A Historic Casserole Named After an American Icon

Karen Ruud November 18, 10:44 am

John Wayne Egg Casserole — Everett Collection; Adobe Firefly AI

With a career that spanned 50 years, John Wayne was more than just the leading man we saw on the screen in over 150 films — he was, and always will be, a cultural icon. His son, Ethan Wayne, said it best when he penned the introduction of a special American Icons issue published by TV Guide Magazine:

“There are few Americans in our country’s great history who are more iconic than my father,” Ethan said. “The timbre of his voice, the power in his stride, and his willingness to stand for his principles both on and off the screen made my dad a hero to millions of fans. … Much like the magazine, my father is an institution, and he’s been a part of our collective consciousness for as long as I can remember.”

American actor John Wayne (1907 - 1979) holding a glass of wine at an event, circa 1965.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Part of this institution includes his official websites, where you can learn more about him and his various charities or shop T-shirts, Stetsons, home goods, fine art, coffee, spirits and more. Multiple books bearing the Duke’s name tied to cooking and grilling are also part of the merch you can purchase.

There is one cookbook, published in 1979, of particular note, titled Cooking With Love From Cara and Her Friends by Cara Connery. The rumored story is that the book was a labor of love by a young girl who had several family members impacted by cancer (the same disease that took Wayne’s life). Cara set out to raise money for cancer research and reached out to over 1,000 celebrities asking for one of their recipes to include in her cookbook, the proceeds of which would benefit the American Cancer Society. One of the recipes included, which is somewhat famous on its own, is the John Wayne Casserole. Just Google the recipe and you’ll get numerous variations of the dish. While we reached out to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and tried to track down Cara Connery for confirmation, we had no luck. Instead, we included the most common recipe we saw and made it. Our verdict: “Good heavens, this is a winner.”

American actor John Wayne (1907 - 1979) tucks into a meal on the set of 'Blood Alley', 1955.

Archive Photos/Getty Images

JOHN WAYNE CASSEROLE

1 can (4 ½ ounces) chopped green chilies
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
4 eggs, separated
⅔ cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
1 tablespoon flour
½ teaspoon salt
Cayenne pepper to taste
2 ripe tomatoes, sliced thick

Butter the bottom of a two-quart casserole pan to prevent sticking. Layer the bottom of the pan with the varied cheeses and chilies. In a bowl mix the egg yolks, evaporated milk or cream, flour, salt and pepper. Whip the egg whites until stiff and fold into the yolk mixture. Pour over the cheese mixture. Pierce the layers to allow liquid to absorb into the cheese. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Place tomato slices in a layer on top and bake an additional 10 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.