There’s really nothing like a traditional meatloaf, and this Meatloaf Casserole turns that consolation meals favourite right into a full meal in a single baking dish! It begins with a young floor beef meatloaf layer, will get brushed with a sweet-tangy ketchup glaze, and finishes with creamy mashed potatoes and melty cheddar cheese on high. However my favourite half? This recipe is prepared in slightly below an hour, and for lower than $10, you will get dinner for six on the desk! I like this meatloaf casserole as is, nevertheless it’s additionally great served alongside a contemporary salad or with a serving to of steamed peas, similar to my mama at all times did.
Pin this recipe for later!
All recipes are rigorously examined in our Nashville Check Kitchen to make sure they’re straightforward, reasonably priced, and scrumptious.
Tacky Meatloaf Casserole Recipe
I consider this casserole as my extra-cozy shortcut to a full meatloaf dinner. It jogs my memory of cottage pie due to the creamy mashed potato topping, however the backside layer is all traditional meatloaf: floor beef, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, and our go-to ketchup-mustard glaze.
Baking the meatloaf layer first retains the bottom tender however sliceable, and it additionally offers the glaze an opportunity to caramelize barely earlier than the mashed potatoes and cheddar are added. Whereas it bakes, you may mash the potatoes, wash the prep dishes, and have the kitchen largely cleaned up earlier than dinner even hits the desk, which is my favourite type of weeknight recipe! By the point it comes out of the oven for the second time, the cheddar is melted into the potatoes, and each slice feels additional hearty and satisfying. YUM.
- Use a lightweight hand with the meat. I combine with my fingers or a fork and cease as quickly as every little thing is evenly combined in. The extra you deal with floor beef, the extra its proteins bind collectively, which may make the meatloaf layer agency and dense as an alternative of tender.
- Don’t skip the egg, milk, and breadcrumbs! The egg helps bind every little thing collectively, whereas the milk hydrates the breadcrumbs and provides moisture to the meat combine. Hen or beef broth can even work rather than the milk if that’s what you’ve readily available!
- Make the mashed potatoes whereas the meat layer bakes. This retains the recipe shifting and provides you time to scrub up earlier than the casserole goes again into the oven. Mash the potatoes whereas they’re nonetheless heat, and cease as soon as they’re easy and creamy. Overmixing could make them gluey.
- Modify the glaze to your style. I typically swap the ketchup for BBQ sauce for a ketchup-free glaze! As for the mustard, it helps to stability the glaze and is just a refined taste. You may go away the mustard out in case you desire.
- Anticipate somewhat shrinkage! The meatloaf layer might draw back from the sides of the dish because it bakes as a result of the meat releases moisture and fats because it cooks. You may rigorously drain off among the fats in case you’d like, although I don’t normally trouble. Once you add the mashed potatoes, simply unfold them into any gaps across the edges.
- Let it relaxation earlier than slicing. I at all times give this meatloaf casserole about 5 minutes to settle after baking. This helps the juices redistribute, the layers agency up a bit, and the slices come out cleaner.
Meatloaf Casserole
Price $9.36 recipe / $1.56 serving
This straightforward Meatloaf Casserole recipe offers you traditional meatloaf, mashed potatoes, a tangy glaze, and cheddar cheese in a single hearty, family-friendly dish!
Meatloaf Casserole Filling
-
Collect and prep your substances. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and flippantly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
-
In a medium bowl, mix floor beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, diced onion, garlic, 1 tsp Worcestershire, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Combine gently to mix.
-
In a small bowl, whisk collectively ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and the remaining 2 tsp Worcestershire and put aside.
-
Press the meat combination into the underside of the baking dish.
-
Brush half of the ketchup combination evenly on high of the meat. Bake uncovered for 25-Half-hour, till the inner temperature reaches 160° F.
-
In the meantime, place diced potatoes in a medium-sized pot, cowl with chilly water, add a pinch of salt, and convey to a boil. Simmer for 12–Quarter-hour till tender. Drain.
-
Mash potatoes with butter, milk, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper till easy and creamy.
-
After the primary bake, brush the remaining ketchup glaze over the meatloaf.***
-
Unfold the mashed potatoes over the cooked meatloaf, then sprinkle evenly with shredded cheddar cheese. Return to the oven and bake 10-12 extra minutes till the cheese is melted and barely golden. Optionally available: broil for 1-2 minutes for a flippantly browned high.
