Food - Drink
What's In John Wayne Casserole And Did The Star Invent It?
By AUTUMN SWIERS
With nearly 150 movies in his filmography from “Red River” and “The Alamo,” to “Rio Bravo” and “True Grit,” John Wayne was undoubtedly one of Hollywood’s greatest icons, and the star’s legacy persists. In cinema, Wayne remains an enduring symbol of the American cowboy, but in the kitchen, the actor is honored in a different way, with John Wayne Casserole.
John Wayne Casserole was first popularized by the 1979 cookbook, "Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends," a collection of celebrities' favorite recipes compiled by Cara Connery and her mother who contacted at least 1,400 stars. Although Wayne didn’t invent the casserole, he did submit the recipe himself, but since the 1970s, the dish has changed a bit.
Wayne’s original casserole was an understated egg and cheese dish, but nowadays, it’s a little more elaborate. Today’s John Wayne Casserole starts with biscuit dough, layers of chopped onion, red bell pepper, jalapeno, ground beef, and tomatoes, and then a smothering of a mixture made with sour cream, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, and taco seasoning.