A Little Bit About John Wayne
Marion Robert Morrison, aka John Wayne, aka "Duke," was a popular American actor that starred in various hit television shows and movies such as "The Dick Powell Theater," "Young Duke," "The Searchers," "True Grit," "Rio Bravo," "Red River," and many others. His credits also include guest spots on classics like "I Love Lucy," "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," "The Jack Benny Program" and "The Beverly Hillbililes." Wayne was involved in show business for over 40 years and even starred in 250 films. He produced and directed as well. But, what you may not know is this once-famous Western movie star also has a tasty casserole dish named after him.
What's in the John Wayne Casserole?
That's right, the iconic John Wayne Casserole is named after none other than the actor himself. Typically, you'll find that most recipes call for refrigerated biscuits or Bisquick, onions, red bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, sour cream, mayonnaise, ground beef, tomatoes, taco seasoning, and Cheddar cheese. As delicious as this casserole sounds, the history behind it is even more remarkable.
Where Did the Casserole Come From?
It all started with Cara Connery. It was through Cara Connery's 1979 cookbook, "Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends," that the John Wayne casserole became popular.
After losing relatives to cancer and wanting to find a way to fundraise for cancer research, 10-year-old Connery decided to create a cookbook that featured the favorite recipes of different celebrities.
With the help of her mother, she wrote to over 1,400 famous individuals asking them what their favorite dish was and if they'd like to contribute it to her cookbook.
Despite encountering a few difficulties, Connery and her mother were able to raise enough money to self-publish Volume 1 of the celebrity-inspired cookbook, which featured contributions from Alan Alda, Captain Kangaroo, Ed Asner, President Jimmy Carter, Robert Redford, Walter Cronkite, John Wayne, and many others.
In Cara's cookbook, Wayne's casserole is described as being made with eggs and cheese — it wasn't until much later that other ingredients such as biscuits, onions, bell peppers, and jalapeños were added to the recipe to give it a more Southwestern taste. Credit for that goes to the University of Mississippi Medical Center cafeteria in Jackson, Mississippi which made the version we know today popular.
The Bottom Line
We would probably have no idea what a John Wayne casserole is without the efforts of Cara Connery and her mother.
So, the next time that you're stumped about what to make for dinner, consider this hearty, savory casserole that will remind you of the ever-popular Western TV star.
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FAQs
John Wayne first wrote the casserole recipe, but it looks a little different today. John Wayne Casserole was first popularized by the 1979 cookbook, "Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends," a collection of different celebrities' favorite dishes.
What was John Wayne's favorite meal? ›
Grilling was one of John Wayne's favorite hobbies—he even owned a huge indoor grill. He dabbled in chicken, pork and seafood, but steak was his favorite.
What was the original casserole? ›
Casserole history
Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices.
What are the 5 components of a casserole? ›
Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!
What is Jackie Kennedy casserole? ›
It is reported that Jackie O served this side dish of sour cream egg noodles and chives while she stayed in the White House. On one occasion she served the dish at a private dinner to the Prince and Princess Radziwill (her sister and brother-in-law).
What do they call a casserole in Minnesota? ›
A hotdish or hot dish is a casserole dish that typically contains a starch, a meat, and a canned or frozen vegetable mixed with canned soup. The dish originates in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, where it remains popular, particularly in Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Montana.
What was John Wayne's favorite vehicle? ›
In his personal life Wayne's vehicle of choice was full-size Pontiac station wagons. It seems that he owned at least three during the 1970s.
What was John Wayne's illness? ›
Our History is His Story. John Wayne beat lung cancer in 1964. He died 15 years later after a struggle with cancer of the stomach. During this difficult period, he became passionate about helping others fight this terrible disease.
Who got John Wayne's money when he died? ›
Wayne left $10,000 to Mary St. John, who was his secretary for many years, and $30,000 to Pat Stacy, his secretary at his death. The actor left to each of his seven children the sum of $5,000 multiplied by the difference between age 21 and the child's age at Mr. Wayne's death.
What's the difference between a stew and a casserole? ›
There is little difference between a casserole and a stew. A purist would say that a casserole goes in the oven, heating the dish from all directions, while a stew goes on the stovetop and is heated from the bottom. Another point of difference is a casserole is the name of the pot used for cooking.
Lasagna is a specific shape of flat pasta, often but not exclusively used in baked pasta dishes. A casserole is pretty much any combination of starch, sauce, and meat, vegetables, or both, baked in a single dish. Including one made with lasagna pasta. Basically, a casserole is an oven baked one pot meal.
What do British people call casserole? ›
In English-speaking Commonwealth countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, the term casserole is most commonly used to refer to a dish of meat with vegetables (especially root vegetables) and a gravy-style sauce; dishes containing a large proportion of starchy ingredients, e.g., pasta or those ...
What the heck is a casserole? ›
I play fast and loose with the definition: If it's baked in a dish in the oven and has a mix of stuff in it, it's a casserole, unless it's super-eggy, then it's a frittata or a quiche.
What is the key to making a good casserole? ›
- Choose the right baking dish.
- Undercook your pasta.
- Drain your meat.
- Beware of mushy vegetables.
- Know your cheeses.
- Master the art of casserole assembly.
- Don't skip the topping.
- Make it now, but bake it later.
The term “casserole” can refer to any dish prepared in a casserole dish—essentially a deep, wide baking dish—and baked in the oven. A casserole can have layers, as in the case of an Italian lasagna or a deep-dish pizza, or composed of some evenly distributed combination of veggies, a protein, and a starchy binder.
Where did the name John Wayne come from? ›
For his screen name, Walsh suggested "Anthony Wayne", after Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. Fox Studios chief Winfield Sheehan rejected it as sounding "too Italian". Walsh then suggested "John Wayne". Sheehan agreed, and the name was set.
What do Midwesterners call casseroles? ›
"Hotdish" This is where I first lost all confidence in the post.
Why did John Wayne change his name to John Wayne? ›
Since Walsh was a fan of “Mad” Anthony Wayne, a famous Revolutionary War general, he quickly came up with the name “Wayne”; Sheehan contributed “John,” which some believe was an homage to John Ford. Suddenly Marion Morrison was renamed John Wayne. It was a colorful start to a Hollywood career.
Where does the word casserole come from? ›
Casserole is from a French word meaning "sauce-pan"; a large, deep dish used either to cook something in an oven or to serve the food cooked in it. The French word "casserole" had been derived from the old Provençal word, "cassa" and the Medieval Latin word, "cattia", both of these words meaning "ladle".