-
Sprinkle inexperienced onion slices over the casserole. Let relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing.
See how we calculate recipe prices right here.
**These Russet potatoes are priced by a 5 lb bag. Shopping for in bulk can lower your expenses. Retailer in a cool, dry place to maintain them contemporary for a number of weeks. I don’t advocate storing potatoes within the fridge, since chilly temperatures can have an effect on their taste and texture.
***The meat might shrink barely throughout the first bake; that is regular. Gaps may be crammed with mashed potato topping for a good layer.
Serving: 1sliceEnergy: 449kcal (22%)Carbohydrates: 29g (10%)Protein: 22g (44%)Fats: 27g (42%)Sodium: 839mg (36%)Fiber: 2g (8%)
find out how to make Meatloaf Casserole step-by-step pictures
Collect and put together all your substances. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and flippantly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
Make the meatloaf combination: In a medium bowl, mix 1 lb. floor beef, ⅓ cup Italian breadcrumbs, 1 massive egg, ¼ cup entire milk, ½ small finely diced onion, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Combine gently along with your fingers or a fork simply till every little thing is mixed. Strive to not overwork the meat combination. Overworking floor beef could make it prepare dinner up dense as an alternative of tender.
Make the glaze: Now whisk collectively ½ cup ketchup, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp yellow mustard, and the remaining 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl till easy and shiny. Set the glaze apart.
Assemble the meat layer: Press the meat combination evenly into the underside of the ready 8×8 baking dish. Make certain it reaches the corners and is stage throughout the highest so it cooks evenly.
Add the glaze and bake: Brush half of the ketchup glaze over the meat, spreading all of it the way in which to the sides. Bake uncovered for 25-Half-hour, or till the meatloaf filling reaches an inside temperature of 160°F. The glaze ought to look darker and barely cheesy on high.
Make the mashed potatoes: In the meantime, add 1 lb. peeled and diced russet potatoes to a medium pot. Cowl with chilly water, add a pinch of salt, and convey to a boil. Simmer for 12-Quarter-hour, or till the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain properly so the potato topping doesn’t flip watery.
Mash the drained potatoes with 2 Tbsp salted butter, ⅓ cup entire milk, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper till easy and creamy. I wish to mash whereas the potatoes are nonetheless sizzling and add the milk steadily for the fluffiest potato topping!
Add the ultimate glaze: If the meat has rendered a variety of fats, you may rigorously spoon off or drain any extra grease from the dish (if desired). The meat might shrink throughout baking; that is regular! I simply cowl the gaps with the mashed potatoes when it’s time to unfold them on high. Now brush the remaining ketchup glaze over the meat layer.
Add the mashed potato topping: Spoon the mashed potatoes over the glazed meatloaf filling and gently unfold them into a good layer.
Make it tacky: Now sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly excessive.
Soften the cheese: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or till the cheese is melted, bubbly, and simply beginning to flip golden in spots. For a extra browned high, broil for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully so the cheese doesn’t burn.
End and serve: Sprinkle 2 thinly sliced inexperienced onions excessive. Let the casserole relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing so the layers can settle and maintain collectively higher. Get pleasure from!
Serving Ideas
This meatloaf casserole is already meat and potatoes in a single cozy dish, so I normally add one thing inexperienced and name it a day! I particularly love peas or sautéed inexperienced beans with this for a brilliant straightforward, weeknight-friendly dinner. A easy inexperienced salad and selfmade dinner rolls are straightforward additions that hold the meal traditional and comforting. For somewhat additional taste, I typically make some brown gravy or drizzle a bit extra ketchup excessive earlier than serving. I additionally add roasted cauliflower or air fryer carrots after I need one other heat veggie on the desk.
Storage & Reheating
This meatloaf casserole shops properly for meal prep! Cowl leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or switch them to an hermetic container and refrigerate for as much as 3-4 days. To freeze, portion the casserole into particular person servings or hold it entire in a freezer-safe dish. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for as much as 2-3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. Simply needless to say mashed potatoes can flip somewhat grainy after freezing, so the feel could also be barely completely different as soon as reheated.
To reheat, cowl with foil and bake at 350°F till warmed by means of, about 15-20 minutes (longer if frozen). For particular person parts, microwave on medium energy for 1-2 minutes, stirring or rotating midway by means of.
Strive These Basic Casserole Recipes Subsequent:
Love casseroles? Check out all our favourite casserole recipes and discover your new weeknight win!
