Meatloaf Casserole (Printable)
Comforting meatloaf flavors beneath mashed potatoes and melted cheddar for an easy, family-friendly casserole.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meat Mixture
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1/2 lb ground pork
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup breadcrumbs
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1/3 cup milk
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
→ Mashed Potato Layer
13 - 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
14 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 - 1/2 cup milk
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Topping
17 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
→ Sauce
19 - 1/2 cup ketchup
20 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
21 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Place peeled and cubed potatoes in a large pot, cover with salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook for about 15 minutes until fork-tender. Drain well, then mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, and smoked paprika. Mix gently until just incorporated, being careful not to overwork the mixture.
04 - Evenly press the seasoned meat mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a uniform flat layer.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. Spread the sauce evenly across the surface of the meat layer.
06 - Gently spoon the mashed potatoes over the sauced meat layer, spreading carefully to cover evenly without disturbing the layers beneath.
07 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the mashed potato layer.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling at the edges, the meat is cooked through, and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the layers to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, then serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The mashed potato layer on top of the saucy meat creates a texture contrast that regular meatloaf can only dream of.
- It reheats beautifully the next day, which means lunch suddenly becomes something worth looking forward to.
02 -
- Do not overmix the meat because working it too much makes it tough and rubbery, and once you feel everything is just combined, stop right there.
- Letting the casserole rest before cutting is not optional because if you slice too early the whole thing will collapse into a beautiful but messy pile.
03 -
- Wet your hands slightly before pressing the meat into the dish because it prevents sticking and gives you a more even layer without having to fight the mixture.
- Warm the milk for the mashed potatoes in the microwave for about 30 seconds before adding it because cold milk shocks the starches and makes the texture gluey instead of fluffy.