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This hearty slow cooker John Wayne 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.
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“It made this dish yesterday for the family and it was a HUGE hit! Seconds all around! YUMMY! Thank you for the great recipe! I’ll be trying more for sure!”
– Patti
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 after some research, I saw that it can be made with tater tots. This John Wayne Casserole with tater tots is great for slow-cooking; all the layers meld together perfectly.
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 tater tot casserole that you must try too!
Ingredients for John Wayne Casserole
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.
How to Make John Wayne Casserole
Here is my method for making this easy slow cooker casserole. Once your ground beef is 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 Three: Then, I make a sour cream and cheese mixture with a bit of seasoning and spread that on top of the meat.
Step Four: Cook on LOW for 4.5 hours, and then top with more cheese. I p,ut the lid back on the slow cooker, and the cheese melts in minutes.
My Serving Suggestions
Being that we make this often, we know exactly how to serve it:
Toppings: The casserole is great with a dollop of sour cream, diced avocado and a dash of hot sauce. Treat it like you would any Mexican dish.
Other Sides: Other serving ideas are a side of cornbread or green salad.
Does the Ground Beef have to be Browned?
Yes, it is important to brown the beef for this recipe. If you don’t, the beef layer will turn more into meatloaf and release too much liquid for the recipe.
Can regular potatoes be used instead of tater tots?
This recipe was developed for tater tots; regular potatoes would take more time, liquid, and seasonings.
John Wayne Casserole Recipe
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
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Ground Slow Cooker Beef Recipes to try:
Lumberjack Casserole is a hearty slow cooker dinner with beef, potatoes, beans, and cheese—perfect for a filling family meal.
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.
Couldnt I use frozen hash browns instead of tator tots.
I’ve never tried them with this recipe. It may work good. Let me know if you try it and how it works out.
would it be alright if I skipped the sour cream?
I think that would work fine, maybe mix the cheese from the sour cream layer into the ground beef? Let me know how it turns out! 🙂
sure It looks really good :)!
It came out pretty good, the tots burnt a little but thats okay I like burned tator tots lol. couldn’t really taste the cheese unless it a was chunk, but I guess thats what the sour cream is for, I’d definitely make this again! 🙂 Thanks for the great Recipe!
Looks fantastic, thanks for the great recipe!
It really does look delicious and since I live in Orange County – home of John Wayne and the John Wayne Airport I really should try it! Thanks.
Have you visited John Waynes grave at Pacific View Cemetery ?You live in a beautiful area, I loved Newport Beach when we visited on vacation.
This looks totally delicious. My family would love it! The tater tots are a great idea!
Can’t wait to try it. Sounds great.
Kim, try subbing mashed potatoes for the tator tots and put them on top instead of the bottom. Another idea is to quarter sm red potatoes or new potatoes. Those, I would put on bottom.
Kim, sub sm red potatoes or new potatoes, quartered, for the tatar tots. Or, use mashed potatoes on top. It’s yummy!
This looks fantastic!! We will have to try it soon! Great recipe!
Such a delicious and comforting meal. Love the sound of this…and I love the title too! xo, Catherine
I’ve never heard of a John Wayne casserole, but it sure sounds delicious.
I’m pretty sure John Wayne never ate a tater tot!
Probably not, lol.
What can I use to substitute sour cream. My boyfriend hates sour cream
Maybe whipped cream cheese. I’d try the whipped kind with chives. Could be interesting and add an extra kick.
A great party dish for sure! I love the tatertots in the recipe and think they sound better than biscuits!