John Wayne Casserole


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This John Wayne Casserole is made with a twist—tater tots! This hearty slow cooker casserole starts with a layer of potatoes, followed by a creamy, cheesy sour cream mixture, seasoned ground beef, and is finished with a generous topping of melted cheese.

I love making casseroles in the slow cooker if you want to try a few other great ones try my Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu or Chicken Enchilada Casserole recipes.

A scoop of John Wayne casserole being scooped out of a crockpot.
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I don’t think John Wayne had anything to do with this casserole—the name likely comes from its western-style ingredients. The original version uses biscuit mix, but a reviewer once mentioned having it with tater tots at a restaurant. That’s the perfect slow cooker twist—tater tots make it easy and delicious!

I have a beloved standard crockpot tater tot casserole recipe that I adore on my site, so I knew exactly how to assemble this new creation. I also make a chicken and bacon tater tot casserole that you must try too!

Ingredients for John Wayne Casserole

This slow cooker casserole is easy to put together with simple ingredients. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.

Ingredients for making John Wayne casserole on a table.

This easy meal starts with frozen tater tots, topped with taco-seasoned ground beef, onions, and peppers. A creamy sour cream and cheddar layer goes on next, finished with more cheese and optional fresh toppings like tomatoes or peppers.

Recipe Video

Watch me make this casserole in my crockpot:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nR96nmv3j4A

How to Make John Wayne Casserole

Here is my method for making this easy slow cooker casserole. Once you get your ground beef browned, it comes together quickly.

Step One: I add the bag of tater tots to my slow cooker.

Step Two: Then I brown a pound of hamburger with bell pepper, onion, taco seasoning, and water, I pour that meat mixture over the tots.

Step Four: Then I make a sour cream and cheese mixture with a bit of seasoning and spread that on top of the meat.

Step Five: Cook on LOW for 4.5 hours, and then top with more cheese. I put the lid back on the slow cooker, and the cheese melts in minutes.

John Wayne casserole in a crockpot with bell pepper and tomato on top.

My Serving Suggestions

Being that we make this so often, we know exactly how to serve it:

  • I like to top this delicious casserole with tomatoes and green bell peppers. The cool tomatoes, along with the crunchy contrast of the bell peppers, really make the dish.
  • You can also top the casserole with sour cream and green onions.
  • Other serving ideas are a side of cornbread or green salad.
A serving of a beef and cheese casserole on a plate.
John Wayne casserole in a crockpot with bell pepper and tomato on top.

John Wayne Casserole Recipe

4.77 from 17 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 8
John Wayne Casserole is a southwestern layered, hearty dish made with tater tots, seasoned beef, a creamy cheese mixture, and a melty cheddar topping—perfect for a comforting, all-in-one meal.

How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 32 oz. bag tater tots, (frozen, not thawed)
  • 1 lb. ground beef,
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 oz. taco seasoning mix, (I use Lawry's)
  • water, add the amount of water to the meat that the taco mix says to add, 2/3 cup is what my packet said
  • 16 oz. sour cream
  • 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (divided, half in sour cream mixture and half on top at the end)
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder

optional toppings

  • diced tomatoes
  • bell peppers

Instructions 

  • Spray a 6-quart oval slow cooker with non-stick spray. Add the tater tots down in an even layer, so there isn't a high spot.
  • In a large skillet, set over medium high heat, brown the hamburger, onions and bell pepper. When the meat is browned, drain the fat. Add the amount of water the taco packet says to add to the meat (my packet said to add 2/3 cup). Add the taco packet, and continue cooking and stirring until the meat and the seasoning has thickened.
  • Pour the meat mixture over the tater tots in the slow cooker.
  • In a medium sized bowl add the sour cream, salt, pepper, onion powder, and half of the cheese (this is about a heaping cup of shredded cheese, save the other half to top the casserole at the end.)
  • Spread this sour cream cheese mixture over the meat mixture in the slow cooker.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 4.5 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • After the cooking time is up add the remaining cheese evenly over the casserole.
  • Cover and let the cheese melt, this will only take about 5-10 minutes.
  • To serve, top with diced tomatoes.
  • Enjoy!

