What is John Wayne Casserole?
If there’s one thing we know about in the midwest, it’s making a good casserole. So imagine my surprise when we found a new one: What is John Wayne Casserole?
Let’s Watch Them Make It First
@big.jims.house Anyone ever heard of #johnwaynecasserole #foodie #food this screams Midwest magic!!
♬ original sound - Big Jim’s House
Wait. How do I make that?
Looks good – doesn’t it? Okay…here’s one of MANY recipes I found for it…let’s get the grocery list first:
· Biscuits: This convenient dinner starts with a can of refrigerated biscuits.
· Beef: You’ll need a pound of ground beef for this meaty casserole.
· Taco seasoning: Use store-bought taco seasoning.
· Vegetables: Sliced onions and bell peppers are sautéed together, while sliced tomatoes are layered with the other ingredients. Jarred jalapeños, meanwhile, spice things up a bit.
· Sour cream and mayonnaise: A mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise is creamy, tangy, and adds tons of welcome richess.
· Cheese: Because isn’t everything better with shredded Cheddar cheese? You could use shredded Pepper Jack if you like a little extra heat.
How to Make John Wayne Casserole
1. Make the crust: Press the biscuit dough in the bottom and up the sides of a prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned.
2. Cook the meat: Cook the beef until crumbly. Drain the fat, stir in seasoning and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer. Transfer the meat to a bowl.
3. Cook the veggies: In the same pan, cook the sliced onions and peppers until tender.
4. Make the creamy layer: Combine the sour cream, mayo, 1/2 of the Cheddar, and 1/2 of the cooked veggies in a bowl.
5. Layer and bake the casserole: Layer the meat, tomatoes, onion-pepper mixture, jalapeños, and sour cream mixture on top of the biscuit dough. Sprinkle it with cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
There you go – John Wayne Casserole. Now I’m hungry….lol.
Foods You Should Probably Skip Air Frying
Large Bone-In Meat
We’re not talking about chicken wings here, we’re talking about large whole chickens. You’re better off sticking to an oven when it comes to cooking them. If you’re wondering why, chicken must be cooked to a specific temperature internally before being consumed. According to the USDA, all poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, air frying this food item doesn’t guarantee an even cook. But hey, at least chicken wings are small enough to get an even crisp. Just make sure you line the air fryer basket first if it’s raw meat.
tasha_lyubina/ Getty Images
Wet Batters
An air fryer is not a deep fryer. So, if you’re looking to toss battered fries, meat cutlets, or battered veggies, think again. There’s a big chance the batter will drip down the base of the machine, causing a big mess and major cleanup after. Bad enough, some people didn’t know you even had to clean an air fryer regularly. No really, someone on Reddit shared that they didn’t wash their air fryer basket after each use. “I don’t think I’ve ever washed it lol. I’ve had it for 8 months and decided to finally wash it today,” they wrote. They continued to say how there was a bunch of “solidified juices” and “fat/ grease” from steak and chicken.
Fabián Ponce/ Getty Images
Cheesy Foods
It’s possible to make your favorite cheesy snacks in an air fryer. But it can get messy. AllRecipes cautions against air frying cheese. This isn’t because of health reasons but for cleanup purposes. They point out that cheese melts fast. The outlet suggests sticking to foods that effectively hold the cheese in place. Maybe, just stick to frozen cheeses like mozzarella sticks.
Wirestock/ Getty Images
Leafy or Chard Greens
Sure you can go ahead and put those Brussels sprouts or broccoli in the air fryer. But skip putting spinach, collard, or chard leaves in. If you haven’t tried it already, light leaves might move and shift around during the cooking process. You may also come across a fairly dry vegetable if you don’t put a little oil with it. And, of course, you don’t want to forget the seasonings.
Martin Barraud/ Getty Images
Popcorn
Some people have tried it but you probably shouldn’t. Most air fryer models won’t reach the required temperature to pop the kernels. According to Jolly Time Pop Corn, the best popping temperature is between 400 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, popcorn kernels can become lodged within the air fryer’s heating element, which can potentially cause it to short.
Prostock-Studio/ Getty Images
Pasta, Quinoa, Rice, Grains
Some grains like bread can be cooked in an air fryer. However, it can get a little tricky with lighter breads like toast and English muffins due to the air making them fly around. But anything like pasta, quinoa, and rice doesn’t do too well. Raw grains need to absorb water to cook. But there is some good news. If you have rice that’s already cooked, just add a little oil to reat in the air fryer.
egal/ Getty Images
