-email-list/
Do you have to use a pressure cooker? I would love to try this recipe but I don’t own a pressure cooker. Could I make this in my crockpot and let it cook all day long and have dinner the next day
I haven’t tried this in the slow cooker yet. I would think that you could do an oven version and that would work better than the crockpot. Here is a recipe that looks great: https://amandascookin.com/john-wayne-casserole/
Thank you Karen for your hard work. Your recipes are easy to follow and simple ingredients. Most if the time it’s pantry staples or ingredients that I usually buy.
Recipes are not always going to suit everyone’s palates. Most of the time, recipes can be adapted or adjusted to your family’s needs. If you don’t like a recipe, you can move on to another or think of it as a challenge to make it better for you. This includes the name. My family will inevitably change the name anyways. “Chicken yum yum”, “that cornbread thingy”, or “chocolate whatchamacallit” were not the original names of the recipes, but I know what my family is talking about.
I had planned on doing leftovers tonight but after seeing this recipe, I’ve changed my mind. I needed to use up some of these ingredients anyways. Can’t wait to try it.
★★★★★
If using brown rice, would you pressure cook for 22 minutes?
Yes that’s what I would do!
Hi Karen!
I’m an old guy who always enjoyed cooking in my 30’s and 40’s but always had to do it on the weekends and holidays due to my travelling work schedule. My wife bought me a Power Cooker XL a couple of years ago on a whim. I have used it and always enjoyed the results but wanted a little more flexibility.
I bought an 8qt, InstaPot Duo Crisp about a month ago (Amazon Special Deal — paid what a regular 8qt. unit went for) and now that I’m 75-80% retired want to pursue my talents a little further.
Found your site quite by accident and must say it’s one on the simplest, down-home, real-world sites out of literally hundreds I’ve searched for recipes. Real ingredients, simple instructions, and great selection! 10 minutes in and I had already printed four of your recipes and got overwhelming response from the wife (which one are you making tonight, honey)?
I would like ask for your guidance on one thing, though. What utensil do you recommend for pot-in-pot cooking? I’m thinking the Hatrigo Multi-Purpose Deep Bowl Stackable Steamer Insert on Amazon would be good but I don’t want to commit with out an expert opinion.
What do you think? Is there something more suitable? Cost isn’t the issue as long as it is a quality product that might outlast me!
Thank you for you opinion, your recipes, and your website. May you and yours stay well and prosperous during the trials put forth in these times.
KEEP ON COOKIN’!!!
Don Gradin
★★★★★
I’m so glad you have found my site Don and that you are enjoying cooking again! Your lucky wife! I am not familiar with that particular product. I did look it up on amazon and it looks great! I would buy it and use it. I have this one and don’t use it as much as I should but I like it: https://amzn.to/3nbrJgi
Thanks Karen! It should be in by the end of the week. I’ll give it a shot and let you know how it works.
Don
★★★★★
Could you please include crock pot instructions with every recipe you post. Not all of us use an instant pot. Thank You.
Hi Elaine, yes when there is a way to do the recipe in the crockpot then I include the slow cooker instructions. When it doesn’t make sense to make it in the crockpot then I don’t.