Sarah’s Notes

Spice: This recipe is very mild if you desire a more spicy version try pepper-jack cheese or replacing the bell pepper with jalapeno.
More Flavor: Add a can of rotel tomatoes in the beef mixture for even more flavor.
Leftovers: MANY readers have commented that the leftovers are even better than the original dish. You can store the leftover casserole in the fridge for up 4 days, or freeze for up to three months.

Nutrition

Calories: 541kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 1061mg | Potassium: 636mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1025IU | Vitamin C: 23.6mg | Calcium: 293mg | Iron: 2.5mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

More Ground Slow Cooker Beef Recipes to try:

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Creamy and comforting, Cowboy Casserole layers ground beef, potatoes, and cheese for a satisfying all-in-one crockpot dish.

With bold flavor and simple ingredients, this Wendy’s Chili recipe lets you enjoy the drive-thru favorite right at home.

Crockpot Sloppy Joes are sweet, savory, and made with ease—just pile onto buns and dinner’s done.

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Recipe Rating




204 Comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    Any suggestion how much Larry’s seasoning to add?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I would add a half of a teaspoon and taste, add more if desired.

  2. Kris says:

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for dinner. And it was pretty darn good. Husband doesn’t like bell peppers so I didn’t add them. When I make this again I think I’ll use 2 pounds of hamburger as it seemed like there wasn’t enough meat.

  3. Anonymous says:

    3 stars
    I like it was easy. Flavor was ok.

  4. Patti says:

    I made this yesterday and thought it was good but it needs something. My husband doesn’t like anything spicy but I would want a little more spice. The kids all loved it.

  5. Stevie says:

    I read that when John Wayne was FYI g of cancer a young girl had written him and asked for a recipe to put in a cookbook she was getting to benefit the American Cancer Society, and he sent her this recipe, which has been adjusted and tweaked over the years. Donโ€™t know how true that story is, but itโ€™s pretty sweet! Canโ€™t wait to try this recipe!

  6. Teresa says:

    5 stars
    Great

  7. Katie says:

    5 stars
    My husband and I were pleasantly surprised by this dish. I did add some green chilies, garlic powder -!; onion powder to the sour cream mixture

    1. Denise says:

      I think this would be better baked in the oven, so the tater tots could get a little crispy

      1. Carol says:

        The flavor is good the tater tots are mush. I have tried it twice I like the flavor but not in the Crock-Pot I will not do it again

      2. terry says:

        if you find a bake time that works and degree that works would be great

      3. Martha Ramirez says:

        5 stars
        tried it this way. I air fried the tator tots til crispy. Spray the bottom of the pan/crockpot with Pam. I put the meat mixture on the bottom of the crockpot or iron skillet, then put the sour cream mixture on top of that, and then the tator tots on top, covered with a bit of cheddar cheese. I baked it with an iron skillet with the lid on in oven for 2.5 hours at 375 (you can cook it at a higher temp & shorter time.) I took it out of my oven & the cheese was melted on the crispy tator tots and it was delicious! The grandkids hate mushy tator tots & they love cheesy tator tots, so this solved the problem! I also thought it was a bit bland, so the next time I added minced garlic to the meat.

  8. Lisa says:

    How would I go about cooking this in my instant pot?

    1. Anonymous says:

      I was wondering the same. Would be less mess to clean up.

      1. Anonymous says:

        Use a crock pot liner.

      2. DVCSSR says:

        I agree the crockpot liners are great. Pull up each end, tie it shut and throw it away. Best way to clean up a dish that calls for cheese that can be a pain to scrub off of a pot. $2.29 for 8 liners is a great deal.

  9. Denise Bruce says:

    5 stars
    Excellent

  10. Renee says:

    Did not enjoy this. Lacks flavor but is easy to prepare

    1. Tina D Williams says:

      If you’re like me, you find the store taco seasoning missing something. I would recommend making your own taco seasoning and using it. This way, if you want more heat, you can put it in there. We like adding Ghost peppers to our taco seasoning. Try it that way and see if that helps.

    2. Melody says:

      Try seasoning the tater tots before adding them. This helps many potato recipes for me, as potatoes are so bland. Salt, pepper, onion flakes, Lawrys, Mrs Dash, little bit of southwest seasoning, garlic, etc. will help any potato based recipe, in my opinion. Also sub tomato juice or v8 for the water in the two meat.

    3. Ken Putnam says:

      5 stars
      Try adding a can of RoTel while the meat and onion is simmering

      You can also add extra garlic or onion powder on some cummin