John Wayne Casserole
204 Comments May 19, 2019
Updated May 13, 2025
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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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Featured Comment
“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
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.
This is our go-to Christmas Eve supper. I put it in the crockpot about 2, relax until Christmas Eve service at 5, come home and add the cheese, turn it off, let it sit until we’re ready to eat. Then we build a fire on the patio and make s’mores.
Such a great idea Nancy! Merry Christmas!
Do you stir it at any point during the cooking time This looks delicious I want to try this
No, do not stir. It’s like a layered casserole.
It was amazing! My wife and I had it for supper this evening. Great find!
Tried it today and we love it
My family loved it and as we talked about what was “missing’ my husband and son came up with they wanted to try it with some corn next time to give it a more of a “southwest” feeling. I’m game, first time making this I was nervous but it sure did sound good, it made it to the family approval list! With 5 of us it’s hard to please everyone, this one pleased all 🙂 Thank you for the idea
This recipe sometimes calls for a can of green chilies
My family loves this recipe We also cook it in the oven if I don’t have time to put it in the crockpot
Lorie, whhat temp and time do you use in the oven? Thanks
I LOVE this dish and have made it many times in the crock-pot. I’d like to try it in the oven since I plan on making this to deliver to a friend, and it would be much easier to send a casserole dish than my crock-pot. What temp and how long in the oven?
Hi Lorie! I would cook it like a tater tot casserole in the oven. Perhaps like this one: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/222037/tater-tots-r-casserole/
what is tater tot?
frozen potato balls that are deep fried.
I notice that the recipe still says “single layer”. I’m confused.
That is some very bad wording on my part I will fix that. Put them down in an even layer so they are not high in one spot. Thank you for pointing that out.
Is there a substitute for the sour cream?
Nonfat greek yogurt is always a good sub for sour cream in recipes
Can you change the setting to high and split the time in half?
You may be able to get away with 3 hours on high. Though I’d watch that the edges don’t burn.
@Kimberly – I’ve made this countless times and it’s always a big hit. I do kick it up a bit with a can of green chilies and some Franks Hot sauce but the basic recipe is really awesome. One son-in-law always asks me to make it for his birthday. Truth.
Try the Alpine Chicken as well. Another winner.
Love all the comments but has anyone actually made this??
We have made several times. Instead of using the i use same amount of taco sauce.